Aputure LS 300x Review - Bi-color Point Source LED Light

In today’s episode we review the new Aputure Light Storm 300x bi-color single point light for video and photography. We measure the color quality using the Spectral Similarity Index and it’s output using the Sekonic C-800 spectrometer. We also show several lighting setups with the 300x and run through the new features.

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders.

Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater, Pictureline, or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:

- Aputure LS 300x Bi-color point source LED Light - B&H Amazon Pictureline

- Aputure LS 300D II daylight point source LED light - B&H Amazon Pictureline

- Aputure Light Dome II - B&H Amazon Pictureline

- Aputure Light Dome Mini II - B&H Amazon Pictureline

- Aputure Spotlight Mount - B&H Amazon Pictureline

- Aputure Fresnel 2x - B&H Amazon Pictureline

- Aputure Barn Doors - B&H Amazon Pictureline

- Aputure Lantern - B&H Amazon Pictureline

- Aputure MC Mini LED Panel Light - B&H Amazon Pictureline

- RODE NTG3 Shotgun Microphone - B&H Amazon Sweetwater

- Sound Devices 888 Audio Recorder/Mixer - B&H Sweetwater

- Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 6K - B&H Pictureline

- Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 DG OS HSM Art Lens - B&H Pictureline

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Copyright 2020, Curtis Judd

Senal SCI-3212 Budget Boom Microphone for Film and Video Dialogue

In today’s episode we have a look at and a listen to a budget indoor boom microphone, the Senal SCI-3212. This small boom microphone comes with 3 different capsules with different polar patterns. We’ll focus on the super-cardioid capsule which is commonly used for video and film dialogue indoors. For less than $100 USD, this is an impressive option for those of us on a tight budget.

See our Samson CO2 boom microphone review:

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders.

Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:

- Senal SCI-3212 Boom Microphone - B&H

- Sound Devices MixPre II Audio Recorder - B&H

- Samson CO2 Boom Microphone - B&H

- Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 6K for talking head shots - B&H

- Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 DG OS HSM ART Lens for Canon EF mount - B&H

- Panasonic GH5 Camera for b-roll shots - B&H Amazon

- Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS Lens for Pocket 4K - B&H Amazon

- Aputure COB120DII with barn doors for slash of light on background - B&H

- Lupo Supercolor Soft Full Color 60 LED light for key light - B&H

- CAME-TV Andromeda LED Tube for rim light - B&H

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Copyright 2020, Curtis Judd

Interview Lighting Samples and Lupo Actionpanel Review

In today’s episode, we demonstrate two interview lighting designs, in this case, using Lupo Superpanel 60 and Actionpanel Full Color LED lights. Then we do a mini review of the Lupo Actionpanel Full Color which is a small 8in x 8in - 20cm x 20cm - RGBW LED light panel for video and photography. 

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders.

Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:

• Lupo Actionpanel Full Color - B&H

• Lupo Actionpanel Dual Color - B&H

• Lupo Barn Doors for Actionpanel - B&H

• Lupo Diffuser for Actionpanel - B&H

• Lupo V-mount Battery Plate for Actionpanel - B&H

• Lupo Backpack for 1 Actionpanel - B&H

• Lupo Superpanels 30 and 60 RGBW and Bi-Color Lights - B&H

• Rosco 1/2 Soft Frost Diffusion Roll - B&H

• Sound Blankets - Vocal Booth to Go

• Aputure MC Mini LED RGB Light - B&H

• CAME-TV Boltzen LED Tube Light - B&H

• Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 6K used for interview and talking head shots- B&H

• Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 4K used for B-Roll - B&H

• Tilta Mini Matte Box to hold diffusion filters for Pocket 4K camera - B&H

• Schneider Radiant Soft diffusion filters used to great a mild “glow” effect - B&H

• Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 ART lens for Pocket 6K - B&H

• Olympus 45mm f/1.8 Micro 4/3 Lens for Pocket 4K- B&H Amazon

• Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS Lens for Pocket 4K - B&H Amazon

• Shure TwinPlex TL-48 Lavalier Microphone for the interview lighting demo - B&H

• DPA 4017B Shotgun Microphone for the talking head shots - B&H

• Sound Devices 888 Mixer/Recorder - B&H

Get a free trial of the best music for your videos at Musicbed

Copyright 2020, Curtis Judd 

RODE VideoMic NTG Review

In today’s episode, we put the new RODE VideoMic NTG through several tests to see how well it performs as an on-camera and off-camera shotgun boom microphone. This new mic moves the camera-top shotgun microphone market forward several steps by adding, for the first time, USB recording capabilities as well as a bunch of other very useful features. This is probably my favorite $250 or less shotgun microphone.

