Location Audio Simplified

Book description

From the basics of using camera, handheld, lavalier, and shotgun microphones to camera calibration and mixer set-ups, Location Audio Simplified unlocks the secrets to clean and clear broadcast quality audio no matter what challenges you face. Author Dean Miles applies his twenty-plus years of experience as a professional location operator to teach the skills, techniques, tips, and secrets needed to produce high-quality production sound on location. Humorous and thoroughly practical, the book covers a wide array of topics, such as:
* location selection
* field mixing

* booming techniques
* using different kinds of microphones (including wireless systems) and booming
* camera calibration, interview techniques, and much more

Learn the secrets of a real-world professional with easy-to-follow, non-technical tips and techniques that you can apply in the field on your own projects immediately. The book follows the companion Location audio Simplified online course, https://vimeo.com/ondemand/locationaudiosimplified , to bring Dean’s teaching to life.

Make sure to check out the Location Crew website for more location audio goodness!
www.locationcrew.com

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Half Title
  3. Title
  4. Copyright
  5. Dedication
  6. Contents
  7. Acknowledgements
  8. 1 Introduction to Location Audio
    1. Introduction
    2. Detailing the Professional
    3. What Is Location Audio?
    4. What Makes a Successful Location Audio Operator?
    5. More Than Just Sound
    6. Companion Location Audio Online Course
  9. 2 Choosing and Preparing a Location
    1. Constant Tug-of-War
    2. Choosing a Location
    3. Five Steps for Choosing a Location
    4. Preparing a Location for Recording
    5. How Much Ambience Is Too Much?
    6. Making a Location Move
  10. 3 Location Audio Field Mixer
    1. The Field Mixer
    2. Features of the Field Mixer
    3. Initial Setup Procedure for a Field Mixer
    4. Field Mixer Initial Setup: Four-Channel Field Mixer
    5. Recording a Safety Track
    6. Putting It All Together
    7. Tying into the Camera
    8. Connecting a Shotgun Mic
    9. Connecting a Wireless System
    10. Professional Impression
  11. 4 Field Mixer Operating Techniques
    1. My Guarantee to You!
    2. Operating and Monitoring Techniques
    3. Task #1—Assigning/Panning
    4. Task #2—Dialing In
    5. Task #3—Monitoring Function
    6. Task #4—Listening
    7. Task #5—Shooting
    8. Room Tone Is a Must!
  12. 5 Shotgun Microphones
    1. There Is No Other!
    2. Shotgun Microphones: Characteristics and Groups
      1. Group 1: Hyper-Cardioid Microphones
      2. Group 2: Short Shotgun Microphones
      3. Group 3: Medium Shotgun Microphones
      4. Group 4: Shotgun Microphone
    3. Pick-up Pattern Width
    4. Powering a Shotgun Mic
    5. Low-Cut Filter on a Shotgun
    6. Axis and Lobeing
    7. One Final Thought
  13. 6 How to Boom
    1. A Booming Introduction
    2. Prepping and Wrapping the Boom Pole
    3. Operating the Boom Pole
    4. Static and Motion Booming
    5. One-Hand Booming
    6. Never Pass Through the Axis!
    7. Booming the Sweet Spot
    8. Scooping
    9. Booming Quick List
  14. 7 Lavalier Microphones
    1. The Lavalier
    2. Lavalier Basics
    3. When to Use Lavalier Microphones
    4. Lavalier Design Types
    5. Applying a Lavalier
    6. Exposed Micing Technique
    7. Hidden Micing Techniques
    8. Lavalier Techniques: Micing on the Head
    9. Hiding a Top-Loaded Lavalier
  15. 8 Wireless Systems
    1. Wireless Introduction
    2. Wireless Basics
    3. Setting Up a Wireless System
    4. Calibrating the Receiver to a Field Mixer
    5. Calibrating the Receiver to a Video Camera
    6. Wireless Hop
  16. 9 Video Cameras
    1. Video Cameras
    2. Common Video Camera Functions
    3. Camera Calibration
    4. The VJ Attenuator
    5. Direct Microphone Input
    6. Professional Field Mixer Input
    7. Always Check Your First Recording!
    8. Consumer and Professional Line Level
    9. Label Video Tapes?
  17. 10 DSLR Cameras
    1. DSLR Cameras
    2. This Not a Cop-Out!
    3. The DSLR Camera Mic
    4. Onboard Camera Mic Setup
    5. Keeping in Sync
  18. 11 The Field Recorder
    1. The Field Recorder
    2. Thanks DSLRs!
    3. Portable Digital Audio Recorders
    4. Calibrating Your Mixer to a Portable Field Recorder
    5. The Future of the Field Recorder
  19. 12 The Interview
    1. The Interview
    2. Who’s Decision Is It?
    3. Here’s How You’ll Conduct the Interview Process
    4. The Long Overdue Meeting
    5. Nonverbal Communication
    6. Be Prepared
    7. Conclusion
  20. 13 Add-Ons
    1. Handheld Microphone
    2. Microphone Flasher
    3. Wireless Monitoring
    4. Must-Have Accessories
    5. Happy Recordings!
  21. Index

Product information

  • Title: Location Audio Simplified
  • Author(s): Dean Miles
  • Release date: August 2014
  • Publisher(s): Routledge
  • ISBN: 9781317936794