minidisc recording frenzy
minidisc recording frenzy- special effects and filmmaking
if i get some cash soon, the next thing i'm buying is a portable minidisc player, to record sound for movies , you see.
q: if i run around with this thing, or do anything else with it that makes it shake a lot, will the recording be interrupted?
(maybe it is better to get a DAT recorder?)
I have a similar question to ask. How would you sync a minidisc or dat player/recorder to record the sound when using a dv camcorder like the sony trv 900. I know that an independent film did this with the sony vx1000 but article did not say how it was achieved.
You simply get a slate (clapper board) and stick it in front of the camera while both are rolling and clap it down, then move it out of the way and start action (just like in the movies). You can even use something as simple as a person clapping their hands firmly, as long as you see the action and hear the sound clearly. (Note: Slates are prefered so the editor gets a visual reference of the scene #, shot #, and take #.) Then in post you line the first frame of the boards coming together and first frame of the cracking sound up by whatever means you have available (this varies according to the type of editing facilities you have available.
As far as the MD recorder goes, I have heard that they will skip if you move them around a bunch. DAT recorders are almost perfectly shock resistent, and a lot more expensive. If you are on any type of limited budget, you probably want to go Minidisc and take the extra $600 you save and put it into good mics, and long cables so you don't have to run around with it. A portable feild mixer is another important thing to have.
To jarvis: I'm not sure about the TRV 900, but I don't really see why someone would use a DAT recorder with a VX1000. They have a manual audio control and record at 44.1k digital, which are pretty much the two main advantages of using DAT, however it can be done the same way as above with either camera. If your TRV 900 has a manual audio control, I would get a good portable mixer and run it to the camera. Hope this helps. Good luck to all.
Jay
why is a portable field recorder important?
Uhh...do you mean portable field mixer? If not, I'll just explain the importance of both. First, the importance of using a portable DAT or MD recorder is simply because they are small and run on batteries. You wouldn't want to take a big rack unit out into the middle of wherever you are shooting, especially if you are doing it guerilla style on other people's property without permits. Also you would be limited to where you could run ac power from a wall. Second, field mixers have several important advantages. 1) Most field mixers will have balanced inputs for using XLR mics, like shotguns or wireless transmitters for lavs. Your camera probably has 1/8" unbalanced inputs (read: noisy and technically inferior). 2) A field mixer will let you mix as many mics as you have channels for. So if you have a shotgun overhead and lavs on all your actors, you can receive sound from all simultaneously and mix them how you like. Your camera (or other recorder) most likely only has one input. 3) With the use of all these mics, you will need someone (a sound mixer) to "ride the levels" (make sure you aren't too high or low"). With a mixer, this can be handled away from the camera, (as far away as your cable will allow), leaving the camera operator free to worry about the picture. And of course the same idea about running on batteries applies to mixers. The ones that do are called field mixers and are primarily made for film/video. The link below takes you to some good inexpensive ones.
Sorry the link is so long. Click on one of the "mixpad" links to see the different models of this line of mixers.
ps. If you are super-cheap (not that I'm saying you are) and are only using unbalanced mics, Radio Shack makes some $30, 4-channel mixers that run off 9 volt batteries and send stereo out for going to a camera, MD recorder, etc. They don't sound as good as the pro ones, but they get the job done.
pps. If you can't afford to buy all battery powered stuff, there are a few ways of getting around it if you don't mind lugging around some slightly heavy junk, but I won't go into it now, since this post is way too long. Sorry.
Jay
[This message has been edited by Jay (edited 04-20-99).]
Note: (to anyone interested) you can make it so when giving out an url, anyone can click on it instead of having to write it down. for info, go to the "How To Use" page on this site. result: (e.g.)
http://www.likeastory.com
------------------
movies wouldn't be movies without the special effects!
[This message has been edited by Jack (edited 04-20-99).]
[This message has been edited by Jack (edited 04-20-99).]
i just got one recently. I love it. I got a Sharp model. it has unbalanced mic inputs and a VU metter. it also has record level controlls. ( all features you should look for )
I have never had it skip, but I never shook it a lot while recording.
All times are ET (US)