Making Your Own Podcast, Episode 3: Audio

Audiences and customers are more willing to endure poor video quality than they are poor sound quality. Audio has to be a big priority when shooting your podcast, which is made harder because on-camera microphones suck!

So, how do we solve it? The biggest podcast we publish right now goes to about 1,400 EMS leaders across the world. We use a "dual system", where we record audio to an audio recorder and video to the cameras. We'll show you what we use and why it works, but we'll also talk about how to "single system" it - how to use the video camera to record better sound.

We use the Canon HV20 camera, so a single system has to include an XLR adapter. We use, and prefer, JuicedLink. Since we use mics requiring phantom power, we use the CX231.

I show off our audio tech's bag, which includes a Roland/Edirol R-4 mixer/recorder, and while that's how we get sound it's not required to get great sound. We do it because of the metering and filtering features, and it records four discrete channels - really useful for a multi-person interview or short movie.

So, what mics do you get to listen to? We boom the Oktava MK-012 microphone over my head. The MK012 with the cardioid head is great for indoor sound. We lav me up with two wireless systems - both Sennheiser eW112. The eW100 series is a great wireless system, but the stock mics from it are kind of crummy. We upgraded to the Countryman B6 and B3. The B-6 is half the size of the still tiny B-3, and the only reason I had them both on was to let you listen to them discretely.

I strongly recommend some equipment and shops in the podcast. Each recommendation is for a shop we've used extensively, or equipment we use daily. It's stood up to our gentle abuse. I mention that we're not as abusive as the Discovery TV show Dirty Jobs, which is both true AND obvious, but I'm still comfortable saying if it's worked after we've banged it around, it'll do okay for you. Hopefully. :)

I hope you find the podcast helpful, and that your video quality gets better because of it!

Category:

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Tags:

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• EMS
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• MK012
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• audio
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[dvamateur]

By the way, if I had the money, I'd get the Canon XL-H1s and sync it with Edirol R4 Pro via SMPTE. Hey, nice to dream, heh?

[danalove]

I'd dream of a non-HDV format, like the PMW-EX1 or the HPX300. But dreaming is fun!

[dvamateur]

I have a question, I have two Sony wireless mics, the UWP-V1's, one older in gray case, and the other one the new one, black. I know that both models come in two frequency ranges. For instance, the new model comes iin two versions: 566 to 590MHz and 638-662 MHz. I don't even know which one I have, but do I need to have two mics with difference frequency ranges to mount them under the shirt collar like you did?

[danalove]

The microphones aren't frequency dependent, though the connectors are specific to just brand of transmitter. They also don't need to be different frequency ranges - we use two of the Sennheiser eW100 series, both are range A transmitters. The benefit to having the same range is we have backups!

[hypnosiscenternyc]

Hope You Do one on your excellent lighting setup.



[hypnosiscenternyc]

Love the sound of the Oktava ... Great lighting .. background ....

[musiccalgary]

You can't just use multiple mics without phase cancellation...

[oscarteos]

Is not better to buy the Yeti by Blue microphones?

[neworleansrocks]

a VERY great review of audio equipment and how to incorporate it into video.

I am an audio freak so I may be a little biased but I think audio is the most important requirement when shooting video. Camera affects can be applied later to make things brighter to see more but if you have bad audio from an onboard camera, it will be bad from start to finish, in my opinion.

if you do another BTS of audio, get specific down to what kind of boompole is used and what headphones to monitor with. thanks!

[dvamateur]

@danalove I forgot to mention, but I am sure you're aware of the fact that all wirless microphones with the frequency range above 700MHz will be rendered illegal after June 12 this year. My old UWP-V1 mic is in that range. I wonder if they'd arrest me or confiscate my equipment if they catch me using the wireless mic working withing illegal UHF range.