"Extend the intermission for two more minutes, the lead just had a wardrobe malfunction."
"Check if the groom's wireless transmitter is connected properly, we can no longer hear him on camera A."
It doesn't matter if you're a team of photographers, theater techs or a coaching staff; efficient communication is vital when you work as a crew.
An experienced group of people can usually communicate pretty well without having to say a word, but there are still plenty of occasions when having a dependable wireless intercom is indispensible. These
Over the weekend I did a video shoot where I was operating the camera, doing the sound and directing. There was no production budget, just me acting as a one-man crew. I managed to cobble together a fairly decent-looking picture with the available light, but the audio quality I achieved would not have been possible without my pistol grip.
The video centered around two subjects walking around an apartment, talking about renovations and decorating ideas. The material was completely unscripted. I followed them around with my video camera in one
Recently I needed to transfer a video from an old VHS tape to digital, so I could upload it to YouTube. Since I currently don't own a VCR, I got my 20-year-old VHS camcorder out of the basement and used it to play the tape. When I opened its case after many years of neglect, I discovered the foam windscreen was disintegrating.
The foam literally turned into sticky black powder when you touched it. It was pretty gross. I wasn't sure if the thing even worked anymore, and if the deplorable state of the windscreen was any indicator, it didn't seem
Scrunchies. Board game pieces. Teeth. What do these things have in common? They're all small and easy to lose if you're not careful. If you use a lavalier microphone in any capacity (for video work, live sound, business presentations, etc.) then you're already aware that the clips are the easiest thing to lose in the entire universe. Buying replacement lav clips can be expensive, but there is one universally compatible (and very affordable) option that no
In the 1983 film Brainstorm, Christopher Walken plays the role of scientist Michael Wood, who invents a helmet that transfers sensations and abilities into the human brain. In one scene Walken sits at a piano wearing the helmet, and he’s able to play a complicated composition on the keys even though he’s never played piano before. That scene has always stuck with me. It would be cool if a technological innovation came along that enabled people to do complicated stuff without
Musicians creating music on their computers have more options at their fingertips than ever before. Thanks to virtual instruments, a computer can replicate sounds from just about any synthesizer and simulate the sounds of almost every instrument imaginable.
But for many people, creating music with a mouse and QWERTY keyboard just isn't instinctive or convenient and it makes it difficult to capture the essence of their musical ideas when inspiration hits. That's where a slew of USB Controllers come in. These controllers allow them to
This holiday season, you can give and/or enjoy the following budget-friendly ways to DJ—ready for action right out of the box. Like modern DJing, all of these devices are separable into two primary categories — analog or digital. Subsequently, you will notice that the first unit (by Numark) is exclusive to digital workflow, and the rest have relationships with both analog and digital configurations.
One isn't inherently better than the other — just a matter of multi-factorial preference. Bear this in mind, and you will undoubtedly make
Part One
Early in 2008, a friend sent me an email with a link to a YouTube video. The video was a preview of a movie he was producing/directing called "Overnite Shift". I was immediately intrigued by the excellent look of this no-budget movie, and something about the characters piqued my interest. I did however have reservations concerning the audio, which to my ears was problematic. On getting in touch with him, he informed me that most of the film had already been shot, but that he was having issues with the sound person delivering on his
A quick recap for anyone who didn't get to read Part One. In the beginning of 2008, my friend, writer/director Tibor Spiegel shared with me the completed production footage of his independent film, "Overnite Shift". The thirty-plus minute movie tells the story of an older, immigrant New York City taxi driver who, on a particular evening, picks up a series of passengers. As he interacts with them, his past hauntingly resurfaces, and in the process changes his future irrevocably.
The footage looked great. Really good. However, the production
We've all experienced audio that's out of sync. When audio doesn't match up with video, it feels like we're watching a poorly dubbed movie. When your studio hardware isn't synced to a good clock, it creates an odd echoey scenario that can be so subtle you may not realize your overall sound is being degraded. So what can be done in order to keep audio in perfect sync? In a word, a word clock. A word clock is a nifty bit of technology that has the sole purpose of keeping perfect time and preventing data errors with digital audio.
Many of today'
One of the best reasons to visit the B&H SuperStore in New York City is to physically examine the latest equipment for photography, video, personal and home entertainment, and pro audio. Getting to hold the latest DSLR camera in your hands and take a few test shots is the best way to determine if it's the right one for you. But where do singers, producers, and voice over artists go when they need to test out studio microphones and preamplifiers?Deep in the heart of midtown Manhattan, in the middle of one of the city's busiest stores, hides
DJing has evolved considerably in the last 5 years, beginning with the transition in medium from analog to digital. As most every DJ will now tell you, digital media is far more portable than heavy crates of records and – perhaps most appealingly – is also notoriously more available and less expensive.
Today, DJs perform in two primary ways. The first is by way of CD on a CD turntable called a "CDJ." Everything is about the same as the vinyl experience save that the turntable is now referencing binary code on a CD instead of physical
In the age of the digital music download and the pervasive presence of tiny portable MP3 players and earphones as the listening method of choice, Howard Bardach enjoys a unique position as both a proponent and purveyor of the true audiophile tradition among music enthusiasts. The man loves his work, and his enthusiasm for the sound quality and musicality of classic analog gear and recordings borders on the evangelical.
Working from his Ventura Boulevard shop The Audio Specialist in Studio City,
So you've made the rounds holiday gift shopping for your loved ones and friends, and now it's time to treat yourself to some useful toys for your home recording studio. Whether you've got a small songwriter demo setup or an elaborate multi-track facility, you're still a studio owner, and by definition that means you're always looking for a good deal on recording gear. What we've done is scour our inventory for a selection of products available at B&H for our customers, and we've compiled an equipment list below representing that elusive
Even with high-rejection shotgun microphones, blimps, softies, and windscreens, wind din is the bane of location recording. An entire industry caters to addressing the problem. Yet, we still regularly encounter wind-related noise when we set up outdoors and slip on our headphones. Here’s some practical advice gleaned from customers in the field who know how to whip wind into submission.
Wind Noise and Shotguns
Here's a tip passed on from a client of our own Bill Dexter, ENG recording guru-at-large, that should save you time, money, and a good