Sound for Video Session: Mixing Headphones Compared

In this week's Sound for Video Session, we compare 6 sets of headphones for mixing film and video projects (plus a bonus set that almost nobody can afford, just for fun). We also cover why using headphones alone is not ideal and can make mixing a frustrating experience. We also underscore the importance of reviewing your mixes on lots of different playback systems: Near field monitors, hifi system, car sound system, smartphone earbuds, TV, etc.

Jump ahead to particular headphones:

06:55 AKG K240
12:37 Beyerdynamic DT 880 Pro
16:10 Audio Technica ATH-R70x
20:09 Shure SRH1840
22:45 Sennheiser HD 800
25:23 Audeze LCD-X
30:40 Sennheiser HE 1 Orpheus

Gear discussed in this session:

AKG K240 Studio Pro Semi-Open Back Headphones

Beyerdynamic DT880 Pro Semi-Open Back Reference Headphones

Audio Technica ATH-R70x Pro Reference Headphones

Shure SRH1840 Pro Open Back Headphones

Sennheiser HD 800 Open Back Headphones

Sennheiser HD 800 S Open Back Headphones

Audeze LCD-X High Performance Reference Planar Magnetic Headphones

Sennheiser HE 1 Orpheus Headphones

Copyright 2017 by Curtis Judd

Sound for Video Session: Reduce Reverb with Izotope RX 6

In this week's Sound for Video Session, we discuss how to reduce reverberation. The best way is to use sound blankets while recording. But if that doesn't work out, then this is how to *reduce* reverb, not eliminating it, in Izotope RX 6.

Previous session demonstrating how to use sound blankets to reduce reverb while recording:

Gear used to record this session:

Electrovoice RE20 Dynamic Microphone

Antelope Audio Orion Studio Audio Interface

Sound Blankets

Spring Clamps to hang sound blanekts

Century Stand to hang the blankets

Copyright 2017 by Curtis Judd

Aputure Amaran Tri-8c LED Panel Light Review

Aputure has produced some very impressive panel and single point LED lights over the last couple of years and now thy have a new addition to their Amaran (entry level) LED panel lights: The Amaran Tri-8 series. This new series includes daylight and color tunable versions. The color quality scores nicely in our tests relative to a good old-fashioned tungsten light, we didn’t find any flicker (an issue with some LED panel lights) and found this to be a great little light to act as a fill, a hair light, an accent light, or even a key light.

Gear used to record this episode:

Aputure Amaran Tri-8 LED Panel Light

Aputure C120d (daylight hard light)

Aputure Light Storm LS1 Panel Light

Sound Devices MixPre-6 Audio Recorder & Mixer

DPA 4017b Shotgun Microphone (my pro-level outdoor mic)

Panasonic GH5 Camera

Panasonic Lumix 12-35mm f/2.8 Lens (1st Generation)

Lifecharge USB Battery (for powering the MixPre-6)

Copyright 2017 by Curtis Judd

Sound for Video Session: Road Noise, Asymmetric Waveforms & Phase Rotation

In this week's Sound for Video Session, we discuss two questions:

- How do I reduce road noise for recordings in cars?
- How do I fix asymmetric waveforms without spending $800 CDN on Izotope RX?

Gear used to record this session:

Electrovoice RE20 Dynamic Microphone: http://amzn.to/2rtAWHV

Antelope Audio Orion Studio Audio Interface: https://bhpho.to/2lRXBtG

Copyright 2017 by Curtis Judd

Sound Devices MixPre-6 Audio Recorder/Mixer: Initial Impressions

The Sound Devices MixPre-6 (and MixPre-3) are the newest recorder/mixer series from Sound Devices. These are targeted at enthusiast filmmakers, Vloggers, podcasters, mobile musicians, and even as backup recorders for professional sound mixers.

In this episode I share my initial impressions after having the MixPre-6 for about 48 hours and having used it for a voice-over job.

If I had to sum it all up: Amazing value, great preamps with analogue limiters and low-cut filters, good ergonomics, tough build quality. Does not replace pro-level recorders but a great feature set for the price and a good option for enthusiast filmmakers, video makers, mobile musicians, and podcasters.

Gear used to record this episode (or mentioned):

Sound Devices MixPre-6 Audio Recorder & Mixer

Sound Devices MixPre-3 Audio Recorder & Mixer

DPA 4017b Shotgun Microphone (my pro-level outdoor mic)

Audio Technica AT4053b Microphone (my pro-level indoor mic)

RODE NTG2 Shotgun Microphone (good prosumer outdoor mic)

ElectroVoice RE50L Dynamic Reporter’s Microphone

Panasonic GH5 Camera

Panasonic Lumix 12-35mm f/2.8 Lens (1st Generation)

Lifecharge USB Battery (for powering the MixPre-6)

Copyright 2017 by Curtis Judd

Sound for Video Session: Timecode Hardware & Compression in Izotope RX

In this week's Sound for Video Session, we have a look at some timecode hardware options and briefly discuss compression in Izotope RX.

Links:

Timecode Generators Comparison Spreadsheet

Previous session where we demonstrated timecode workflow:

Previous session where we demonstrated compression/loudness normalization in Izotope RX:

Gear Discussed in this episode:

Tentacle Sync Timecode Generator - Comes with Tentacle Sync Studio which is a one option among 3 options you will need if using a timecode generator with a camera or recorder which does NOT have a dedicated timecode input.

Moze Gear TIG Q28 Timecode Generator - The other generator I use. Great, solid design which you set using tiny switches. No fuss, no fancy wireless, just solid timecode.

