5.1 Location sound suggestions

[Wolfgang]

Hey!

Next month i have to record 5.1 location sounds for a documentary im scoring/mixing.

Thus far, i will have a Holophone H-2 mic and a Powerbook as a recorder (into Nuendo).

What i need is a compact solution for the Pre's and converters.

I'd LOVE to have all in one!! But i cant imagine there being such a solution.

This may be a dirty comment here, but the quality of the pre's is less important than the portablitiy.

I will need 8 channels (w/ phantom power) ... and 8 channels of A/D --- i'd LOVE if it were firewire compatible. But ...

Any suggestions?? Hopefully with all the valuable knowledge here i can find the perfect modern solution.

Thanks!
Wolfgang

[Wolfgang]

Maybe this isnt the best place to ask, anyone know of a good audio-post forum ?

Thanks Again!!

[GPl]

Hmm.....Motu896 if your not so worried about the pre's. 8 channels/with 48v and it's firewire.

Then there's metric halo, rme fireface(4 pre's with 48v).

[Beech]

I record the W,X.Y,Z outputs from a Soundfield mic and decode it later with the SP451 box. For pres I'm happy with the PreSonus Digimax A/D, using it's line inputs of course, since the Soundfield comes with it's own pre.

[Wolfgang]

Thanks !!!

I may go with the 828 ... i have a HD192 and love it (i know, not very slutty, but works for my modest needs).

Those pre's will do fine for recording birds, and waterfalls, surely.

How do you like the Soundfied ? The H-2 is probably more than i need, but i like the idea of 8 channels to choose from, the seperation is quite nice.

[hollywood_steve]

If portability is really the number 1 priority, you might want to consider the RME Octamic; 8ch of decent preamps with converters all in a single rack space.

http://www.rme-audio.com/english/mic...c.htm#OCTAMICD

I use the QuadMic (4ch version without converters) and it is a step above the "prosumer" gear you find at guitar stores.

[Wolfgang]

Hey thanks Steve !! I had no idea RME made such a product, im very happy with the converters in my HD9654's. Surely i wont be disapointed!!

Please forgive my neivity on this subject - i've never been asked to do on location audio of this caliber.

Well, for this project i will be treking through the mountains of North Carolina recording nat sounds. All the shooting is finished, but we decided to go back to the location and capture the sounds in the raw, rather than cheeky sound design. So ... i need to go to several locations in a few days ... and well, what do i do for power ???

Thus far, i will have 3 devices, the laptop / firewire drive, and the pre/converters. Can i use the cig lighter in the truck?? Never heard of portable battery packs for this type of thing ... yes, would be much easier with a portable Dat ... but this is 8 channels ...

I appreciate all the help, keep'em coming and i'll hook ya up with some ambient birdies and waterfalls!!

[Killahurts]

Wolfgang,

maybe this is what you're looking for:

http://www.mhlabs.com/products/2882.html

I believe they run directly from the firewire power of the laptop, or you can use any DC source between 9 and 30 volts (your trucks cig lighter?).

[Jules]

[Wolfgang]

Threads back from the dead @!!@!!

[PlugHead]

Originally posted by Wolfgang

snip...
Well, for this project i will be treking through the mountains of North Carolina recording nat sounds. All the shooting is finished, but we decided to go back to the location and capture the sounds in the raw, rather than cheeky sound design. So ... i need to go to several locations in a few days ... and well, what do i do for power ???
snip...

FWIW,

I bought a powerbrick AC/DC inverter (750W X 2 outlets) that can power my powerbook, pre's, and converters for a couple of hrs - there are larger (1500W X 4 outlets) ones available, and are only a couple of hundred bucks (Cdn) for double the power. They are very useful, and can double as a car battery, and can charge up while you drive... In this country, Canadian Tire sells them... Gotta be some outlet elsewhere that they're available?!

Just a suggestion - best of luck with it!