Equipment recommendations for a pretty specific situation...

L

Last Place Jason

Hello all! I've been lurking for about two months. First, thanks! I have learned a ton of great info that would be nearly impossible to find on the 'net easily.

Anyway, I was wondering if the collective knowledge base could give me some specific recommendations. After doing some searches and reading many posts, I wasn't able to find specifics. Here's my situation:

My wife and I are in the process of planning a six month or longer road trip in an RV with our three kids and dog. I would like to document the trip and post the vids on YouTube. I have an outdoor wear manufacturer sponsoring the trip (I am a barefoot runner; we will be conducting clinics as an ambassador for the company). While I am not looking for professional quality, you guys have sparked a near-obsession with film. I would like to produce the highest quality videos possible. One more variable- my wife and I are also planning on dabbling in photography.

Right now, we have one T2i. We'll probably get another before we begin the trip. I think these will serve their purpose- shoot pretty good stills with good-enough video quality. My greatest concern is sound. I would be shooting interviews, various subjects running, and some inside-the-RV shots. I have an Azden SMX-10 mic, but the quality isn't great. Ideally, I'd like an off-camera sound system. It would have to be easily portable and flexible. It would be great if i could have the option to run several wireless lavs or other situation-specific mics (like a shotgun). My budget for the entire sound system would be around $800-1000.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
 
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Are you going to have anyone to help you shoot and do sound?

Are the interviews sit-down or run'n'gun? Indoors and/or outdoors?

How much experience do you - and/or your family - have with sound and sound equipment?

How much effort do you want to put into the sound? (Low budget = more work; high budget = less work and higher reliability)

A budget of $1k is going to get you a lot less than you think it will. Even the raw basics (H4n, NTG-2) already puts you at $600, and you haven't even gotten the needed accessories. A reliable wireless lav system is about $600; even a "cheap" one is about $300. You have to set your priorities and work your budget from there.
 
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Alcove Audio said:
Are you going to have anyone to help you shoot and do sound?

Are the interviews sit-down or run'n'gun? Indoors and/or outdoors?

How much experience do you - and/or your family - have with sound and sound equipment?

How much effort do you want to put into the sound? (Low budget = more work; high budget = less work and higher reliability)

A budget of $1k is going to get you a lot less than you think it will. Even the raw basics (H4n, NTG-2) already puts you at $600, and you haven't even gotten the needed accessories. A reliable wireless lav system is about $600; even a "cheap" one is about $300. You have to set your priorities and work your budget from there.
Click to expand...

Thanks Alcove- interviews will be both sit-down and run'n'gun; indoors and out.

We have a crew of two or three depending on the situation. We have little technical experience with sound. One of the goals of the trip is to learn new things via hands-on experiences. I've learned quite a bit from this forum and the linked articles, but I suspect it is a drop in the hat.

Ideally, I would like as reliable of a system as possible within my budget given the difficulty of dedicating a crew member exclusively to sound. On a continuum of reliability versus quality, I would nudge toward reliability.

I can work with the very raw basics, then add accessories over time. For example, I could get by with the recorder and shotgun, then add the wireless system in the future. This would be an update of the budget:

Recorder and shotgun: $1k

Wireless system, preferably one that could utilize at least two wireless lavs and/or a wireless handheld: $1k
 
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Here's the basics:

Headphones:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/49510-REG/Sony_MDR_7506_MDR_7506_Headphone.html

Whoever is doing the audio should be monitoring the audio at all times.

Shotgun Kit:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/421940-REG/Rode_NTG_2_Shotgun_Microphone.html

Make sure that you have LOTS of extra batteries and change them often.

Recorder:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...100_DR_100_Professional_Portable_Digital.html

Make sure that you have LOTS of extra batteries and change them often.

Wireless Lav Systems:

For folks like me - who do audio for a living - the Sennheiser G3 series at $600 per set (lav, transmitter, receiver) is the minimum in terms of sound quality and reliability; the lav is fine for ENG/Documentary work where the lav will be seen. That means two would set you back $1,200. That may seem pricey to you, but when the professional standard is the Lectrosonics 400 series at $3k per set (without the lav) the G3s are a bargain. If that goes way beyond your budget the Audio Technica 800 series are okay ($500/set).

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...ser_EW_112P_G3_A_EW112_p_G3_Camera_Mount.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ..._ATW_1811C_ATW_1811C_Wireless_Microphone.html

Remember, if you use two (2) wireless systems they will need to have different frequencies.

If you want to go with a wireless handheld mic for interviews the Sennheiser G3 Wireless ENG Kit may be just the thing:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/641012-REG/Sennheiser_EW100_G3_Wireless_ENG.html

Make sure that you have LOTS of extra batteries and change them often.


You will still have to spring for cables, cases and other misc. accessories. Oh, and did I mention LOTS OF BATTERIES!

There are a number of hard-wired lav and interview mic solutions if that is the way you decide you want to go.


No matter what you do, avoid Azden products like syphilitic plague rats.
 
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I have had good luck w/ some testing on this wireless lav system. it is cheap ... $120. So far so good. Not too much static as long as I stay away from fluorescent lights and computers. I know there are better, but so far so good

51U%2BmBLZZ7L._SL500_AA300_.jpg


Wireless Lav Amazon << Click to see







.
 
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