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What's your current audio setup? 2017

A

Akin A

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What audio gear are you using in 2017?
I'll start.

Microphones
Indoor: Sennheiser MKH 416 (I know, no shotguns indoors... part of the reason I made this thread)
Outdoor: Sennheiser MKH 416

Mixer: Sound Devices MixPre-3

Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre-3

Timecode: none

Boompole: Rode Boompole

Suspension: Rycote Lyre Shock Mount

Wind Protection: Rode Blimp, Rode DeadWombat

Headphones: Sennheiser HD 280 Pro
 
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Akin A said:
What audio gear are you using in 2017?
I'll start.

Microphones
Indoor: Sennheiser MKH 416 (I know, no shotguns indoors... part of the reason I made this thread)
Outdoor: Sennheiser MKH 416

Mixer: Sound Devices MixPre-3

Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre-3

Timecode: none

Boompole: Rode Boompole

Suspension: Rycote Lyre Shock Mount

Wind Protection: Rode Blimp, Rode DeadWombat

Headphones: Sennheiser HD 280 Pro
Click to expand...

Why no timecode? Isn't it a bitch to sync everything manual?

I would sugest looking at a tentacle sync. I use them with the mixpre 6 it's rock solid:)
 
I need to preface this by saying that this is MY kit that I use on projects when I'm not hiring a production sound person. For anything critical, it's the professional sound person that I need and they usually come with gear and it's always better stuff. Really, it's the sound person that makes all the difference. It's always what I prefer, it is always really worth it, but sometimes it's not an option. This is what I have for that:

Sennheiser MKH 416 shotgun w Rycote softie
Audix SCX1/HC Microphone, Hypercardioid (surprisingly good but I want to replace it with the Sennheiser MKH 50 P48)
3 Sennheiser G3s with power adapters for the receivers and Countryman EMWs in an ORCA 30 bag
Zoom F8
1 tentacle that I sync to the recorder then hang on the camera. It holds perfectly but you must sync again if you cycle power on the mixer
not sure about the boom pole + Rycote invision suspension mount
Sony MDR 7506 headphones
comtek M72 trans + 3 receivers, the old ones
some other stuff


I recommend the tentacle. It's so nice to have reliable time code and saves a boat load of time. I still have, in case anyone wants to buy it, a SD 442 w portabrace bag and breakaway cable, that I'm not using anymore.
 
I'm all over the board when it comes to audio:

Mics: Sennheiser MKH-50, 8x Senn G3s wireless kits, 3x Audix SCX1/HC, 2x EV RE-20, and Rode VideoMicPro (for scratch)

Boom: K-Tek internal carbon boompole w/ Rycote softie & InVision mkIII shockmount

Recorder: Zoom F4 w/ TC jam cable

Mixer: X32 rack mount mixer w/ s16 snake & xTouch controller (for live event mixing)

Headphones: 3x Audio Technica M50x

I just got the TC jam cable, and have yet to see how well it holds up. If it slips, then I'll be switching from the F4 to a mixPre3
 
I found if I used the cable and stayed tethered I got no drift with the F8 and no drift syncing the tentacle to the recorder then feeding TC to the camera from it. The F8 recorder holds. I've heard that some people can sync the camera to the recorder then disconnect but that didn't work for me. The camera drifted.
 
Hugh Scully said:
I've heard that some people can sync the camera to the recorder then disconnect but that didn't work for me. The camera drifted.
Click to expand...

This is what worries me. I know that I should have TC sync boxes attached, but I hate clutter. So I'll have to do some testing and hope the camera doesn't drift too far. Can't say I'm overly optimistic.
 
Jaimy Soares said:
Why no timecode? Isn't it a bitch to sync everything manual?

I would sugest looking at a tentacle sync. I use them with the mixpre 6 it's rock solid:)
Click to expand...
I'm auto syncing using waveforms at the moment. I'm sending the stereo output of the MixPre-3 back to the Epic Dragon brain's mic input, so the syncing is pretty reliable. I just started using the MixPre-3, so I'll see how well this goes without timecode for now.

Btw, my post wasn't meant to recommend my setup. I want to know what everybody is rocking, so when I upgrade, I know what's current.
 