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders.

Gear used or mentioned in this episode:

RODE VideoMic NTG - B&H Amazon

RODE VideoMic Pro+ - B&H Amazon

RODE VC1 Extension cable for booming the VideoMic NTG - B&H Amazon

Rycote Softie fur cover for VideoMic NTG - B&H

DEITY V-Mic D3 Pro - B&H Amazon

Aputure 300DII LED Light used as a key light - B&H Amazon

Aputure Light Dome II soft box on key light - B&H Amazon

Aputure 120DII LED Light used for slash of light on background - B&H Amazon

Aputure Barn Doors used to create the slash of light - B&H Amazon

Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 6K - B&H

Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 4K - B&H

Tilta Half Cage for BMPCC 4K/6K - B&H

Olympus 45mm f/1.8 Micro 4/3 Lens - B&H Amazon

Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS Lens - B&H Amazon

Sigma ART 24-70mm f/2.8 EF Mount Lens - B&H Amazon

Get a free trial of the best music for your videos at Musicbed

Copyright 2020 by Curtis Judd

Ethics statement: Some of the links above are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Sound Devices MixPre II Series Audio Recorders Review

Index:

00:11 Summary

01:03 How does it sound compared to Zoom F6?

01:58 Wide Dynamic Range 32-bit Float Recording

09:53 Other new features

11:55 What if you’re sending audio from your recorder to your camera?

13:09 MixPre II vs Zoom F6 - Advantages of each

23:25 Should I buy a Zoom F6 or MixPre II?

Sound Devices has a strong history of providing high end audio field recorders for film and TV production., having won several prestigious technical awards. In 2017, Sound Devices first made their high quality audio recorders available to a larger pro-sumer audience with the introduction of the MixPre-3, 6, and 10T recorders. And now, in 2019, they have updated the MixPre line with their new II Series of recorders - The MixPre-3 II, MixPre-6 II, and MixPre-10 II. In this episode, we cover the new features on the II series of recorders, including the wide dynamic range and 32-bit float recording features and compare it to a similar recorder, the Zoom F6.

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders.

Gear used or mentioned in this episode:

Sound Devices MixPre II Series recorders - B&H

Zoom F6 Audio Field Recorder - B&H Amazon

DPA 4017b Shotgun Microphone - B&H

Aputure C120T - B&H

Aputure C120DII - B&H Amazon

Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 6K - B&H

Sigma ART 24-70mm f/2.8 EF Mount Lens - B&H Amazon

Get a free trial of the best music for your videos at Musicbed.

Copyright 2019 by Curtis Judd

Ethics statement: Some of the links above are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, or other affiliate links.

Aputure COB300DII: Refined, Powerful, Versatile Video Light

Aputure updated their COB 300D LED single point light in some substantial ways with the COB 300D II. This new light puts out even more than the first generation COB 300D, adds a new more refined control box, removes the separate AC adapter, and adds an extremely convenient light stand quick release system. The color quality is very good for a daylight balanced LED light and the Bowens mount makes this light especially versatile. With various modifiers you can make hard or soft light with Aputure’s Light Dome, Light Dome Mini, Fresnel 2X, Barn Doors, Lantern, and soon to arrive Spotlight. Let’s take a closer look.

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F8 and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders.

Gear used and mentioned in this episode:

Aputure COB 300D II with V-Mount Battery Plates - B&H

Aputure COB 300D II with V-Mount Battery Plates - Amazon

Aputure COB 300D II with Anton Bauer Gold Mount Battery Plates - B&H

Aputure COB 120D II - Amazon

Aputure Light Dome II - Amazon

Aputure Light Dome II - B&H

Aputure Light Dome Mini II - Amazon

Aputure Light Dome Mini II - B&H:

Aputure Lantern - B&H

Aputure Barn Doors - B&H

Aputure Fresnel 2X - B&H

Aputure Fresnel 2X - Amazon

Aputure Spotlight - B&H

Sound Devices Scorpio - B&H

DPA 4017b Shotgun Microphone - B&H

Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 4K - B&H

Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS Lens - Amazon

Get a free trial of the best music for your videos at Musicbed

Copyright 2019 by Curtis Judd

Ethics statement: Some of the links above are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, or other affiliate links.

Mikme Pocket - Wireless Lavalier Microphone, Recorder, USB Mic

Mikme launched a Kickstarter campaign for a new Bluetooth wireless lavalier microphone/recorder/USB mic they call the Mikme Pocket. We got our hands on a prototype of the Pocket and run through the features in this episode, complete with unprocessed audio samples.

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F8 and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders.

