Sunday, May 08, 2005
My Camcorder Rig
This is my first big camcorder adventure (other than www.TenThousandSmiles.com's adventure, see here for it's wikipedia article). Hopefully we'll get some very interested people reading this blog wondering about the equipment we're using. I hope this post (which i will update with additional pictures) answers these questions.
I bought on ebay an older Sony DVR-9 camcorder. I only got it because of a pretty darn good price as it was bundled with several desired accessories: 0.7x wide angle lens, 3 batteries, camera case, ND (neutral density) filter, and clear protective filter.
Audio recorded in the integrated microphone will not be very good. Ever.
For interviews, I bought a wireless Audio-Technica PRO88W lavaliere microphone ($110), as well as a wired ATR35 lav ($35). The wireless one isn't that great, as there is not consistent static, but you hear "sssspts" or "vhwwwwtsss" sounds occassionally. We'll see if I can remove it in post production (which will be Adobe Premiere Pro or Sony Vegas 5 + Sound Forge). Range on the wireless is reasonable (dozens of feet at about the same quality), but the aforementioned "ssspts" sounds occur unless it is inches away.
For shooting when I can't mic the speaker, or there is more than one (as I didn't buy a mixer for several mics used at once), I purchased an Audio-Technica ATR55 shotgun microphone ($70). It uses a standard AA battery which lasts many hours and has cardiod and super-cardiod response patterns. This means it is directional, or ultra narrow angle directional. It is mono, but that is fine for me now.
One problem with this microphone is it doesn't have a shock mount that comes with it. So I had to make one. This was not hard, but I was really tired so I tried ridiculous stuff that delayed my success (like cut up rubber tupperware standoffs--don't ask!) I made this one all from parts I found nearby the day before I left for India. I worked all night long and got it to finally work (see the picture at my co-op house where I spread out all over the dining hall).
The key with shock mounts is to isolate all vibration, shocks and scratching from the camera from going into the microphone. If a shock gets to the mic, there will be a very loud noise recorded that you don't want. I isolate the mic through packing foam and rubber bands (mostly it's rubber bands that does it, the foam is just a shim).
I found a square PVC fence post in the shed and cut it up, then I got some metal and bent it with vice grips to fit around the PVC. I painted it all black. I glued foam with some type of bathroom caulk found in said shed. Also, I cut slots in the ends to string up rubber bands through. I made two, one long and one short, but now I only use the short one. I drilled holes in the metal and hooked it the half of the camera mount that came with the mic.
It works great!
camera with shotgun (without "dead cat" wind reducer)
components of the microphone shock reducer
I bought on ebay an older Sony DVR-9 camcorder. I only got it because of a pretty darn good price as it was bundled with several desired accessories: 0.7x wide angle lens, 3 batteries, camera case, ND (neutral density) filter, and clear protective filter.
Audio recorded in the integrated microphone will not be very good. Ever.
For interviews, I bought a wireless Audio-Technica PRO88W lavaliere microphone ($110), as well as a wired ATR35 lav ($35). The wireless one isn't that great, as there is not consistent static, but you hear "sssspts" or "vhwwwwtsss" sounds occassionally. We'll see if I can remove it in post production (which will be Adobe Premiere Pro or Sony Vegas 5 + Sound Forge). Range on the wireless is reasonable (dozens of feet at about the same quality), but the aforementioned "ssspts" sounds occur unless it is inches away.
For shooting when I can't mic the speaker, or there is more than one (as I didn't buy a mixer for several mics used at once), I purchased an Audio-Technica ATR55 shotgun microphone ($70). It uses a standard AA battery which lasts many hours and has cardiod and super-cardiod response patterns. This means it is directional, or ultra narrow angle directional. It is mono, but that is fine for me now.
One problem with this microphone is it doesn't have a shock mount that comes with it. So I had to make one. This was not hard, but I was really tired so I tried ridiculous stuff that delayed my success (like cut up rubber tupperware standoffs--don't ask!) I made this one all from parts I found nearby the day before I left for India. I worked all night long and got it to finally work (see the picture at my co-op house where I spread out all over the dining hall).
The key with shock mounts is to isolate all vibration, shocks and scratching from the camera from going into the microphone. If a shock gets to the mic, there will be a very loud noise recorded that you don't want. I isolate the mic through packing foam and rubber bands (mostly it's rubber bands that does it, the foam is just a shim).
I found a square PVC fence post in the shed and cut it up, then I got some metal and bent it with vice grips to fit around the PVC. I painted it all black. I glued foam with some type of bathroom caulk found in said shed. Also, I cut slots in the ends to string up rubber bands through. I made two, one long and one short, but now I only use the short one. I drilled holes in the metal and hooked it the half of the camera mount that came with the mic.
It works great!
camera with shotgun (without "dead cat" wind reducer)
components of the microphone shock reducer
