Sound newbie needs info for feature film

[Brandon Fraley]

I'm considering working towards production of a feature length film shot on RED. The budget is miniscule and I'll be filling as many crew roles as possible myself, including director, DP, and editor. I'm hoping to record audio on the camera and avoid a separate sound recorder.

I've recorded sound on the RED before, with modest success, although I've never edited any RED footage that had sound tied to it.

So please, I'm asking for any and all advice on how to best record sound the the camera. What are all your tips and secrets to getting the best quality and easiest workflow.

Thanks :)

[Ariel Weiss]

hi
first, use mixer or preamplifier, preferiably sound devices mixpre or better.

do not use phantom, only line. make sure your picks do not clip in the mixer
and then check in the camera.
if possible, try using more than one audio source: two booms, or boom and one or two neckmiks, depends on the scene. i have the new board and its great. if you have the old one dont even concider phantom.
good luck

[Brent J. Craig]

Find a professional sound recordist and do what they say. There are folks out there who will work for little money - especially less established people or those who have recently upgraded from lesser positions.

Sound is hard to fix in post without a budget, and bad sound will really limit what you can do with your film. Get it right on set.

[Noah Kadner]

yeap- I realize the budget is minimal but try your hardest to get someone who knows what they're doing on sound to help you. 4K image does you little good if it's accompanied by tin can sound.

Noah

[FredrikL]

Hi,

I've previously recorded directly onto cameras like the Panasonic AG-DVX100 from a boom with a Sennheiser, or from Lav's - and in both cases with perfectly descent results.

Is this simply not possible on the REDONE?

It seems like it from everyone saying how one needs an external mixer.

- Or to phrase the question differently: Does a camera like the Panasonic AG-DVX100 really have a better audioboard than the REDONE?

F.

[Brandon Fraley]

Hi,

I've previously recorded directly onto cameras like the Panasonic AG-DVX100 from a boom with a Sennheiser, or from Lav's - and in both cases with perfectly descent results.

Is this simply not possible on the REDONE?

It seems like it from everyone saying how one needs an external mixer.

- Or to phrase the question differently: Does a camera like the Panasonic AG-DVX100 really have a better audioboard than the REDONE?

F.

my thoughts as well. I shot all my shorts using a boom mic going into my DVX100 and for the most part the sounds was usually pretty good.

I will indeed try to find someone in my area who can help with sound and work dirt cheap, but beyond paying the person, I worry about how having a recordist would slow down the production.

[FredrikL]

I was hoping someone would chime in and tell how sound works wonderfully on the RED and that it works not only as good as on the AG-DVX100 - but better...!
And that using an extra portable mixer would be superfluous - atleast for many situations...

[ibirds4]

my thoughts as well. I shot all my shorts using a boom mic going into my DVX100 and for the most part the sounds was usually pretty good.

I will indeed try to find someone in my area who can help with sound and work dirt cheap, but beyond paying the person, I worry about how having a recordist would slow down the production.

I've found that people who've hired me after trying to get by without a sound mixer tell me production speeds up since there is someone on set who knows what they're doing and they don't waste time trouble shooting technical/environmental problems on their own. Plus they always are ecstatic about the sound when they get in to Post.

Of course if you are shooting porn then you can just have a PA hold a boom hardwired into camera and it'll sound fine for what it is.

www.giantsoundservices.com

[Brandon Fraley]

Of course if you are shooting porn then you can just have a PA hold a boom hardwired into camera and it'll sound fine for what it is.

That sounds like a jab, however your other points sound valid. How likely is it to get a recordist that DOESN'T do a good job and I might as well have done it myself?

[Eric S.]

I may not be a professional sound technician, but audio production is certainly a hobby of mine. I use REAPER, a few quality VSTi's, a MOTU interface, a small but effective collection of mics, etc. I don't think it's fair to say that recording audio on-board is only good for the adult industry. Dedicated, quality hardware and personnel are needed for truly great sound, but a good condenser feeding into a DVX100 can certainly produce good sound.

Criticism of on-board audio should cite some form of useful data, not just sweeping rhetoric that doesn't accomplish a whole lot. After all, this is a cordial forum that has brought together a disparate group of people who are all passionate about affordable, quality filmmaking.

Eric