Capturing quality sound on location is one of the greatest challenges faced by student filmmakers. The public will forgive bad video but not bad sound. This presentation is intended to give high school students a general overview of the equipment and challenges inherent in capturing sound in the field.
Transaction Management in Database Management System
Location Audio
1. Location Audio for Film
Prepared by: John Grace
Film Instructor, DATA Charter HS
Member of IATSE Local 480
Albuquerque, NM
2. Location Audio Systems
• There are 2 Types of Location Audio
Acquisition in Film Production :
Single System – The audio is recorded
on the same medium as the visuals -
ie: on a camcorder – max 16 bit.
Dual-System (aka Double System) –
The audio is recorded separately from
the visuals on a secondary device. This
type of recording requires that the two
sources be synchronized and linked in
post production – max 24 bit.
3. Location Audio – Single System
• Typically, these are Camcorders
with External Microphone Inputs
4. Location Audio – Dual System
• Dual Systems usually feature
Digital Cinema or Film Cameras
11. Location Audio - History
• Vitaphone and Photophone Recorders
Single system
Optical recorders record on film
Large and heavy
Very expensive
Poor sound quality
1930’s and 1940’s
12. Location Audio - History
• Fantasound Recorder
Double system
Optical playback in theaters
3-4 channel sound
Made for Fantasia
Good sound quality
Throughout 1940’s
13. Location Audio - History
• Nagra Reel to Reel Recorders
Monaural (single track) recording
¼” Tape on 5” or 7” reels at 7.5-15 IPS
Popular from the 1950’s through the 1990’s
Fairly expensive
14. Location Audio - History
• Tascam DA-P1 DAT Recorder
2 channel recorder
External recording to DAT Tapes
No time code
15. Location Audio Current Devices
• Fostex PD4 DAT Recorder
6 channel recorder
6 channel mixer
External backup to DAT Tapes
Internal 60GB HDR
Time code I/O
16. Location Audio Current Devices
• Zoom R8 SDHC Recorder
Recording to SDHC Cards
2 channel recorder
8 channel mixer
No time code
17. Location Audio Current Devices
• Deva 16 Recorder by Zaxcom
16 channel recorder
16 channel mixer
Time code generator
External backup to Compact Flash Media
Internal HDR
18. Location Audio Current Devices
• Zoom H4N Field Recorder
4 channel recorder
4 channel mixer
Records to SD Cards
Low Price ($269. List)
Ideal for DSLR’s
19. Location Audio Current Devices
• Current Popular Brands
Lectrosonics – Top of the Line Wireless Kits
20. Location Audio Current Devices
• Current Popular Brands
Sennheiser – Wireless Lavs and Shotguns
21. Location Audio Current Devices
• Current Popular Brands
Shure – Wireless Lavs and Field Mixers
22. Location Audio Current Devices
• Current Popular Brands
Azden – Low priced Shotguns and Wireless
23. Location Audio Current Devices
• Current Popular Brands
Audio Technica – Wireless & Headphones
24. Location Audio Current Devices
• Current Popular Brands
Wireless Lavs – UHF or VHF?
VHF is Very High Frequency and
wireless transceivers operating on
this band often have problems with
RF (Radio Frequency) interference
UHF is Ulta High Frequency and is
less susceptible to RF interference
from power lines, walkie talkies,
radio stations and the like
34. Location Audio Acquisition
• Priorities:Priorities:
• Recording Clean DialogueRecording Clean Dialogue
• Inverse Square Law as it applies to Sound:Inverse Square Law as it applies to Sound:
““Halving the distance between mic and the soundHalving the distance between mic and the sound
sourcesource quadruples the usability of the soundquadruples the usability of the sound”
41. Location Audio Acquisition
• Priorities:Priorities:
• Utilizing Various MicrophonesUtilizing Various Microphones
42. Location Audio Acquisition
• Priorities:Priorities:
• Utilizing Various MicrophonesUtilizing Various Microphones
43. Location Audio Acquisition
• Priorities:Priorities:
• Utilizing Various MicrophonesUtilizing Various Microphones
44. Location Audio Acquisition
• Priorities:Priorities:
• Utilizing Various MicrophonesUtilizing Various Microphones
45. Location Audio Acquisition
• Priorities:Priorities:
• Utilizing Various MicrophonesUtilizing Various Microphones
Shotgun – Directional
46. Location Audio Acquisition
• Priorities:Priorities:
• Utilizing Various MicrophonesUtilizing Various Microphones
Lavaliere – Omni-directional
47. Location Audio Acquisition
• Items in a Wireless Lavaliere Package:Items in a Wireless Lavaliere Package:
• Lavaliere MicrophoneLavaliere Microphone
48. Location Audio Acquisition
• Items in a Wireless Lavaliere Package:Items in a Wireless Lavaliere Package:
• Wireless TransmitterWireless Transmitter
49. Location Audio Acquisition
• Items in a Wireless Lavaliere Package:Items in a Wireless Lavaliere Package:
• Wireless ReceiverWireless Receiver
50. Location Audio Acquisition
• Items in a Wireless Lavaliere Package:Items in a Wireless Lavaliere Package:
• XLR Transmitter (“Butt Plug”)XLR Transmitter (“Butt Plug”)
51. Location Audio Acquisition
• Items in a Wireless Lavaliere Package:Items in a Wireless Lavaliere Package:
• Mini Plug Input CableMini Plug Input Cable
52. Location Audio Acquisition
• Items in a Wireless Lavaliere Package:Items in a Wireless Lavaliere Package:
• XLR Plug Input CableXLR Plug Input Cable
53. Location Audio Acquisition
• Items in a Wireless Lavaliere Package:Items in a Wireless Lavaliere Package:
• Camera MountCamera Mount
54. Location Audio Acquisition
• Items in a Shotgun Package:Items in a Shotgun Package:
• Boom Pole (fish pole)Boom Pole (fish pole)
55. Location Audio Acquisition
• Items in a Shotgun Package:Items in a Shotgun Package:
• Rycote Softie (dead cat)Rycote Softie (dead cat)
56. Location Audio Acquisition
• Items in a Shotgun Package:Items in a Shotgun Package:
• Shotgun MicrophoneShotgun Microphone
67. Location Audio Acquisition
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