HD-DSLR Workflow - Part 1 - Audio

I've wanted to do this video for quite some time so I am glad that Part 1 is complete. In it I talk about my production workflow paying particularly attention to audio issues including dual system recording techniques and choices in external microphones.

While a Canon T2i is the camera I own and use, these tips apply equally to any HD DSLR on the market.

Part 2 is coming next and will focus on what to do after you've finished the initial filming and are ready to enter the post-production phase of your workflow.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE POST THEM IN THE COMMENTS BELOW!

HD-DSLR Workflow - Part 1 - Audio from Steve Crow on Vimeo.

Comments

[Solvaij]

Hi Steve
Your tutorial was very helpfull thanks.
The sound on your video was amazing I think your are
a sound engineer.
I am planing to buy Azden SMX-10 Stereo Microphone for my
T2i, I know this is not a good choice
but it's in my budget $64. from B&H.
Keep making tuts.

Thanks
Solvaij

[Steve Crow]

Thank you Solvaij - the Azen SMX-10 will be a hundred times better than the T2i's built-in microphone so go for it!

If you are going to film outside with it, see if you can get one of those furry "wind muffs" for it - we call them "dead cats" because that's what they look like. (Dead cats work much better than the foam cover that comes with the Azden for getting rid of wind noise)

Do some experiments at home and see what distance away from the subject allows you to get the best sound with this mic - it's probably something like 5-6 feet.

I'll begin working on the next part of the video real soon!

[Solvaij]

Thanks for your advice and great tips
Waithing for the next tut from you
Take your time your site is in my favorite now.
U R awesome.

Thanks
Solvaij

[Michael]

Steve, nice tutorial. I love it when someone focuses on capturing good audio, as many in the video field only focus on the video capture and neglect the audio end of things.

One thing to mention which I have used is that you could mount the H4n onto the camera and sue the onboard mics for ambient audio if desired, and then also plug a wireless into the H4n's XLR input. this way you are able to monitor the wireless audio on your camera via the H4n.

Then send the H4n's line signal to the T2i via mic input jack.
Since you are sending a Line feed to the T2i, you want to make that a mic feed, so you can simply sue something like this line to mic cable from DVCreators
http://www.dvcreators.net/dvcreators-line-to-mic-cable/

Then use the Line out again for the H4n and send a wireless feed to your T2i.

Another method to go about using the H4n for master audio, in this case 4 channels of audio, could be using 2 XLRs and the onboard mics, say recording a band and ambient audio. you could plug 2 mics into the H4ns XLR inputs and record the band, then use the onboard mics to record ambient crowd noise.

The H4n will send a 4 channel mixed mono signal via wireless to your camera. then you can use the H4n for your master track and also have a pretty good consistent audio feed from your camera for backup and sync purposes.

[Steve Crow]

Hi Michael,

Thanks so much for the compliment, actually your comments are very timely! I am, in fact, working today on a new tutorial about a simple video production rig I am building that incorporates many of the suggestions you've made.

One thing I'd be curious about is if it is possible to attach some sort of splitter to the Zoom H4N's Line/Headphone jack so that I am simultaneously monitoring the sound AND sending the output to the T2i instead of using the Rode VideoMic.

Have you tried this?

[Hazim Azhar]

Hi Steave
Nice tutorial, very useful.

I have a problem in audio recording in canon 550D. I bought a cheap radioshack microphone (link-http://www.amazon.com/Radio-Shack-Unidirectional-Dynamic-Microphone/dp/B0038YW7OM/ref=sr_1_sc_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1286858654&sr=8-2-spell)
to shoot interview video with malaysian student in egypt.

But i have a problem. The sound recorded is mono, not stereo. It is heard at just right side of my headphone, during playback. I tried to fix this problem, but so far, i am fail.

I really need your help. Is it because the mic? or my canon 550D?

*Actually i want to buy RODE videomic, but you know here in Egypt this mic even doesn't exist. I will buy it when going back to malaysia.

Thank you.

[Steve Crow]

Hazim

The problem is indeed the mic however in editing
you could always copy the mono sound file you
have to BOTH your left AND right channels

True it won't be a real stereo experience but
that's usually okay - even in Hollywood they
use mono mics

I hope this helps you

Steve

[Hazim Azhar]

Thanks steave for the information. That's really help me.

[John W]

Cheers, awesome video.

[Steve Crow]

Hi John, thanks for your interest! All the best to you.

[Jonty]

Hello Steve
Just brought a 550D, and thinking about buying a rode videomic
BUT how can I monitor audio for under 300 dollars?
Is there any other way than buying the xlr adapter pre amp??
Thanks

[Steve Crow]

Jonty - I am sorry but I know of no other way at the moment but to use additional hardware of some type, buy used if you can't afford new equipment. The Zoom H4N is my solution, it's a digital recorder that has a headphone/output jack that I used to monitor sound recording but it did cost $300 new.