ATEM Mini Sound Settings - Compressor, EQ, Limiter, Expander
In today’s episode we run through how to setup the EQ, compressor, expander, and limiter in the Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini and ATEM Mini Pro. This will help you achieve better sound on your livestreams. And, the settings we cover can work in other situations as well such as post processing video sound or when using other hardware.
If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders.
Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater Sound or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:
- Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini Pro live-streaming USB capture device and switcher - B&H, Amazon
- Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini Pro live-streaming USB capture device and switcher - B&H, Amazon
- RODE NT1 microphone - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon
- Sound Devices MixPre audio mixer/recorder - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon
- Canon C200 camera used as the main camera here - B&H, Pictureline
- Panasonic GH5 used as the overhead camera here - B&H, Pictureline, Amazon
- Olympus 45mm f/1.8 lens for GH5 - B&H, Amazon
- Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L lens for C200 - B&H, Pictureline, Amazon
Get a free trial of the best music for your videos at Musicbed
Copyright 2020, Curtis Judd
Sound for Video Session: Zoom F4/F8 Limiters & Packing Checklist for Location Sound Job
In this week's episode, I discuss how the limiters in the Zoom F4 and F8 recorders work (not just simply digital limiters) and walk through the location sound job packing checklist I use before each job.
Sound Samples of Digital and Analogue Limiters:
Checklist for gear you need on location sound jobs: https://drive.google.com/open?id=13sI0mGplMC5p2VZHXotDdg9mSdvJVspP2H9_6qyn4Pw
Gear In my Kit - see all the details with links over at kit.co
Sound Devices 633 Recorder
Sound Devices MixPre-10T Recorder
K-Tek Avalon Carbon Boom Pole
Orca OR-30 Sound Bag
Orca OR-40 Audio Harness
Rycote Cyclone Wind Shield
Schoeps CMC641 Super Cardioid Boom Microphone
Sennheiser 8050 Super Cardioid Boom Microphone
Voice Technologies VT500 Lavalier Microphone
Sanken COS-11D Lavalier Microphone
Rycote Stickies (for concealing lavalier microphones)
Sony MDR-7506 Closed Back Headphones
Comtek Audio Feed Kit
Sennheiser EW112 G3 Wireless Microphone Kit (be sure to check which frequencies you are legally allowed to use in your country)
RODELink Wireless Filmmaker Kit
Copyright 2017 by Curtis Judd
Limiters for Recording Sound: Analogue vs Digital
When recording sound for video, is there a difference between analogue and digital limiters? If so, should you upgrade your recorder? Here’s an example and my thoughts.
The samples were recorded with the following:
Sound Devices 633 Audio Mixer/Recorder (My pro-level recorder/mixer)
Zoom F8 Audio Recorder (My favorite in the $1000 USD range)
Tascam DR-60DmkII Audio Recorder (My favorite in the sub $200 range)
What is striking to me is that if you're careful and willing/able to do retakes more often, you can get recordings that sound almost as good on a $200 USD recorder as on a $3200 USD recorder. But if you're working for a paying customer, retakes may make you look less than professional and possibly even cost you your next job. That's where a limiter can save you.
But if you're not paid for your recordings, don't sweat it! Besides, not having an analogue limiter forces you to be very careful and learn to be a ninja quality sound guy.
Sound for Video Session: Line Level Inputs, Zoom F8, Limiters, and Brighter Sound
In this week's sound for video session, we talked through several questions:
- How do you feed a microphone into the line level inputs on the Sound Devices 633?
- Zoom F8 - file naming issues, limiters
- Which mics can you use outdoors? Sanken CS3e
- Do you blend lav and boom mics?
- How do I make sound "Brighter" in post?
- Recommendations for starter boom mic and recorder kit?
- How do I send audio from my recorder to my camera?
- Can an Orca OR-30 sound bag hold a Zoom F4 or F8 plus three or four microphones?
Links:
Small preamps to feed line level inputs on your recorder: http://mozegear.com
My recent meta-review of several audio recorders:
Sound for Video Session: Limiter vs Compressor
In this week's session, we talk a little about the difference between a limiter and a compressor when it comes to recording dialogue thanks to a question from Gary Davies. Thanks Gary!
In short, a limiter is a very aggressive compressor, typically with a rather extreme compression ratio like 20:1. Limiters are generally used to prevent clipping and distortion when someone suddenly modulates and gets really loud. A compressor can also do that but is often used for other types of effects as well. More in the video!
