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The Movi and Sound Recording

Discussion in 'Movi Technical' started by Rorick Edge, Jun 10, 2018.

  1. Rorick Edge

    Rorick Edge Active Member

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    Hi Karen,

    Looks like this will work. I would purchase the shortest version that gives sufficient clearance between the Apogee box and the Movi.

    When you try the extension, you'll find out, given the way that you use the gimbal, whether the cable causes too much interference or not. If I recall, there's discussion earlier in this thread about whether it is a good idea, generally, to use cables with the Movi. I tried it and I don't like doing it, but I think that I'm in a minority. You may also find it helpful to read the following thread, which is actually about USB-C to Lightning adapters, but which may give you a better sense of what's involved in using cables with the Movi: https://forum.freeflysystems.com/index.php?threads/usb-c-lightning-cable-options.12473/

    At the end of the day, the extension cable will either work for you or it won't. Good thing that they are fairly cheap. If it doesn't, you can move to one of the alternate solutions discussed three posts up.

    If I recall, Freefly's advice is to balance your iPhone with the cable in place instead of balancing the phone and then adding the cable. Having followed this instruction, I think that it's probably a good idea, but the reality, at least in my experience, is that the balance will change with every movement of the cable. In the end, I think that this is a matter of how well the Movi's motors handle (moving) cable-induced imbalance. Re your specific question, and assuming that you are using an iPhone without a case or accessories, I don't see any reason why using this cable would require the counterweight.
    .
     
    #61 Rorick Edge, Sep 15, 2018
    Last edited: Sep 17, 2018
  2. Rorick Edge

    Rorick Edge Active Member

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    Lectrosonics has just released a follow-up to its Portable Digital Recorder (PDR). The original PDR has a single microphone input and is so small that one can fit a couple of them in a shirt pocket. Build quality and battery life are superb, and it offers very good sound quality, timecode and a safety track to address clipping. I was sufficiently impressed that I purchased one. I think that it is easily the best portable recorder on the market for recording a single person.

    The new recorder, called the Stereo Portable Digital Recorder (SPDR), has two microphone inputs. This video, uploaded today by production sound recordist Matt Price, contains a good rundown of its features and, from 02:12, a use case comparison of the PDR and SPDR:



    I think that the two channel SPDR has a more limited market than the PDR. The US street price, at $1180, is in nosebleed territory. While both PDRs will power a lavalier mike, a separate phantom power supply is needed to power standard condenser mikes. A DPA d:vice, which also offers two channels, and will power full size condensers, is much cheaper and makes more sense to me for most purposes. The d:vice only works with DPA mikes, but one can buy both a DPA d:vice and a DPA lavalier for less than an SPDR.

    I also think that Sound Devices's MixPre 3, with three mike inputs, can be used in many of the situations where one might use an SPDR, providing, at half the price, better sound, more features and a far superior user interface. Timecode, if needed, can be added with one of the increasingly inexpensive timecode modules.

    The SPDR strikes me as a pretty specialised recorder. I'm a happy owner of the original PDR, but I won't be purchasing its new sibling.
     
    #62 Rorick Edge, Sep 16, 2018
    Last edited: Sep 17, 2018
  3. Rorick Edge

    Rorick Edge Active Member

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    Pro Sound Effects, an important sound effects vendor, is offering an introductory package of 290 sound effects, which it normally sells for US$49, for free. This offer started yesterday and I don't know how long it will last. I've gone through the sounds. The recordings, which are all 24 bit .wav files recorded at 48 or 96kHz, are high quality. However, the package is 3.1GB; worth downloading only if you're keen on using sound effects in your videos. If you use a digital audio workstation, such as Logic, some of these sounds will also lend themselves well to manipulation for sound design purposes. I had fun with some of them changing time and pitch, adding reverb, etc. Here's the link: https://hello.prosoundeffects.com/free-sound-effects-download
     
    #63 Rorick Edge, Sep 21, 2018
    Last edited: Sep 21, 2018
  4. Rorick Edge

    Rorick Edge Active Member

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    Like Jonathan Morrison in the video below, I have a standard, but quite expensive, Sound Devices field recorder. Also like him, I now also have a much less expensive, extremely compact, relatively light (480g/16.8oz) Sound Devices MixPre-3. Released last year, I purchased one a couple of days ago.

    I'm extremely impressed with the MixPre, which functions not just as a recorder, but additionally as a mixer and USB computer-audio interface. With a firmware plugin, it also offers features of particular interest to musicians.

    If anyone has questions about this device, I'll be delighted to try and answer them. In the meantime, Morrison's video touches on the important points (and also demonstrates why syncing external audio to video is much easier than many people appear to think).

