Curtis Judd 7/21/18 Curtis Judd 7/21/18

Sound for video Session: Q&A

In this week’s live streaming session, we took sound for video related questions from many of you!

Gear and links discussed/used to record this episode:

Zoom F8n Audio Field Recorder (2018):

Panasonic GH5s Camera - first time using this as a live stream cam. What do you think?

Blackmagic Design Ultrastudio Mini Recorder - This takes the HDMI output from camera to the computer so we can stream it

3.5mm TRS to dual 3.5mm TRS adapter cable- asked about a breakout on the session, here’s one option

Heil PL2T Desk Boom Arm for Microphone

Curtis Judd 3/23/18 Curtis Judd 3/23/18

Sound for Video Session: Q&A - Audio Interface, Upgrades, Headphones, Sync, & Giraffes

In this week’s Sound for Video Session, a Q&A session, we cover the following questions:

00:14 How to connect powered monitors/speakers to my Sound Devices MixPre?
02:37 Should I upgrade from the Zoom F4 to the Sound Devices 552 or save up for the 664?
05:44 What do you think of using noise cancelling headphones when recording location sound?
08:16 How do I sync 4 cameras and audio from 2 recorders?
11:13 How do I record giraffes in a hurricane with a Sony point-and-shoot camera?
14:26 Troubleshooting audio gear

Gear and links discussed/used to record this episode:

Sound Devices MixPre Course

Whirlwind pcDI - convert the unbalanced output of your MixPre to balanced XLR cables to connect your powered speakers/monitors
Sound Devices MixPre-3 Audio Recorder/Mixer
Sound Devices MixPre-6 Audio Recorder/Mixer
Sound Devices MixPre-10T Audio Recorder/Mixer

Zoom F4 Audio Recorder/Mixer

Sound Devices 552 (2-Track Recorder, Cannot Record ISOs)
Sound Devices 664 (Records ISO Channels + Mix, But No AutoMix)
Sound Devices 633 (Record ISO Channels + Mix, also includes AutoMix)
Sennheiser PXC 550 Noise Cancelling Headphones
RODE NT1A Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone
Electrovoice RE20 Dynamic Broadcast Microphone

Outro music licensed from Artlist: Awaken by Ethan Rank. Artlist provides high quality music tracks for your film and video projects. You can receive two months off an Artlist account by using our link.

Curtis Judd 2/3/18 Curtis Judd 2/3/18

Sound for Video Session: Q&A

In this week’s Sound for Video Session, I make my best effort to answer your sound related questions:

0:11 Which loudness target (LUFS) should I aim for when posting videos online?
2:24 Which Izotope RX plugins do you use most? I’m hoping to buy one of the less expensive options if it contains most of what you use.
11:56 How do I provide a director with a feed of the audio or do a “wireless hop” to a camera?
12:53 When recording sound effects, where should the peaks hit on my meter (Sound Devices 633 in this case)
14:28 Sound Devices MixPre questions - pre and post fader metering, gain staging for loud environments, setting camera levels using tone?
17:00 Advice on how to sync sound for a documentary project?
24:18 Should I position my speakers/monitors above my computer screens since I have 3 of them?
26:06 The recording clipped on my Zoom H1. What happened?
29:27 Liability insurance for location sound freelancers?
31:02 How do you round-trip audio from FCPX to Audition?
34:01 Sound Devices MixPre - How to configure it as an audio interface with a computer and with my iPhone?
37:45 Which blimp cover/shockmount do you use and what is your advice for combating distracting ambient sound?
44:35 ** non-sound related question, but interesting nevertheless: How do you avoid looking like a jittery, stuttering nervous wreck on camera?

Gear and links discussed in this episode:

Sound Devices 633 Audio Mixer/Recorder
Sound Devices MixPre-6 Audio Field Recorder Review

Sound Devices MixPre-10T Audio Field Recorder Review

Zoom H1n Audio Recorder

XtoCC (app to help get audio from Final Cut Pro X to Adobe Audition)

Rycote Modular Windshield with Windjammer (original style) Review:

Rycote Cyclone Windshield and Shockmount
RODE Blimp Windshield and Shockmount
Sound Devices ASIO Driver for MixPre Series Recorders for Windows:

Tentacle Sync E Review and Timecode Demo:

PluralEyes Audio Sync Software
Syncaila Audio Sync Software

Wireless Hop with Sennheiser G3 (Gregg Palmer):

Wireless Headphone Feeds (Comtek):

Izotope RX Elements
Izotope RX Standard
Izotope RX Advanced
Outro music licensed from Artlist: Keep an Eye by Back to Dream. Artlist provides high quality music tracks for your film and video projects. You can receive two months off an Artlist account by using our link.

