Separating the sound at DVinfo.net

Harry Settle · April 19th, 2003, 12:23 PM

I just ran a sound test on my VX, with a wireless, and a shotgun going through my XLR-pro adapter. I am recording the tv set with the shotgun, and have the wireless in another room listening to the stereo.

The problem I'm having is getting a clean separation of sound. With the XLR set on either stereo or mono, when I capture to Vegas, I am unable to get clear separation on the two channels. When panning left to right, I continue to get bleed over from the other channel.

What am I overlooking. I "assumed" that I would be able to have two clear cut channels.

Harry Settle · April 19th, 2003, 06:42 PM

It wasn't the camera or sound equipment. The bleedover was a physical condition where I was recording. I had the headset on, and didn't realize that I could actually hear both sound sources so well, in one room.

K. Forman · April 20th, 2003, 09:00 AM

Harry- I may be wrong, but aren't shotgun mics mono?

Ken Tanaka · April 20th, 2003, 12:07 PM

Yes, they are mono. But I think Harry just got a 101 lesson in the sensitivity of microphones.

Harry Settle · April 20th, 2003, 02:58 PM

Absolutely, Ken, I didn't realize that the shotgun was picking up so much from the other room even though the door was shut. Shotgun + stereo/mono adapter. The Azden SG-X has a stereo plug on the end for the VX-2000.

Ken Tanaka · April 20th, 2003, 03:11 PM

Harry,
Many of us have learned the same lessson, often not as harmlessly as you have. Professional, and near-professional microphones, are extremely sensitive within their fields. My 101 lesson came while using my Sennheiser ME-66 shotgun for the first time. The person booming a shot with it for me had no sound experience. But I figured, how hard can it be? Give him a pair of headphones and have him point it at the talent, right? Well, wrong. He was pointing it horizontally and picked up all of the traffic sounds from a street 100 feet behind the talent, too. Hence, I learned to treat a shotgun mic like a real shotgun; take note of what else it would "hit" behind the target.

Mike Rehmus · April 20th, 2003, 09:29 PM

And shotguns are directional only at medium and higher frequencies. Low frequencies make them act like unidriectional microphones.

Ken Tanaka · April 20th, 2003, 09:59 PM

Ahh, good point Mike! Hence the handy-ness of the low-pass filters found on some mics.

Patrick Grealy · April 22nd, 2003, 11:01 AM

Hi Guys,

The low pass filter is usually aimed at reducing the handling noise generated by the Mic being attached to something that being moved and thus creating vibrations. (i.e a camera or even a mic stand)

These filters should ususlly be set to on, even if you the mic is attached to a Mic stand, as vibrations will be picked up through the stand.

Only safe to switch off if the mic is being suspended on an anti vibration 'spider web' mic holder.

Regards
P

Ken Tanaka · April 22nd, 2003, 11:05 AM

Indeed. And they're also helpful at reducing wind rumble and some motor sounds, such as a nearby idling truck or bus.

April 19th, 2003, 12:23 PM	#1
Harry Settle Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bemidji, MN Posts: 276	Separating the sound I just ran a sound test on my VX, with a wireless, and a shotgun going through my XLR-pro adapter. I am recording the tv set with the shotgun, and have the wireless in another room listening to the stereo. The problem I'm having is getting a clean separation of sound. With the XLR set on either stereo or mono, when I capture to Vegas, I am unable to get clear separation on the two channels. When panning left to right, I continue to get bleed over from the other channel. What am I overlooking. I "assumed" that I would be able to have two clear cut channels. __________________ "DOH"!!!

April 19th, 2003, 06:42 PM	#2
Harry Settle Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bemidji, MN Posts: 276	Figured it out. It wasn't the camera or sound equipment. The bleedover was a physical condition where I was recording. I had the headset on, and didn't realize that I could actually hear both sound sources so well, in one room. __________________ "DOH"!!!

April 20th, 2003, 12:07 PM	#4
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Yes, they are mono. But I think Harry just got a 101 lesson in the sensitivity of microphones. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

April 20th, 2003, 02:58 PM	#5
Harry Settle Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bemidji, MN Posts: 276	Absolutely, Ken, I didn't realize that the shotgun was picking up so much from the other room even though the door was shut. Shotgun + stereo/mono adapter. The Azden SG-X has a stereo plug on the end for the VX-2000. __________________ "DOH"!!!

April 20th, 2003, 03:11 PM	#6
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Harry, Many of us have learned the same lessson, often not as harmlessly as you have. Professional, and near-professional microphones, are extremely sensitive within their fields. My 101 lesson came while using my Sennheiser ME-66 shotgun for the first time. The person booming a shot with it for me had no sound experience. But I figured, how hard can it be? Give him a pair of headphones and have him point it at the talent, right? Well, wrong. He was pointing it horizontally and picked up all of the traffic sounds from a street 100 feet behind the talent, too. Hence, I learned to treat a shotgun mic like a real shotgun; take note of what else it would "hit" behind the target. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

April 20th, 2003, 09:00 AM	#3
K. Forman Capt. Quirk Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle of the woods in Georgia Posts: 3,596	Harry- I may be wrong, but aren't shotgun mics mono?

April 20th, 2003, 09:29 PM	#7
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	And shotguns are directional only at medium and higher frequencies. Low frequencies make them act like unidriectional microphones. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

April 20th, 2003, 09:59 PM	#8
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Ahh, good point Mike! Hence the handy-ness of the low-pass filters found on some mics. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

April 22nd, 2003, 11:01 AM	#9
Patrick Grealy Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 90	Hi Guys, The low pass filter is usually aimed at reducing the handling noise generated by the Mic being attached to something that being moved and thus creating vibrations. (i.e a camera or even a mic stand) These filters should ususlly be set to on, even if you the mic is attached to a Mic stand, as vibrations will be picked up through the stand. Only safe to switch off if the mic is being suspended on an anti vibration 'spider web' mic holder. Regards P __________________ Sony PDX10 by 2, DRS-11, Dual G5, FCX, DVDSP and Logic Plat. www.VarsityMusicVideo.com

April 22nd, 2003, 11:05 AM	#10
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Indeed. And they're also helpful at reducing wind rumble and some motor sounds, such as a nearby idling truck or bus. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com