Capturing Audio for Post

[Heartfelt]

Guys(and Gals),

I am using a pair of Panny HMC-40's, one with an XLR adapter. I h ave been shy
of capturing audio on board and instead have been using a small interface and a
PC. In post (Vegas Pro 9) I usually have to time stretch video or audio a
smidgen to get things locked up and it is ok but it bothers me that I haven't
gotten to the point of being able to use the onboard audio ability.

I would like the redundancy and would like the simplicity when it works.

I generally capture lectures and am catching audio from whatever facility's
mixer, via feed. In most cases, the audio isn't loud enough and/or, I get hum
that I have to later sculpt out with EQ.

So, my point in posting is to see if any of you have experience doing this and
may be able to give me a tip or procedure or two towards better post "posture".

Thanks in advance,

Rob

[josh broome]

If you are not happy with the level you are recieving you need to turn it up at the board, do a level check before the presentation with your loudest peaks at about -6db. If you are getting a hum have you tried an iso-transformer? These are used in corporate presentations often to avoid hum.

here's an example, I can't say anything about the brand or product

Connectronics XLR-ISO 600 Ohm XLR Audio Isolation Transformer at Markertek.co.uk

[Heartfelt]

I guess those things are a bit obvious. I appreciate the lead on the transformer. I will pick that up. On the volume thing, I guess it was a bit of venting about tech performance.

On a related note, is it typical for people to capture audio separately for post or do you see a lot of footage with audio and video both captured on-board the camera?

I am wanting to work towards the latter unless it is a given that it usually isn't the best answer.

Also, if you were to split audio for recording devices, as in my case (camera/PC Interface), is it typical to ask for two feeds or is there an easy way to split the feed, yourself?

Sorry if the questions seem a bit basic.
Rob

[Fajita]

probably better to bring your own mixer to the party to split the audio. for sync though, both recorders should be locked together.

[philper]

Originally Posted by Heartfelt

I guess those things are a bit obvious. I appreciate the lead on the transformer. I will pick that up. On the volume thing, I guess it was a bit of venting about tech performance.

On a related note, is it typical for people to capture audio separately for post or do you see a lot of footage with audio and video both captured on-board the camera?

I am wanting to work towards the latter unless it is a given that it usually isn't the best answer.

Also, if you were to split audio for recording devices, as in my case (camera/PC Interface), is it typical to ask for two feeds or is there an easy way to split the feed, yourself?

Sorry if the questions seem a bit basic.
Rob

Capturing audio on a cheap video camera is not the best answer--I sense you knew this before you asked, and probably know why this is. You will get far better audio by recording your sound on an inexpensive file-based recorder (or an interface+computer rig) than virtually any video camera at any price will record, incl expensive hi def cams. Sync accuracy depends on how accurate the clocks are driving your systems and how long they have to roll for. 10 min--probably no problem if the sample rates are the same. 1 hr.: you need to get everything on the same clock, or do some cuts and pull ups in post (better than living with the artifacts of an overall timestretch). Check the thread on the Tascam DR680--currently one of the best bang-for-buck recorders out there.

Philip Perkins