Archive for audio recorders

Covering the ANSWER Anticorporate protest in Hollywood, CA

Posted in Audio, Captain's Personal Log, Photography, Photojournalism, Reviews, Video with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on September 12, 2015 by William Hooks

This afternoon, there was a protest march against corporate practices across the world held in Hollywood where I conducted several interviews with activists. These included  Navaho native American Paige Murphy representing Therednation.org, Hamid Assian from Food And Water Watch.org based in Wash, DC, and a Pasadena activist from Citizens Climate Lobby, James Waterhouse.

Doug, media coordinator for ANSWER event

Doug, media coordinator for ANSWER event

ANSWER Protest_2015_9 (5) ANSWER Protest_2015_9 (6) ANSWER Protest_2015_9 (7) ANSWER Protest_2015_9 (8) ANSWER Protest_2015_9 (10)For solo interview technique I like to use a dynamic microphone running to the Tascam DR-60D DAR unless I anticipate a lot of very loud noise, where the -20dB pads are nice on the Zoom H6. The 17-40mm f/4 L Canon zoom was my default lens, also used the 70-200 mm f/4 L. Love the AT Mx40 headphones for crowd work! They really help isolate the interviewee from the background and are very comfortable.

Page Murphy, co-founder of Therednation.org and Navaho I was using the 4K Panasonic GH4 and Benro S6 monopod for the day. Grateful for overcast weather! And thanks to Ed Flowers for some still shots—

Paige Murphy, co-founder of Therednation.org and Navaho

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Documentary filming in the heat of central California

Posted in Audio, Photography, Photojournalism, Reviews, Travel, Video with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 29, 2015 by William Hooks
At Lake Success, CA talking with Donna Johnson from East Portervillie

At Lake Success, CA talking with Donna Johnson from East Portervillie

Setting up to talk with Paul Boyer in west Visalia about the efforts of his company to help residents obtain water

Setting up to talk with Paul Boyer in west Visalia about the efforts of his company to help residents obtain water

I'm monitoring sound before beginning to interview Paul at his office

I’m monitoring sound before beginning to interview Paul at his office

Donna Johnson (16) Melissa Wichnell (8)

James Garrett monitoring video and Melinda Steffen checking audio at Visalia interview

James Garrett monitoring video and Melinda Steffen checking audio at Visalia interview

Melissa Wichnell discussing Visalia, CA emergency planning for water distribution

Melissa Wichnell discussing Visalia, CA emergency planning for water distribution

Melissa Wichnell (13) Melissa Wichnell (15)

Nonpotable water tank near the fire station in East Porterville, CA

Nonpotable water tank near the fire station in East Porterville, CA

We completed a series of interviews with local officials in Visalia, CA and talked with local resident Donna Johnson in East Porterville about what she was personally doing to help neighbors whose wells had gone dry (as was her own).

The level of poverty in East Porterville is intense. Housing prices, already low, are decreasing due to lack of water further burdening residents who might want to leave the area.

We shot with my Panasonic GH4 in 4K 30fps mode, using a Zoom H6 digital audio recorder as well as Audio Technica Pro70 wired lav’s an dRode NTG-4 shotgun in a Rode blimp.Also used a Zoom hypercardioid shotgun mic and when using the Zoom for field notes, the mid-side capsule mic. I was very pleased with the performance of my equipment in very hot conditions, wind and for interior shots with no problems encountered.

There is still much to be done before we begin cutting the documentary’s final look; a tentative title: WATER AND THE LIVES OF THOSE LESS FORTUNATE.

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Some ENG setups with the GH4 and 2 digital audio recorders

Posted in Audio, Photojournalism, Reviews, Video with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 11, 2015 by William Hooks

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DR-70D DAR below GH4 camera on tripod

DR-70D DAR below GH4 camera on tripod

MS (mid-side) microphone capsule option on Zoom H6 DAR

MS (mid-side) microphone capsule option on Zoom H6 DAR

side view showing connections for digital audio recorder positioned below camera

side view showing connections for digital audio recorder positioned below camera

above-camera setup for DR-70D using 12" rail on hot shoe, and 2 wireless Audio Technica mic receivers

above-camera setup for DR-70D using 12″ rail on hot shoe, and 2 wireless Audio Technica mic receivers

DSCN2364The idea here is to be able to record to one or more cameras and record audio separately =dual system audio, later aligning the sound and video files while editing. I use Red Giant Plural Eyes Express for this job, it’s easy and automated.

I’ve shown two audio options, one with wired lavalier mics into inputs 1-2 on the Tascam DR-70D DAR connected below the camera and the other with the DAR mounted on an adapter above the camera, connected to wireless mic receivers.

The other DAR (Zoom H6) is used here as a hand-held microphone close to the subject, recording backup tracks; one could easily add a shotgun mic track here, for example, or one of the lav tracks if desired. I sometimes use the MS mic capsule in this setup because it’s simple to pick up my interview questions and the corresponding answers with that mic, place close to my side and less than 2 feet from the subject out of frame.

I power the Tascam whenever possible with external sources- either AC or when not available, by use of a brick battery via USB port with 5v delivered to the 15′ extension cable, then to the dedicated recorder USB cable. This is due to the lackluster internal battery life from the DR-70D.

Be sure to download the Tascam ‘s reference manual online if you get this unit- the supplied documentation is pathetic.

