Please disable audio monitoring when in Varispeed mode!

[C.B. Lorch]

Shooting today with on camera talent and babies, and since every second counts in there tight little windows of cooperation, I hated that I blew several great takes because of being in Varispeed mode! I switched over to 48fps to grab a few cutaways and then jumped back to shooting the Mom's lines. When I switched to playback to review an amazing take (I know audio not enabled in playback yet) I immediately knew I had blown it when I saw the slow-mo! :scared:
I know it's just my screw up in the end, but time was ticking away on the 8 month olds time bomb attention span, so I was jamming. Is it possible to just disable audio monitoring when it's not recording as a sort of fail-safe? I don't see any reason to listen if it's not there anyways.

 

[ericyoung]

This seems an odd request - using audio monitor disabiing as a prompt that Varispeed is enabled?

 

[Johnny Friday]

CB, you'll just have to realize and become used to or use muscle reflex when changing timeline frame rates....you MUST change in project settings---MUCH different (as you now know) than just choosing a frame rate within your project settings.....This is just something you as a pro must get used to doing....a proper checklist is key. What you have just done and talked about is probably a very common problem as well. But one that after doing a few times most will easily remedy.

 

[C.B. Lorch]

What's "odd" about it? When you're shooting you see realtime playback, see audio meters and hear playback. If you screw up as I did and forget to switch back your framerate then you have no way to see or hear your mistake.
Yes, I know it's a MISTAKE, but why not help a shooter out?! If there's a simple way to help prevent human error why not use it? We have focus assist, false color, all kinds of assist tools. This seems like a pretty simple way to prevent a very serious human error!

 

[C.B. Lorch]

CB, you'll just have to realize and become used to or use muscle reflex when changing timeline frame rates....you MUST change in project settings---MUCH different (as you now know) than just choosing a frame rate within your project settings.....This is just something you as a pro must get used to doing....a proper checklist is key. What you have just done and talked about is probably a very common problem as well. But one that after doing a few times most will easily remedy.

I got the memo about the TPS reports! :emote_headwall:

I know I should have switched my frame rate back, I just failed to this one time! It was a mistake. And I won't say never, but I'm betting I won't make that mistake again for a very long time to come. But why not disable it? Give me an example of why it would be useful to have meters and hear audio when it isn't recording?

 

[ericyoung]

Because continuous audio monitoring is useful for knowing instantly when there's a camera audio, microphone or sound cable fault. If you're recording audio on the camera, that's good to have. If there's an audio fault while you're recording varispeed, you won't know about it until you go back to normal speed - which would give the same result you are trying to avoid , ie a lost take.

However, on the Red One/MX, you don't get audio meters in Varispeed - there's a fairly big label over the audio meter area saying Varispeed is selected and audio is disabled. I'm not next to an Epic/Scarlet, so can't say if that is the case with those cameras. IF it isn't, and you are getting audio meters then I would support the same labelling as on Red One/MX. But I want to keep continuous audio monitoring.

 

[Johnny Friday]

CB,
as time goes by, you will find your own practice and workflow shooting. It's been beat in my head and many others heads when working on a production...check, check, check.....have a checklist and move on. That said, this has always been a great way to go off and be a lone shooter...if you have not had that experience, then you will come to your own conclusions and way to shoot in order not to avoid this. Perhaps most important is managing the rush. Needless to say, there are various reasons to keep audio meters running.....but more important is to know where you are in your shot list.....In cases of many of us divers that are also shooters and then add the complexity of diving rebreathers....if we screw up something on our checklist or forget something critical....the results can be disastrous...(from the mixed gas rebreather apparatus that is).....this just re-establishes MY personal feelings on how i manage the camera and shots....Also, there are not too many sets that will be forgiving of an A/C that screwed up something like this....and chances are they will ALWAYS remember it and will likely never happen again. Some things you just have to learn and know....and i'm not trying to beat you up---you asked and i'm giving my opinion. I'll bet we've all done something similar.

