audio help with 5d
 

I will be shooting some talking head shots for my company this week, and would love some advice on the best way to record sound with this camera. I have some great wireless mics that we will be using as well.

1. Can we use the zoom to record straight to the camera so we don't have to sync it later in post, or is this not a great idea when using the 5d.
2. Can we listen to the sound while we record using the zoom as well, or does anyone know what configuration i would need to get to accomplish this.
3. I would like to configure the sound setup so i can use it anywhere I shoot not just at this shoot as well. I do a lot of out door shooting.
4. I read that some are using a juicelink box to record sound as well instead of zoom, anyone know which is better?

I know some use magic lantern with this camera ( i haven't tried this yet) but is this needed to listen to the audio as we record it?

I currently have a small azden mic i was using for syncing sound

Any input would be great, or setups that you are currently using.

Re: audio help with 5d
 

The JL and ML gives less noise than recording into the camera than you get recording with the H4n into its memory card. I've never tried routing the H4n output to the 5D2, but be aware that headphone amps often have poor quality compared to amplifiers that are designed for the recording signal chain. Even the (very nice) Fostex FR-2LE has noisy headphone amps.

Note that the camera always has a high pass filter enabled. It's fine for normal dialog, but will sound thin for recording full range music or a really rich, deep, bass voice. It's good for reducing wind noise though...

And, yes, to monitor from the camera you need Magic Lantern. You will also either need to make your own cable or use the A/V cable that ships with the camera. You can't just plug headphones into the A/V output.

Overall, the JL/ML/5D2 combination has less noise than an H4n or DR-100, but the JL/ML/5D2 can sound slightly harsher than the dedicated recorders at high sound levels. And, as mentioned above, recording into the camera has limited bass.

Re: audio help with 5d
 

thanks Jon, your always a great help!!!

one more quick question and not sure if you want me to start a new thread on this or not, but whats the best config for having a monitor with the camera. I just got a email saying we will have a nice 27 inch hd monitor to look at while shooting.

Will the camera send out a full hd signal for us to look at. If it dosnt whats the best way to config this so we can look at the footage through the monitor.

thanks again

Re: audio help with 5d
 

Just connect the HDMI. It puts out HD in Live View and playback, but not during recording.

Some TVs/monitors have a problem with switching between HD and SD. If that's the case, just use the NTSC output. You can either use the A/V cable that ships with the camera or solder your own TRRS 1/8" plug on a custom cable.

For narrative work, I use the x10 magnification to set the focus points. I put gaffers tape on the follow focus as a reference.

Re: audio help with 5d
 

Jason, if you do loop through the Zoom to the camera (using one of those $45 little pad cables to get from line out to mic out from the recorder), be aware that the Zoom's output is the headphone jack. So you'll need a Y adapter to monitor the Zoom. And, if you adjust the headphone gain after setting up the camera meters, you'll change the level going to the camera too.

I like to double record so I have the same mic going to the recorder and to the camera, and for a quick rough cut I can use the camera audio if necessary. As Jon says, it sounds thin but for some things may be useable. But you don't want to rely on it 100% because you have no way of knowing what you're really getting (unless you use Magic Bullet, which I don't).

What I do is put a file on my recorder with -12 db tone. I play that back into the camera and set the camera's meters to that tone. Then, whatever adjustment I make to the recorder's gain will go to the camera--as long as nobody touches the headphone gain.

Recently my Zoom died--that very mini jack fell apart inside the recorder, and the electronics guy trying to fix it couldn't get the proper parts and connectors. So I gave up on it and got a Marantz PMD661, which costs twice as much. It has two RCA outputs independent of the 1/4" headphone jack, so it's nicer for passing through the audio to the camera. Still, I never trust the camera audio. Syncing your files isn't that difficult, but you want to make sure to slate everything verbally. If you are careful and always turn on and off the recorder when you do the camera, then you'll end up with the same number of audio clips as video clips and life is easy. If you don't do that, you can have trouble finding the right file to go with the right video file. The syncing is easy, keeping organized is the hard part.

Re: audio help with 5d
 

I fought the long fight with audio but am no expert.....I use a combo system - I use a RODE mic into the camera. This is my backup/sync audio. I then use the ZOOM H4n to feed in my wired XLR Lav mics which I mic the talent with. And or use a couple of wired XLR handheld mics if ok.
I then use DualEyes to sync the sound (very easy to do) and I then have MOV clips with the Zoom audio replacing the original RODE on camera sound. Just place the MOVs and one WAV into a dualeyes session and it does the rest.
This works best for me cause I can shoot with the headphones plugged in DURING recording and adjust the audio as needed.
I've bought all the crap to transfer the zoom directly into the 5Dmk2 but I just feel like that's not the best sound I can get so I use the ZOOM as my main audio recording device.
YMMV
Harry

Re: audio help with 5d
 

Jon,

You mention the 5D always employing a high pass filter. Does this extend to situations where an external mic is used. A Rode Stereomic for instance. If so, there goes my plan for getting better sound at live music events.

Re: audio help with 5d
 

The high pass (low cut) filter is always ON in the 5D. This is true even with Magic Lantern, and true whether the mic is internal or external. It's fine for dialog and casual music recordings, but not for recording good quality, full-range music.

Re: audio help with 5d
 

Thanks Jon. Good to know. I guess I'll still go with the stereomic to get overall sound regardless of where the camera is pointing in relation to the music source, and continue to increase the quailty of the audio in post.

Re: audio help with 5d
 

thanks for all the replys, really learning a ton from everyone about these cameras....

thanks