Dealing with speeches audio

[Cody Dulock]

If you are recording two channels independently in camera, you should be able to lower the volume on to a level good for applause and the other a little higher for speech. In post you just just duplicate the left channel on one audio track and duplicate the right for the other, then blend the audio tracks together.

Basically you need to attenuate one mic and not the other.

Hopefully I'm not repeating what others have said, if so... you won't forget it :)

[Denny Lajeunesse]

I used a recoder wired to the output of the DJ's sound system. He was using a wireless handheld mic for the speech makers.

On my cam I had my shotgun sent to ch1 and 2. One channel was set considerably lower than the other.

I can then use the recorder audio for the speech dialog and the cameras audio for background and applause. Since one channel is set lower than the other I should have my choice of which to use based on how loud things are.

[Paul Mailath]

Originally Posted by Philip Howells

The problem to avoid is recording the speeches from a radio microphone clipped to a coat that's now closer to the speakers' fundament than his mouth.

with some speeches it wouldn't really matter would it?

thank god I live in the land of the lecturn!

[Chris Harding]

Hi Paul

I was actually quite amazed..it seems that we are the only country in the world where the reception venues supply a lectern!!!

It's our gain however..you have a pretty much standard mic position and the person doing the speeches stands relatively still!! Makes our job a lot easier!!! I have already heard of techniques like hiding mics in floral arrangements and moving them in front of each speaker at the bridal table but the lectern still beats them all and we get pretty good audio!!

Chris

[Warren Kawamoto]

Originally Posted by Paul Mailath

thank god I live in the land of the lecturn!

Here in Hawaii, a lectern or podium is also present in almost every wedding I've ever shot. Makes shooting speeches and toasts a breeze.

[John J. Arnold]

Originally Posted by Joel Peregrine

Hi Travis,

I have an H4N but haven't used it an event yet. Any advice on levels? I'd be surprised if the auto level control worked as it should but I'd also love to be surprised that it does the job. Mic'ing really hot sources like speakers seems to be a hit or miss proposition because you can never be quite sure if they'll change the output.

I've got the H4N and love it. I had been just using the H4Ns onboard mic and pointing it at the speakers, but the result was just too muddy. Now I just take a 1/4" line out from the DJs board (not XLR) straight into the recorder and set my levels manually (usually between 50-60 for speeches). Audio from the DJ's wireless handhelds has been great - very clean.