"Auto Ride" for EPIC

[Jim Grieco]

I shoot a lot of network sports profiles for television and I'll often find myself at a live event shooting specialty shots of the featured players, that will be incorporated into the piece. My clients want sound when I'm not shooting high speed, but many times they can only get one sideline pass and I have to record usable nat sound via a camera mic. I own the EPIC and I have the W....nCam... A-Box, so I rig a Sennheiser ME66 on top of the rig and plug it in via the A-Box. As you guys probably already know, there is no "auto ride", so I set a general level and just go with it. As you would expect...when the crowd roars, sometimes the audio gets so over-modulated that it starts to break up...and if I set the general level for the crowd roaring...everything else is recorded low. That being said....is there any audio product (mic or mini mixer of some type?) that I can rig onto my EPIC which will "auto ride" the levels for me?...Any clever ideas or suggestions from my fellow REDUSERS?

 

[David Battistella]

In that situation you could do two things.

Get a db pad and put it in line with the microphone, like you'd have to do on an airplane.

2. Rig a sound devices mix pre to your camera and run the mic through that. They have the best compressor limiter out ther for the size

like this.

http://www.sounddevices.com/products/mp1

you then need to get an attenuated cable to cut the output by about 35db befor it goes into the epic. This will also give you a physical pot to adjust when things get loud in the domed stadiums.


david

 

[Jim Grieco]

The Mp1 looks great, but it weighs 2lbs and I'm trying to keep my rig light. I think a db pad is a more op-friendly option. Thanks again for your help David, it is greatly appreciated!

 

[David Battistella]

The mix pre d is more versatile and weighs less,

http://www.sounddevices.com/products/mixpred/

but a db pad is your friend.

david

 

[Jim Grieco]

The Mix Pre D...threshold adjustable limiter...under 2lbs with the batts...and I bet I could power it via a D-tap cable and make it even lighter (I use Anton Bauer Dionic-HC batts). You rock! If by chance you ever need an EPIC package in NYC, let me know and I'll hook you up with a sweetheart deal.

 

[David Battistella]

Jim,

thats the mixer I use. It's a very well respected audio tool and is a good compliment to any package. If I am ever back in NYC ill look you up.

david

 

[Mike P.]

I would get a second ME66; set one to record regular noise levels and the other to get loud noise levels (crowd roars). Then ride them in post. Admittedly it's not very "auto" but when/if both are within range, combining them will make for a really warm/thick sound...

...Plus your rig would look like a double-barrel shotgun (dual mics) with grenade launcher attached (lens underneath)... Chk-chk-BOOM.

 

[Jim Grieco]

Very creative idea, Mike. I actually already own a second ME-66 shotgun...and I agree, it would be a bad-ass looking sollution! Thanks.