Every style of video production has varied sound requirements & workflows. I offer scalable equipment rental packages based on the needs of each individual shoot. From lightweight bag based sound recording packages for ‘run and gun’ shoots to a cart based production sound rig ready for any scale of production; from commercials to narratives, and everywhere in between. Every equipment package is different and based on the needs of each unique production.
The nature of the shoot’s content & production workflow determines a lot about what kind of gear you might need. Answering some basic questions about the shoot will help determine what gear package will best suit your budget and production requirements.
Is it a documentary, narrative film, commercial, reality TV show, or something else entirely? The nature of the content we are shooting & workflow determines a lot about what kind of gear package will be needed.
The number of subjects with on camera dialog during filming helps determine the number of wireless lavaliers needed for your shoot. It’s best practice to individually mic every on camera talent.
Knowing the number of cameras & what model will help determine how many timecode boxes & camera hops might be needed. It also lets me know what types of cabling I will need to interface with each camera.
The amount of camera movement in the shots we are doing will determine if a mix can be fed with a hardline or if wireless camera hops will be needed, While hardline feed is superior in terms of quality & reliability, when it comes to unpredictable shooting environments it’s a matter of safety for both the camera operator, sound recordist, and equipment that wireless gets used.
Timecode has become a mainstay of production, and for good reason, it saves a lot of time and money in post-production by speeding up the workflow. To ensure the external audio and one more more cameras stay in sync with one another timecode boxes get attached to each camera. The common timestamp is then recorded as metadata to every video file & audio file. Even if the camera doesn’t take timecode natively, there are audio timecode workflows.
For productions that require continuous takes longer then 30 minutes (i.e. Reality TV, Comedy Specials, Documentary, etc), the use of genlock in addition to timecode is highly recommended. While timecode is only metadata, genlock clocks the cameras’ sensors to prevent them from drifting apart once recording. It’s not unheard of to have 2-5 seconds of drift between cameras by the end of an hour long take, while the beginning might be perfectly in sync.
This depends on your post production workflow, but they are highly recommended anytime audio isn’t recorded on camera and when cameras don’t allow for timecode inputs. Ultimately this comes down to your post workflow, let me know!
The ability for the Director, Producer, or Clients to listen in and clearly hear the audio being recorded can be invaluable; this is where wireless IFB headsets come in. How many people on your production will need to listen in?
Are there more than one location in a day? What is the filming location like? What kind of access to space do we have? Is it cart accessible? What kind of footprint can we have on location? The answers to these questions are invaluable information when planning the logistics of getting gear in and out of locations and traveling from location to location.
The field mixer / recorder is the heart of any location sound kit, allowing multiple inputs & output busses, multitrack recording, and timecode capabilities, it’s truly the workhorse of every production.
When it comes to detail and quality in recorded dialog there is no substitute for a high end boom microphone. Every boom mic kit includes a boom pole, interior mic, exterior mic, shock mount, wind protection, & all accessories needed.
Not action scenario or camera angle will allow for ideal placement of boom mics, this is where wireless lavaliers come in. Every wireless talent mic kit includes a TX & RX combo, Lavalier Mic, and required accessories & expendables,
Timecode Lockit Boxes are an essential part of modern video production workflows, saving time and money in post-production. Every timecode kit includes a RF master clock, RF jammed syncbox that can provide Timecode & Genlock to cameras, cabling for most cameras, & mounting accessories.
Smart Slates are a convenient way to ensure sync between audio and any camera (even those that don’t take timecode). The auditory slate clap will match perfectly to the visual slate while also flashing a timecode display to camera.
Being able to listen in and clearly hear what’s being recorded can be a valuable asset for producers, directors, & clients. Every IFB kit comes with transmitter, requested number of wireless IFB receivers, headphones, & a day’s worth of batteries.
Shoots that require any type of camera movement makes wireless camera hops a necessity to be able to feed a reference mix for the editor to camera without having any cabling tethered to the camera. Coupled with a timecode box this can be a very effective combo for fast paced ‘run & gun’ shoot.
Commercials, Music Videos, & Narrative Films sometimes require a dedicated playback operator. Timecode audio playback system rental includes a Laptop with DAW Audio Software, PA System, & Wireless Timecode Playback Slate.
Dynamic microphones are especially useful in high noise environments for their ability to reject unwanted sounds; Especially useful for scenarios such as rushing a stadium field with reporters after a game or the dialog mic for a comedy special.
Occasionally shoots like music performance videos & comedy specials require studio microphones to capture the nuances & character of instruments, crowds, and more. High end studio condenser microphones have incredible sound and practically non-existent noise floors, making them great on nearly any source.