Ambient NanoLockit Wireless Timecode Generator - Very interesting new wireless timecode generator at a reasonable price.

Timecode Systems :wave Wireless Timecode Generator with Genlock, Wordclock and B:link - sophisticated wireless timecode, genlock generator/transceiver. This is much more expensive but also much more capable.

Copyright 2017 by Curtis Judd

Affordable LED Light Panels: CELADON 2XL and 2XL Pro

Need some portable LED lights for your video or photo shoots? CELADON offers the 2XL and 2XL Pro which are small sized LED panels which you can mount on top of your camera, on a stand, or anywhere else you might imagine.

In this review we take a closer look at the color quality, build quality, battery life, beam angle, and light output. Overall, these LED lights are a great portable lighting option for a very good price.

Gear used to record this episode:

CELADON 2XL PRO (160 SMD LED Light Panel - this is what I used as the key light in this episode)

CELADON 2XL (280 LED Light Panel - this was the rim light in this episode)

Panasonic GH5 Camera - My new favorite little camera

Panasonic Lumix 12-35mm f/2.8 Lens (1st Generation)

Olympus 45mm f/1.8 Lens (talking head shots)

Audio Technica AT4053b Microphone - My go-to microphone for recording dialogue indoors

Sound Devices 633 Audio Mixer/Recorder - My "Pro Level" audio recorder

Copyright 2017 by Curtis Judd

Sound for Video Session: SD MixPre-6, Faders vs Gain Trim, High Pass Filters

In this week's Sound for Video Session we have a special guest: Allen Cavedo. Allen is a production sound mixer who has worked on a variety of commercial and narrative projects (links below). He’s here to help bring another perspective while we answer your questions:

- Please compare the Zoom F8 vs the Sound Devices MixPre-6?
- What are some good audio recorder options for a solo operator for even shoots?
- Why is my carefully normalized audio suddenly start clipping when I bring it from Audition to Premiere?
- When I have a dual mono clip, should I drop one of the channels before processing the audio?
- Will the NTG2 work ok with the Tascam DR-60DmkII in terms of noise performance?
- When should I use faders vs gain trim?
- Tips for recording 2 person interviews with one shotgun microphone?
- What are the general steps for processing recorded live music?
- What is the difference between Dialogue De-noise, Spectral De-noise, and Dialogue isolate in Izotope RX6?
- Should I always use the high pass filter on my microphone to eliminate low frequency noise?

Links for items discussed in the session:
Sample of Zoom H4n Pro and RODE NTG2

Some of Allen Cavedo’s projects:

TOMATOFACE - Ad for Texas Beach Bloody Mary Mix. Cast of four demonstrates the legend of saying ‘Bloody Mary’ three times. Production Sound Mixer, boom and four wired actors, camera audio feed and timecode to Alexa Studio camera.

T/I - 48HFP short film entry. Production Sound Mixer, boom and four wired actors. RED One camera with timecode and audio link.

Maybe Tomorrow – A short film. Production Sound Mixer. Six actors with wireless lavs, two booms, sound crew of three. Alexa XT camera, audio feed and timecode.
pw: Maybe Tomorrow

Battlefields of Astral - A web pilot for six-part series about card gamers, misperception and reality. Production Sound Mixer, boom and four wired actors, camera audio feed and timecode to Sony NEX-FS100 camera with Ninja Assassin video recorder.

Electrovoice RE20 Dynamic Broadcast Microphone (this is the mic I used for this session)

Antelope Audio Orion Studio Audio Interface (This is what I used to record my sound for this session)

 

Sound Devices MixPre-6 Audio Recorder

Sound Devices MixPre-3 Audio Recorder

Copyright 2017 by Curtis Judd

Panasonic GH5: My Thoughts After One Month

The Panasonic GH5 has gotten a lot of attention among enthusiast filmmakers in the last couple of months. After three years of heavy use, it was time for me to replace my GH4. I’ve been shooting with the GH5 now for about a month and these are my thoughts on who this camera is for, and who it may not suit as well.

Gear used to record this episode:

Panasonic Lumix GH5 Camera

Panasonic Lumix 12-35mm f/2.8 Lens (1st generation)

Olympus 45mm f/1.8 Lens (talking head shots)

Panasonic V-Log Upgrade Code

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2r3giOd

Panasonic DMW-XLR1 Audio Adapter (So that you can use XLR microphones with GH5)

Kyno (Transcoding and Pre-edit App)

Atomos Shogun Inferno 4K HDMI/SDI Monitor & Recorder

Aputure Tri-8C LED Panel Light (Used as fill light on outdoor talking head shots, and back light for blue backgrounds) Review coming soon…

Aputure COB 120T LED Light (Key light on most of the product shots)

DPA 4017B Shotgun Microphone (all of the dialogue audio except Kyno demo, recorded with this mic)

Sound Devices 633 Audio Mixer/Recorder

Copyright 2017 by Curtis Judd

Sound for Video Session: Izotope RX6 Demonstration

Izotope RX is an invaluable tool for dialogue audio post production clean up and mastering. I rely on RX heavily for most of my dialogue processing projects. Izotope just released the newest version (RX6) and in this session we'll look at two new modules (de-wind and de-rustle) as well as at the dialogue de-noise which has been improved over previous versions.

Links/Gear used to create this session:

Izotope RX6

Electrovoice RE20 Dynamic Microphone (Voiceover for this session was recorded with this)

Blackmagic Ursa Mini Pro Camera (Talking head clips shot with this)

Antelope Orion Studio Audio Interface

Copyright 2017 by Curtis Judd