Todays class exercise consisted of a group filming exercise. Preparation for this included setting up the camera and checking the sound connections. On these cameras it is possible to record 2 separate audio simultaneously. This can be advantageous for many reasons. It enables you to record to different things, possibly 2 things that are occurring simultaneously at different locations or on different sides of the set. It also enables you to record the same audio at different levels. This is advantageous because it gives you more freedom to experiment with variables in the audio. If there is too much contrast between different sounds you can turn one audio recording up and the other down to make a more cohesive and balanced product. In the future I would like to experiment with recording the 2 channels, having one on automatic settings whilst experimenting with the other channel myself. This will give me a constant result that I am able to compare with the variables in my own experimentation in order to understand the effects.
When setting up the boom, or other external audio recording devices you are able to set the receiver to Line – this is used when you are using an appliance other then a mic, Dynamic – recording the action that is occurring in the present moment using a microphone that doesn’t require a power source e.g is battery operated or Audio 48 Vault. This last option allows you to operate a mic that does not contain batteries or its own power source. Instead it takes 48 vaults of the camera power in order for it to operate.
2 different types of microphones. Dynamic – doesn’t need power (sometimes battery operated). Condenser microphone – more sensitive, audio recording such as dialogue.
On set there were also a few considerations with the boom. We had to give the boom operator an idea of the freedom they had to operate the boom before it interfered with the shot. Lighting and shadows were also a consideration in order to make sure the boom could not be seen. Reflections another consideration that we should have taken into account and did not consider until we hit the editing rooms. When operating the boom we aimed to position it above and in front of the actors as sound is projected forward. We also had the tip of the mic pointing forward under the impression that the tip of the mic had a stronger, more powerful and more direct recording ability then the rest of the mic, unsure if this is the case?