Curtis Judd 12/11/17 Curtis Judd 12/11/17

Sound for Video Session: Tentacle Sync E and MixPre, Booking Jobs, Mixing 2 Boom Mics, and More

In this week’s Sound for Video Session, we cover the following questions:

00:13 Does a Tentacle Sync E write audio or meta data timecode to the MixPre-3?
00:38 How do you book a location sound job?
03:50 How do you mix 5.1 surround in Premiere Pro (we cannot answer this, but cover why you probably want to do this in Audition instead)
05:02 Does using two boom mics make more work for post production? Should I instead use one boom mic and queue between the talent?
07:40 Here’s my audio post workflow. Any suggestions to improve it?
10:47 With Tentacle Sync E, I’m not getting any audio into my Canon C100mkII. Help!
14:59 How do I break into the semi-pro corporate video world and start earning money?
18:00 Questions about Zoom F8 on a documentary film.
23:49 Why can I not power my Sound Devices MixPre-3 with my Anker USB Power Bank?
26:28 Should I use Audition or Izotope RX to process my dialogue audio?
33:29 Should I buy the Zoom F4 or Sound Devices MixPre-3?
35:27 Bonus: How much light does the Aputure COB300d put out at two meters with the light dome?

Zoom F4/F8 vs Sound Devices MixPre-3/6:

Links for gear, videos, and lists discussed here.

Gear In my Kit - see all the details with links over at Kit

3.5mm TRS to dual XLR cable for getting timecode and audio into Canon C100
Dugan Automixer Plugin
Comparison of Izotope RX Versions: Elements vs Standard vs Advanced

Curtis Judd 6/16/17 Curtis Judd 6/16/17

Sound for Video Session: Shockmounts, Comedy, Cameras, Timecode, and Live Streaming

In this week's Sound for Video Session we answer some of your questions:

- Are the Rycote shock mounts better at isolating boom pole movement from the microphone vs. rubber band style mounts?
- How would you record a comedy routine with a live audience?
- Which camera should I get (From the perspective of a sound guy)?
- Is timecode going to replace slates/clapperboards soon? What’s with these expensive timecode slates?
- How would you record podcast sound and livestream via Facebook live at the same time using the Zoom U-24?

Links to Gear We Discussed:

Rycote Lyre Pistol Grip Shockmount (bare bones and my go-to mount for indoor booming)

Rycote Cyclone Windshield with Lyre Shockmount (go-to for outdoor booming)

Presonus FaderPort - Hardware fader controller which works with Adobe Audition and other audio editing apps.

Panasonic FZ2500 - Fixed lens, 1” sensor, ND filters (wouldn’t be my first choice because the sensor is a little on the small side)

Panasonic G7 - Interchangeable lens, micro 4/3 sensor which is larger, no ND filters (this would be my choice over the FZ2500)

1/4" to 3.5mm TRRS cable for feeding audio from Zoom UA-24 to smartphone

Ambient Timecode Slate

Previous Near Field Monitor (speaker) Comparison

Focal CMS 40 monitors - These were my favorites in the comparison a year ago but I still wanted to first try the 6.5 inch woofer version. Remember, with monitors, they are sold individually so you need to buy 2

Focal CMS 65 - Same as the 40s but with 6.5 inch woofers and bass response that reaches a little lower on the spectrum. These are on closeout so a good time to buy if you’re in the market.

Focal Shape 65 - These are the newer versions of the CMS. Will be included in our upcoming comparison

Electrovoice RE20 Dynamic Broadcast Microphone (this is the mic I used for this session)

Antelope Audio Orion Studio Audio Interface (This is what I used to record my sound for this session)

Curtis Judd 5/13/17 Curtis Judd 5/13/17

Sound for Video Session: SD MixPre-6, Faders vs Gain Trim, High Pass Filters

In this week's Sound for Video Session we have a special guest: Allen Cavedo. Allen is a production sound mixer who has worked on a variety of commercial and narrative projects (links below). He’s here to help bring another perspective while we answer your questions:

- Please compare the Zoom F8 vs the Sound Devices MixPre-6?
- What are some good audio recorder options for a solo operator for even shoots?
- Why is my carefully normalized audio suddenly start clipping when I bring it from Audition to Premiere?
- When I have a dual mono clip, should I drop one of the channels before processing the audio?
- Will the NTG2 work ok with the Tascam DR-60DmkII in terms of noise performance?
- When should I use faders vs gain trim?
- Tips for recording 2 person interviews with one shotgun microphone?
- What are the general steps for processing recorded live music?
- What is the difference between Dialogue De-noise, Spectral De-noise, and Dialogue isolate in Izotope RX6?
- Should I always use the high pass filter on my microphone to eliminate low frequency noise?

Links for items discussed in the session:
Sample of Zoom H4n Pro and RODE NTG2

Some of Allen Cavedo’s projects:

TOMATOFACE - Ad for Texas Beach Bloody Mary Mix. Cast of four demonstrates the legend of saying ‘Bloody Mary’ three times. Production Sound Mixer, boom and four wired actors, camera audio feed and timecode to Alexa Studio camera.

T/I - 48HFP short film entry. Production Sound Mixer, boom and four wired actors. RED One camera with timecode and audio link.

Maybe Tomorrow – A short film. Production Sound Mixer. Six actors with wireless lavs, two booms, sound crew of three. Alexa XT camera, audio feed and timecode.
pw: Maybe Tomorrow

Battlefields of Astral - A web pilot for six-part series about card gamers, misperception and reality. Production Sound Mixer, boom and four wired actors, camera audio feed and timecode to Sony NEX-FS100 camera with Ninja Assassin video recorder.