On the spot vocals for commercial

[deadtrick]

Most production sound mixers use a combination of a portable sound mixer and recorder, such as those made by Sound Devices. For your situation, I'd recommend renting out a Sound Devices 552 (or 442) mixer, and a Sound Devices 744T recorder. If you want to save on costs, the 552 even comes with a recorder built in, but I prefer having a screen and dedicated recorder.

The folks at jwsound are a great resource for production sound recording.

[FistFightRVA]

Thanks! That is definitely helpful. I see what route I may have to take. Just curious, and this may be dumb, but what about using one of these things hooked up to a interface?

http://m.guitarcenter.com/Nady-U-41-...80-i1540774.gc

[postfieldmusic]

Originally Posted by FistFightRVA

Thanks! That is definitely helpful. I see what route I may have to take. Just curious, and this may be dumb, but what about using one of these things hooked up to a interface?

Nady U-41 Quad Omni Lav Wireless System (14/16/10/12) | GuitarCenter

I wouldn´t recommend anything but lavs, wireless systems and recorders that you find in a rental place for film and tv work. I.e gear for field work. You probably need to be mobile and have equipment running on batteries. I´d also consider using a boom mic together with the lavs.

arvid

[misscc803]

Sound Devices 442/552 with a Sound Devices 744
Edirol R44
Tascam DR-680

Sennheiser G2/G3 wireless
Lectrosonics 200 or 400 series

Use Oscar Tech TL-40 or Sanken COS-11 mics

Hope you got it worked out. Need any other help let me know.

Nicole

[philper]

Originally Posted by FistFightRVA

Thanks! That is definitely helpful. I see what route I may have to take. Just curious, and this may be dumb, but what about using one of these things hooked up to a interface?

Nady U-41 Quad Omni Lav Wireless System (14/16/10/12) | GuitarCenter

For recording there are a lot of ways to skin the cat, esp if you don't need TC. But with wireless you get exactly what you pay for. If you don't have much experience with wireless mic use on location I'd recommend renting for the job and getting some consulting help from the renter about choices of freqs for your location. Don't assume the range will be good--if you've picked a freq that is already occupied by another user then you won't have any range at all (and you'll be illegal to boot). Re recording--your laptop rig will work but it will be cumbersome on location without a cart, and requires AC power, meaning a cable run in what might be a high traffic area. I've found that for the kind of situation you describe being mobile and wireless is very helpful. By this I mean a "bag rig" with everything on battery power. It is also very possible that your clients may want a way to "listen in" on the wired subjects, esp if they are in a noisy mall or store and aren't right in front of you (Comtek or etc).. Good luck

philp

[Jay Rose]

If at all possible, record to isolated tracks as well as providing the mix your clients want for the camera. On-the-spot mixing of 4-mic adlib interviews is difficult even for professionals. And I suspect the client won't want something like head mics, which means you're going to either have background noise buildup or a flangy cancellation any time more than one mic is up.

If you record isos, there's a better chance of rescuing the good comments - and the commercial - in post. Besides, you might be able to bill a few more hours doing the post mix..