Nathan DuMoulin said:
This is what worries me. I know that I should have TC sync boxes attached, but I hate clutter. So I'll have to do some testing and hope the camera doesn't drift too far. Can't say I'm overly optimistic.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I have a Scarlet Dragon and it drifts on me without the tentacle. They're pretty small and very light, one bongo tie and I'm good. How do you like that MKH 50 especially as it compares to the Audix? I think the Audix has such a nice generous pickup pattern and is pretty punchy but sometimes a little harsh on the lower mid range. It gets a little "barky" on male voices for me so I was thinking of upgrading to the MKH 50 48.
 
Good mics -> good mic preamps :

Schoeps CCM41 and CCM8 MS config in Cinela Leonardo
Sonosax SX-R4 recorder
Lectrosonics SRB and 2 SMB
Voice Technologies VT506

That's it. ;-)
 
Some good gear ideas listed above. I think a wider-pattern cardioid (like a Sennheiser MKH50 or a Schoeps 641) would be good to have for indoors, and lavs and wireless transmitters & receivers are a necessity these days. I would also look into a power management system to power all the gear off of external batteries, like a BDS.

If you're in NYC, note that there's several good audio rental companies there that will rent you the components you don't own when you just need them for a day or two.
 
My website has a quite detailed break down of most of my main gear I use:

http://IronFilm.co.nz/sound/

But in brief the core is:
Zoom F4 + 3x Sony UWP-D11 + Sanken CS3E + Oktava + Aputure Deity + 2x Tentacle Syncs + RodeLink Newsshooter Kit + Samson C02 + Tram TR50 lavs + Sound Devices 552 + heaps and heaps more...

Just very very recently (today!) purchased a total of four Lectrosonics UCR210D, so I'll be upgrading that aspect of my mixing bag for some kinds of shoots once they arrive.
 
Hugh Scully said:
I found if I used the cable and stayed tethered I got no drift with the F8 and no drift syncing the tentacle to the recorder then feeding TC to the camera from it. The F8 recorder holds. I've heard that some people can sync the camera to the recorder then disconnect but that didn't work for me. The camera drifted.
Click to expand...

I only get drift after shutting down or swapping batteries. A quick cable resync and all is well.

I'm getting this guy as soon as they ship though. Only $300.

http://www.timecodesystems.com/products-home/ultrasync-one/
 
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My audio gear:


  • Zoom F8 field recorder
  • Tascam DR-40 field recorder
  • Sennheiser MKH-50 (indoors) and MKH-60 (outdoors) microphones
  • Four RODE Rodelink Wireless Lav kits
  • Behringer C-2 Condenser Microphone pair
  • Rode Blimp windshield system
  • Gitzo boompole


That's the equipment I pick from when doing small, one-man-band type shoots. I don't use timecode, because sync in Premiere is super easy based on waveform analysis and takes a couple of seconds. It works great, and I don't get any audio drift, even shooting long (2+ hour) events.

If I do a shoot that requires more elaborate setups or more advanced equipment than what I have, I hire a pro sound person.
 
Sorry, I only have my studio Setup.

Mics:
Sony C800g
Voxorama Typ 47
Neumann U87
Shure SM7b
Shure SM58
...

Preamps:
Neve 1073
Bae 1028
Siemens V72
...

ADDA Converter:
Jünger Audio 8000

Hardware:
Universal Audio La2a
Universal Audio 1176
BAE 10DC
Akai S950
BAE 1028 EQ
...
 
recently got the timecode systems ultrasonic -- very satisfied, especially if you have a SD 633, their software bridges between both nicely.
 
Jaimy Soares said:
Why no timecode? Isn't it a bitch to sync everything manual?

I would sugest looking at a tentacle sync. I use them with the mixpre 6 it's rock solid:)
Click to expand...

Hi Jaimy
I am interested in the Sound Devices Mix pre 3 or 6. I am wondering how you sync your recorder with a Red camera?
From my reading the SD mix pre series only out put time code through HDMI or do I have that wrong?
The mix pre 3 seems very light, so that interests me whereas according to spec sheet i have read the Zoom 4 is heavier than the Zoom 8??? maybe I have that wrong as well?
I live in a remote area so i can't easily see these devices so any help would be appreciated.
 
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