Sound workshop

Yesterday we had a camera workshop with Fergus. In this workshop we mainly covered sound.

In projects at college I have used different types of microphones and have a understanding of the ways to record sound.

In the workshop we went through the main mic that was in the equipment store which is a rode mic. This is a directional mic that can be attached to the side of the camera and plugged in using a XLR cable. The camera powers the mic but you must ensure that you change the control to 48v to power the mic. The control on the camera changes the sound from the camera mic to any external mic. The Sony EX cameras have two input XLR sockets for external mics. I like this feature as it means the sound is synced to the visual, in my previous projects I have had to sync audio and visual up in post-production.

Directional microphones are good as these pick up sound in the direction that the mic is pointing, hence the name. The mic is also known as a shotgun mic as when attached to the grip it is shaped like a shotgun.

We looked at the monitor as the sound being picked up is displayed on the monitor giving a clear indication to how loud the sound is. It has a reading of decibels so the sound recordist knows how much noise is being recorded. it is not as clear as having Headphones on so Ferg asked us to wear headphones and try recording sound at different positions moving back from the mic. I could hear how the sound changes when the action goes away from the mic, the sound gets distorted and is not as crisp.

We went on to looking at boom poles and wind protection. I have used a boom pole before so was familiar with how to set it up and how to position it correctly. The wind protection is important as it stops any unwanted noise like wind from ruining the recording. We looked at a 'dead cat' protector. Named dead cat as it is fluffy and looks like a cats tail, this piece of kit allows protection over the mic for outdoor filming. Fergus introduced us to blimp. This is also a protector against unwanted noise but also balances out the mic on the handle, making it easier for the boom operator to hold steadily without it being unbalanced. It is crucial that the boom is set up correctly otherwise the sound may not be as direct and will not be as crisp.

Ferg also told us about health and safety with the equipment and how to work on location. He gave us a briefing of the important rules that we should be aware of when filming on location. These include:

• Knowing the area- Doing a run through with both crew and cast to make all aware of any dangers or hazards that may happen. Risk assessment should be filled out before any filming.
• Safety first- Before any production can begin, think first and do simple but very important checks.
• Wear high-visibility jackets when on location at any uncontrolled area (roads, street etc.).
• Have contact details for everyone involved and inform others detailing the location and time expected to return back to base. 

The workshop was fun and interesting. Having known majority of what we went through it was good to recap on it all. I am confident with the sound equipment and know the different types.