    To expand on what Morrison says about mounting the MixPre, there is a female thread on the bottom that can be used to mount the MixPre to a tripod, and a pop-up male thread on the top that can be used to mount the MixPre to the bottom of a DSLR, or indeed to the bottom of a Movi Cinema Robot. There are also posts on the extreme left and right of the device that can be used to attach a neck strap (I use Peak Design's Slide Lite: https://www.peakdesign.com/collections/straps). I've also used Peak Design's Capture Clip to clip the recorder to a belt.

    Before buying, I was able to directly compare the MixPre-3 and its nearest competitor, the Zoom F-4. With a recent price drop, the Zoom, at US$450, is $200 less than the MixPre. However, the latter is built better, is significantly more compact and offers important features that the Zoom lacks. For me, choosing the MixPre was an easy decision.

    The Sound Devices web page on the MixPre-3 is at https://www.sounddevices.com/products/recorders/mixpre-3

     
    #64 Rorick Edge, Sep 28, 2018
    Last edited: Oct 1, 2018
  5. reza haghi

    reza haghi New Member

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    hi...
    i think sennheiser headphones is very amazing...
    sennheiser products are high quality
    best design and highest Sound Quality ;)
     
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  6. Ralph Nudo

    Ralph Nudo New Member

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    I use the Zoom h1n for audio, an iPhone XR on Movi with either the Moment Anamorphic or Wide Angle Lens depending on what I want the final product to look like. I’ll have a GoPro running on a tripod grabbing a second angle. I use this setup for recording Jazz ensembles ranging from 2 to 5 musicians. The sound quality from the Zoom is excellent with it separately positioned near the group. I’ll often mix in some of the audio from the iPhone. I use FCPX.
     
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  7. Rorick Edge

    Rorick Edge Active Member

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    I thought that I’d mention that B&H has a promo on Sennheiser’s MKH 416 shotgun mike until 15 September. The standard street price is US$1,000, and B&H is offering the mike for $800. You need to use a code on checkout, which B&H sent out via their usual customer e-mail two days ago. If you don’t have the code, maybe call their Sound Department and ask for it.
     
    #67 Rorick Edge, Sep 11, 2019
    Last edited: Sep 11, 2019
  8. Andy Johnson-Laird

    Andy Johnson-Laird Administrator
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    The Senn 416 is a great mike -- I think it comes with a dead cat, but for sure, get one!
    (EDIT: I fat-fingered the keyboard and original wrote 415...duh.)
    Andy

    Forensic Software & sUAV / Drone Analyst : Photographer : Videographer : Pilot (Portland, Oregon, USA): Trees=2, Ground=1, Props=11. :(
    The Ground Is The Limit™
    ---------- Forensic Drone Analyst : Forensic sUAV Analyst : Forensic Unmanned Aircraft Analyst : Forensic Drone Expert
     
    #68 Andy Johnson-Laird, Sep 11, 2019
    Last edited: Sep 12, 2019
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  9. Rick Bronks

    Rick Bronks Active Member

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    The 416 is an old mic - in that it's been around for 40 years or so.. something like that. There is no doubt it's a great mic BUT I wanted something more compact - and the blimps for the 416 are huge so I have now invested in an 8060 which was actually meant to be the successor to the 416 but because people in the industry are stuck in their ways it's finding it hard to make a name for itself.

    The sound is produces is amazing. It's slightly nicer (IMO) than the 416 and easier to work with - it's slightly more forgiving on the pickup pattern and also not as severe in drop off at the sides so the positioning is slightly less critical than a 416 too.

    The Rycote suspension is 1/2 the size of the 416 version and comes with an adapter to take even more length off the mic. It's a beatifully compact package but the sound quality is stunning.

    It can be got around the same price as the 416 too - and there seems to be some decent bundles around.

    If you are serious enough to be getting a 416 you might want to have a look at the 8060 - its likely to serve you better but obviously not going to hit the spot if you want to show off how big your shotgun is etc etc :)
     
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  10. Rorick Edge

    Rorick Edge Active Member

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    I have a couple of lapel mikes (DPA 4060) that I use wired instead of a shotgun. Works for me.

    However, if you want a shotgun, as many do, the Sennheiser 416 at the sale price of $800 is pretty attractive. Some comparative U.S. street prices:

    Røde NTG3 $700
    Sennheiser 416 $800 (regularly $1000)
    Sennheiser 8060 $1250 (the shotgun Rick Bronks prefers - see above post)
    DPA 4017 $1630 or $1800 (depending on preferred preamp)
    Schoeps mini CMIT $2000
    Schoeps CMIT 5U $2200

    As Rick Bronks suggests, it’s worth considering overall size, and complete cost, with windshield.
     
