Audio for Single Camera Operation

20 Single person operation: tracks, levels and practical exercise (c)

Which track?

Convention dictates that the main sound (i.e. your interviewee or reporter's PTC) goes on track one, and ancillary sound, (reporter's questions, or camera mic) on track two.

Since there are two tracks available, always record sound on both tracks, even if you are only using one mic. The general rule is, assuming you have one mic plugged to the camcorder on channel one, select the camera mic to channel two (Figure 20.1). In this way, should there be a problem with your main mic, you have an ‘emergency’ spare soundtrack, although almost certainly not of as good a quality.

Figure 20.1 Select mics to each channel

Sound level

You won't be able to operate the camera ...