Now im working on a small webseries, and basically everything is pretty good and set for production (We haven't started to shoot yet) but were having problems with sound.
Obviously, because were using a VERY cheap Camera and using its Mic to do audio, its going to turn out horrible.
We really have no budget and I've read through some posts about sound, but the Mics seem to be in the Hundreds range of cash. We have no budget really, but would at least like to HEAR our actors speak.
Is there any cheap way around this? I've heard of people making boomsticks from old mics and things, just to get closer to the actors mouths.
I know of ADR and everything, but its hard and just doesn't feel right when recorded over.
So I was just curious if there were any ways around buying a Shotgun mic or just a simple way to SLIGHTLY make your actors sound clearer.
At times they have to practically yell to get the dialogue heard.
Thanks!
There is only one solution: the mic needs to be close to the actor. If it isn't a "shotgun" mic - a generic term that means any long barreled mic with a ?lobar? pick up pattern - then you have to get it even closer. On stage and in studios you always see performers very, very close to the mic's. They are using very good, very expensive mics - the pick up pattern is different than a shotgun.
If you bring your camera's mic to within six to eight inches of the actor, you will get the slightly better sound you're looking for. Not very practical.
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Originally posted by darkwolf416
Is there any cheap way around this? I've heard of people making boomsticks from old mics and things, just to get closer to the actors mouths.
A boom pole is something very different from the mic. The boom is the device used to get the mic close, you can't make a boom out of an old mic. But you CAN make a boom-pole out of an old broom or painters pole. If you attach an old mic to a painters pole and get it very close to the actors, you will get better dialogue tracks.
Other than ADR - which as you know is time consuming and doesn't always work with less experienced actors and recordists - I don't know any way of getting good dialogue tracks without spending some money for a good mic.
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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
Hmm ok thank you. I suppose I'll just have to work really hard to achieve a clear sound without a mic.
If it gets too bad I'll invest in one.
I use a cheap Sony Digital 8, DCR-TRV140. Not the best, obviously.
The best thing you could do is get a sound recordist or someone who has an idea what they are doing and wants some experience to come and do the sound recording for you. If you can't afford to pay them you could just offer them a cd/dvd of the film for them to add to thier portfolio, I'm sure there will be lots of people willing to do this, its how I started out.
Most sound people have there own equipment so that would solve your problem. You could advertise on www.mandy.com for free too.
You could also hire the equipment, I don't know where your based but there's a place just down the road from me in Bradford that hire out broadcast/audio gear.
All the best
Adrian
Sound Designer
If you need to avoid a shotgun mic because of expense, you might consider wired lavalier/lavaliere mics. These are the little mics that clip to clothing (I think Radio Shack actually calls them Tie-clip mics or something and sells them for around $20). It would be a pain, but you could mic your actors and the sound will come out decent.
Hope this helps.
Dan Rahmel
Author: "Nuts and Bolts Filmmaking"
Free scripts, templates, film glossary, and know-how,
check out: http://www.cvisual.com
Cool suggestion thanks!
I'm a bit confused though, so the mic would clip onto the actor, and the cord would run to the camera and the sound from the mic would be recorded onto the camera instead of from the camera itself, when the mics plugged in?
I assume thats correct.
But is there anyway to check if the mics going to be compatible with my camera, instead of simply plugging it in.
I have a Sony Digital 8 and it has a mic jack and everything, but should I be looking for something specific?
A $20, wired, lapel mic isn't going to pick up decent dialogue. You'll need one for each actor. you will have to have enough cable to go from the actors to the mixer. You'll need a mixer because you can't run three or four mic cables into one mic jack on the camera.
Wireless lavalier mics costing $100 or so each will get you good dialogue tracks. But if you ever have three or more actors speaking in one scene you've spent as much as you would on a shotgun mic. And you'll still need a mixer.
All mics are compatible with all cameras that have a mic input, so no worries there. You will need to know what type of mic jack you have and buy an adaptor if the mic's connector is different.
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The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)
Mike compatibility is a pain in the butt with all the different kinds of connectors and power supplies. Even with XLRs there's still T-power, 12V phantom power and 48V phantom power to deal with, though at least the former two seem to be dying out.
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Other than ADR - which as you know is time consuming and doesn't always work with less experienced actors and recordists - I don't know any way of getting good dialogue tracks without spending some money for a good mic.
Yeah, basically: either you ADR or get a decent mike.
However, mikes aren't hugely expensive to hire... when I used to hire Senheisser 416 kits (mike, boom, leads, windshield, etc) I think it was about $50 for a weekend including insurance and I could often pick them up Friday lunchtime so effectively got the best part of a free day on top. So if you're starting out it may be worth renting in the short term: you can probably negotiate better deals than I did too.