    #70 Rorick Edge, Sep 12, 2019
    Last edited: Sep 12, 2019
  11. Stephen Hart

    Stephen Hart Active Member

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  12. Rorick Edge

    Rorick Edge Active Member

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    In many cases, if not most, I think that the iPhone 11 series has good enough inbuilt stabilisation that a gimbal is unnecessary. With that in mind, I’ve started using a stereo bar on which both my iPhone 11 Max Pro and a microphone are mounted (two mikes if you want to record in stereo). Details in this post and the two posts following: https://forum.freeflysystems.com/in...ming-without-a-gimbal.13297/page-2#post-89254
     
    #72 Rorick Edge, Oct 12, 2019
    Last edited: Oct 14, 2019
  13. Rorick Edge

    Rorick Edge Active Member

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    The most compact rig that I’ve used for recording sound with an iPhone is the DPA d:vice and a DPA lavalier. To monitor the sound when recording, you use BlueTooth headphones or earphones/buds. I’ve ordered the AirPods Pro that Apple announced today and should receive them day after tomorrow. The noise cancellation is a mixed blessing. Ideally, it’s turned off when recording sound. The question is whether the new Transparent Mode, which appears to be the only alternative to Noise Cancellation Mode, does more than turn it off, and if so whether it helps or hinders monitoring. I’ll find out Wednesday, but I’m hoping that I can use these in place of Bose QC35s.
     
    #73 Rorick Edge, Oct 28, 2019
    Last edited: Oct 29, 2019
  14. Stephen Hart

    Stephen Hart Active Member

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    My understanding is that Transparent Mode is adjustable, but I may have misunderstood.
    FWIW I have the older Apple in-ear earphones with silicone seals and they're very effective at excluding outside sound. That's what the pass-through and Transparent are supposed to be for, I think.
     
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  15. Rorick Edge

    Rorick Edge Active Member

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    Just saw the AirPods Pro menu in a video. There’s a section called “Noise Control”. It has three settings: Noise Cancellation, Off and Transparency. All three options are also available in Control Center, by pressing the earbuds and via Siri.

    Happy to see the Off option. When recording, noise cancellation defeats the purpose of monitoring. Looks like the Transparency option does more than just turn Noise Cancellation off. It lets outside sound, such as someone talking, in.

    Apple says that my pair will be delivered tomorrow. I hope to use these instead of Bose QC35 wireless headphones in most cases.
     
    #75 Rorick Edge, Oct 29, 2019
    Last edited: Oct 29, 2019
  16. Rorick Edge

    Rorick Edge Active Member

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    Further to the post immediately above, the AirPods Pro arrived and I’ve been trying them out. Very happy - first earbuds that I feel comfortable wearing and the sound is very good. I’ll use them rather than wireless Bose QC35s to monitor while my DPA d:vice preamp is plugged into the Lightning port to record.

    The new iPhone 11 phones have BlueTooth 5. Haven’t tested it yet, but this might mean that these phones can pair with two devices at once. If so, it may be possible to also use the phone’s BlueTooth to record timecode, which may open up additional recording options.
     
    #76 Rorick Edge, Oct 30, 2019
    Last edited: Oct 30, 2019
  17. Stephen Hart

    Stephen Hart Active Member

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    Bonus: replacement silicone tips will be only $4 from Apple. I don't know if that's a set of 3 or just one.
    I've previously gotten a full set free from an Apple Store when I lost one on an airplane flight.

    Edit: I haven't seen a way to order these before they're lost. I assume Apple Stores will have them pretty soon now.
     
    #77 Stephen Hart, Oct 30, 2019
    Last edited: Oct 30, 2019
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  18. Stephen Hart

    Stephen Hart Active Member

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    "this might mean that these phones can pair with two devices at once"

    Seems like an iDevice can beam to two sets of AirPods.

    from Apple's AirPods Pro site:

    "Share a song, podcast, or other audio stream between two sets of AirPods with Audio Sharing.
    Works with iPhone 8 or later and iPod touch (7th generation) with the latest version of iOS; and 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2nd generation or later), 11-inch iPad Pro, 10.5-inch iPad Pro, iPad (5th generation or later), iPad Air (3rd generation), and iPad mini (5th generation) with the latest version of iPadOS."
     
    #78 Stephen Hart, Oct 30, 2019
    Last edited: Oct 30, 2019
  19. Rorick Edge

    Rorick Edge Active Member

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    Yes, BlueTooth 5 started with iPhone 8, but substantive implementation has been very slow, and not just with Apple. The fact that iPhones with BlueTooth 5 can pair with two different sets of AirPods Pro suggests that they’re getting there. I want to see what happens if one tries to pair an iPhone 11 series phone with two non-Apple products.
     
  20. Stephen Hart

    Stephen Hart Active Member

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    Daring Fireball has a review of AirPods Pro, calling them better than Bose QC 35 II.
    https://daringfireball.net

    I'll be interested to try them out next week.

    Quibble: "Because the silicone tips seal against your inner ear"
    Of course, they do not come anywhere near your inner ear, but seal against the opening of the ear canal.
     
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