Links to gear used in this video:

Mikme Pocket (Kickstarter campaign, should start shipping in December 2019)

Falconeyes 120TDX - (Amazon) 4’ x 4’ LED roll-flex panel light used as a key light and for the table-top product shots

Lupo Superpanel Full Color 60 - Used for the background light

Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS Lens - (Amazon) used on the Pocket 4K for the product shots

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K - used to shoot the product shots

Nikon Z6 & 24-70 f/4 Lens- (Amazon) used to shoot the talking head shots

Get a free trial of the best music for your videos at Musicbed

Copyright 2019 by Curtis Judd

RODE WIRELESS GO Review: Simple Wireless Microphone System

RODE’s new WIRELESS GO is a wireless microphone system designed to be simple and quick to use but also has the ability to add external lavalier microphones for cases where you want an even more discreet look. This system is well suited for vloggers, YouTubers, and for cases where you want to do quick pick-up interviews without a lot of fuss getting set up. Let’s take a closer look and listen to see how it performs.

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F8 and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders.

Links to gear used in this video:

RODE WIRELESS GO - Super simple to use wireless microphone system

RODELink Filmmaker Kit - More versatile wireless microphone system with longer range and more options for add-on transmitters. Can also control the input and output levels on the transmitter and receiver.

Lupo Superpanel Dual Color 60 - key light for all of the shots in this video

Lupo Superpanel Full Color 60 - RGBW light used to light the background

Panasonic GH5 (Amazon)

Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS Lens (Amazon)

Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 4K - used to shoot the talking head and most of the product shots

Copyright 2019 by Curtis Judd

Music Copyright 2018 by Cary Judd. Used with permission.

Aputure AL-MW LED Light & Fresnel 2x

In this episode, we take a look at two new lighting products from Aputure: The AL-MW and the Fresnel 2x. The AL-MW is a tiny LED video light with a daylight color balance and is waterproof to 10 meters or 30 feet. Its in-built battery will power the light for 85 minutes at high power. The color quality is very good with a CRI of almost 98 and the light puts out enough light to use even as a key light.

The Fresnel 2x is a new add-on focusing lens for lights with a Bowens mount like the Aputure COB series of lights along with lights from several other manufacturers. The lens focuses the light beam between 12 and 40 degrees so you can add a good bit of drama, texture, and dimension to your lighting design.

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Fairlight and Audition, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F8 and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders.

Links to gear used in this video:

Aputure AL-MW (Amazon) tiny, waterproof LED Light

Aputure Fresnel 2x (Amazon) - Lens to focus your light into carefully defined beams.

Aputure COB 120DII LED Light - this is my main workhorse light for 90% of my video work.

Aputure COB 300D LED Light - a BIG light for BIG jobs

Aputure Barn Doors - You can use this on its own, or with the Fresnel 2x to cut the light for even more dramatic lighting designs. I use this a LOT for lighting backgrounds.

Sennheiser XSW-D Portable Wireless Lavalier Set - used this to record all of the audio for this episode. Review coming soon.

1/4-20 to Light Stand Adapter - the adapter I use to attach the AL-MW to a light stand

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K - I used this to record most of this episode

Panasonic 12-35mm F/2.8 OIS Lens - Used on the Pocket 4K camera

Copyright 2019 by Curtis Judd

Music Copyright 2019 by Cary Judd. Used with permission.

RODECaster Pro Review

In this episode, we take an in-depth look at the new RODECaster Pro recorder, mixer, and audio interface designed specifically for podcasting and recording panel discussions. I have to confess that I was originally not that enthused about the RODECaster Pro, but now that I’ve use it a for a couple of weeks, WOW! I’m surprised by the quality of sound that it produces and find the effects more effective than I expected. It is much easier to use than most mixers for those that aren’t audio engineers making this a great choice for those less interested in spending lots of time learning how to get better sound for their podcasts. And even for audio nerds like me...well, I'm buying this which was originally just on loan for the review!

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F8 and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders.

Links to gear used in this video:

RODECaster Pro

Sony MDR-7506 - My go-to headphones for when I’m recording

Audio Technica AT2005 Dynamic Microphone - I recorded this episode with this microphone. Amazing mic for its price!

Electrovoice RE20 - Classic broadcast dynamic microphone. Dani was recorded with this in our demo

Shure SM7b - another classic broadcast dynamic microphone. Almost everyone sounds awesome with this microphone

Electrovoice RE50L - A common reporter’s microphone. Emma was recorded with this in our demo

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K - I used this to record most of this episode

Panasonic 12-35mm F/2.8 OIS Lens - Used on the Pocket 4K camera

Copyright 2019 by Curtis Judd

Music Copyright 2019 by Cary Judd. Used with permission.