 

[C.B. Lorch]

CB,
as time goes by, you will find your own practice and workflow shooting. It's been beat in my head and many others heads when working on a production...check, check, check.....have a checklist and move on. That said, this has always been a great way to go off and be a lone shooter...if you have not had that experience, then you will come to your own conclusions and way to shoot in order not to avoid this. Perhaps most important is managing the rush. Needless to say, there are various reasons to keep audio meters running.....but more important is to know where you are in your shot list.....In cases of many of us divers that are also shooters and then add the complexity of diving rebreathers....if we screw up something on our checklist or forget something critical....the results can be disastrous...(from the mixed gas rebreather apparatus that is).....this just re-establishes MY personal feelings on how i manage the camera and shots....Also, there are not too many sets that will be forgiving of an A/C that screwed up something like this....and chances are they will ALWAYS remember it and will likely never happen again. Some things you just have to learn and know....and i'm not trying to beat you up---you asked and i'm giving my opinion. I'll bet we've all done something similar.

Maybe you didn't hear me, I got the memo!
I've been a shooter for many years, I'm no "rookie", and I still made the mistake. I agree with "managing the rush" but there are times when the pace is dictated by the crew and the shoot, and mistakes have the chance to happen. This was one of those times and a mistake did happen. I'm just recommending a way that it might be prevented for the next person. With A RED you don't get meters which lets you know you don't have audio. Not so with Epic.
As far as "learn and know", I don't care how much you've "learned and know" you can make a mistake. This is the first time I made this mistake and again, I certainly think I won't again soon ( never say never) make, but it can happen!
I'm glad you have your "checklist" , but if you thought you had something on your " checklist" and didn't, then how good is your " checklist"? Unless you're a robot, then you too can make a mistake, "checklist" or not,
And, as " time goes by" in my career, I realize more and more that this industry is full of very large egos. I personally think of myself as just a guy who takes pictures, despite a successful 15 years + as a shooter, and with multiple Emmys or not. I'm glad you never make mistakes but not all of us can reach absolute perfection. We're just hear to learn from the great ones.

 

[C.B. Lorch]

Because continuous audio monitoring is useful for knowing instantly when there's a camera audio, microphone or sound cable fault. If you're recording audio on the camera, that's good to have. If there's an audio fault while you're recording varispeed, you won't know about it until you go back to normal speed - which would give the same result you are trying to avoid , ie a lost take.

However, on the Red One/MX, you don't get audio meters in Varispeed - there's a fairly big label over the audio meter area saying Varispeed is selected and audio is disabled. I'm not next to an Epic/Scarlet, so can't say if that is the case with those cameras. IF it isn't, and you are getting audio meters then I would support the same labelling as on Red One/MX. But I want to keep continuous audio monitoring.

Absolutely! I thought the RED disabled meters or monitoring or something but couldn't remember 100%. But everything keeps ticking with Epic, just the same as if you're capturing audio.
I don't need to know if there's a fault unless I'm actually wanting to record. If im trying to capture audio to the camera and hear anything ill instantly know and could make a fix and can cut the take and correct the issue. But that said, why not make it user selectable maybe. That way each shooter could choose.

 

[TheBied]

Absolutely! I thought the RED disabled meters or monitoring or something but couldn't remember 100%. But everything keeps ticking with Epic, just the same as if you're capturing audio.
I don't need to know if there's a fault unless I'm actually wanting to record. If im trying to capture audio to the camera and hear anything ill instantly know and could make a fix and can cut the take and correct the issue. But that said, why not make it user selectable maybe. That way each shooter could choose.

When you go off-speed in EPIC and Scarlet, the audio meters are removed and replaced with a "Varispeed" label.

 

[C.B. Lorch]

Matthew
Went back and looked and I guess I was just more of a screw-up than I thought yesterday! If I had to testify under oath I would have said I was seeing meters, but since that doesn't seem possible...
Thanks!

 

[Barry Bishop]

Ive made the same mistake, hard lesson learned.