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Battery options for powering the GH4, lights, Zoom H6, and monitor

Posted in Captain's Personal Log, monitors, Photography, Photojournalism, Reviews, Travel, Video with tags , , , , , , , , , , on July 20, 2015 by William Hooks
Switronix P-tap to GH4 power cable

Switronix P-tap to GH4 power cable

Switronix P-tap to 4-pin power cable

Switronix P-tap to 4-pin power cable

LP90S battery as counterweight, connect to GH4 with power cable on shoulder rig

LP90S battery as counterweight, connect to GH4 with power cable on shoulder rig

closeup of battery, P-tap connection and second P-tap port located on mount plate

closeup of battery, P-tap connection and second P-tap port located on mount plate

The Zoom H6 digital audio recorder is powered from the accessory USB port on the battery, shown above.

It’s a good idea to not allow these batteries to be uncharged for long periods because of their self-discharge property; I mark them each time they’re charged, and aim at less than 6 months before recharging.

And double check to ensure that the terminals of the P-tap connector are properly aligned to the corresponding terminals of the battery plate- if not, there’s risk of short-circuiting the cable (I’ve done it – ONCE).

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First event covered with Panasonic GH4: downtown Los Angeles/ protest at Nestle’ North American HQ

Posted in Captain's Personal Log with tags , , , , , , , , on May 20, 2015 by William Hooks
GH4 w 17mm f/1.7 Lumix-Summicron AF lens, Zoom H6 DAR and hypercardioid shotgun microphone; JAG 35 tripod baseplate, CF rods and top handle

GH4 w 15mm f/1.7 Lumix-Summicron AF lens, Zoom H6 DAR and hypercardioid shotgun microphone; JAG 35 tripod baseplate, CF rods and top handle

full cinema rig setup on tripod

full cinema rig setup on tripod

side view of cinema rig with GH4

side view of cinema rig with GH4

GH4, cage, part of JAG 35 top handle assembly

GH4, cage, part of JAG 35 top handle assembly

50mm f/1.4 EF with Metabones Speed Booster, 77mm VND filter on 58->77 adapter ring

50mm f/1.4 EF with Metabones Speed Booster, 77mm VND filter on 58->77 adapter ring

rear view of GH4 in cage with attachment points and follow focus visible

rear view of GH4 in cage with attachment points and follow focus visible

top view of assembled baseplate -rods- follow focus setup

top view of assembled baseplate -rods- follow focus setup

audio field gear centered around Zoom H6 digital audio recorder

audio field gear centered around Zoom H6 digital audio recorder

Shot using Cine-D profile at 4K UHD/30, Auto white balance,on a monopod with available light.

I find this setup to be fast and easy to use, stable, and highly functional. The H6 was used as the primary preamp for audio and I minimized the internal preamp of the GH4- excellent audio performance in a difficult noisy setting with adjacent traffic and due to crowds, electronic megaphones. Audio Technica headphones were added for monitoring.

The camera is within a custom cage, attached to JAG 35 components on its center cold shoe for secure carrying and linking to a monopod baseplate. This system is much more compact and lighter than a comparable rig using a DSLR, such as a 5D Mark III. It also allows optional use of a 5″ HDMI monitor, with a micro-HDMI port protector built into the cage.

After reintroducing some contrast in post, I was very satisfied with the files. Wish I still had that rental 12-35mm f/2.8 Lumix AF lens, zooms are so useful for events and other fast action.

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Applewhite camp, CA

Posted in backpacking, Photography, Reviews, Travel, ultralight techniques, Video with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 19, 2015 by William Hooks

Spent a full day and evening at Applewhite elevation 3300 ft, in the Lytle Creek region of southern CA. The Titanium Goat Ptarmigan biv sack was excellent underneath my HMG square tarp, in a 40 deg F Marmot Atom sleeping bag. Hardly even noticed the smoke from 10 campfires blazing around me… should have chosen site #2…..

 

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Managed to break a tubular tarp stake. I rarely use them unless car camping, prefer MSR Mini-Groundhogs/titanium skewers/MSR Carbon /Cores for backpacking.

Enjoyed getting some field video refinements finished.

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First thoughts about the ULA Catalyst pack

Posted in Photography, Reviews, Video with tags , , , , , on November 13, 2014 by William Hooks

This is the largest offering from the Logan, UT cottage firm, Ultralight Adventures and I plan to use it mainly for winter backpacking, glacier travel, carrying video and audio gear, and when food loads exceed what I can put into my Hyperlight Mountain Gear Windrider 2400 (ie, probably over 3 days out).

It easily allows use of a large bear canister, my Western Mountaineering +5F Antelope down bag in transverse position, and provides some capability which I plan to enjoy: removable swing-type bilateral hand loops and water bottle carriers on the shoulder straps, S-curve shoulder strap option, excellent ooverall water carrying capacity with option of hydration system,and what appears so far to be unusually good fit and weight transfer. The belt pockets are large enough to carry my Nikon Coolpix and I ‘ve already modified them by attaching grab loops.ULA Catalyst pack DSCN1506 - Copy DSCN1505

Not certain yet as to how much I will use the 2 interior, removable pockets.

This pack will allow me to cut almost 5 pounds from my longer/ winter trips ,DSCN1514compared with a traditional expedition pack.

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A functional, compact dual-audio ENG rig

Posted in Photography, Photojournalism, Reviews, Travel, Video with tags , , , , , , , , on June 21, 2014 by William Hooks

Canon 5D3_dual lav shotgun audio_monopod

This setup works well for daylight-lit ENG; I usually add a Stellar ST-3000 LED light and a 6″ cold shoe rail when artificial light is needed.

This group fits into a Lowe Pro Flipside 400 pack and includes:

Canon5D3 w 24-105 f/4 L
Rode NTG-2 shotgun mic with deadcat and shock mount, headphones
Tascam DR-60D DAR with 2 x 3.5 mm short cables to run to and from the camera
Audio Technica Pro70 wired lav mic w dead’marble’
2 XLR cables, 6′ each
3X 3″ loupe
batteries

The Benro S6 video monopod goes into its own case to the site of the events.

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