'Thought some of you might be interested in this article from B&H about how
to use a portable audio recorder in field production. :)
*How to Use a Portable Audio Recorder in Field Production | B&H Photo Video
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*How to Use a Portable Audio Recorder in Field Production* By Sam
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A portable field
recorder<http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/shop/5691/Portable_Recorders_Accesso=
ries_Recorders.html>is
one of the most commonly used tools in electronic field production,
but
how it connects to other field equipment (such as video cameras, portable
field mixers<http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/shop/4962/Mixers_Preamps_Portabl=
e_Mixers.html>,
wireless microphones<http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/shop/9450/UHF_Frequency_=
Lavalier_Systems.html>,
etc.) isn't terribly obvious. There are so many different models available
with varying capabilities (some have time code, and others do not, some hav=
e
multi-tracking, and others do not, and so on) that it can be confusing as t=
o
which recorder would best suit your needs. This article will hopefully show
you some of the ways you can use a portable audio recorder, and to explain
its various controls and features.
A Basic Overview
A portable digital recorder is a compact device that runs on batteries and
allows you to create high-quality audio recordings on removable digital
media and/or internal drives. Portable digital recorders can be used to mak=
e
recordings on their own, or you can connect them to other equipment and
record audio from outside sources. Many models feature USB or FireWire port=
s
that allow you to connect them to a computer in order to transfer the
recordings you create onto the connected computer's hard drive. Most models
allow you to select the quality of file you want to record in (WAV files,
MP3 files, etc.).
<http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/shop/8538/Studio_Microphones_Vocal.html> A
basic workflow with two condenser
microphones<http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/shop/8538/Studio_Microphones_Voca=
l.html>plugged
directly into a portable recorder.
Portable recorders are commonly used in conjunction with other field
production equipment. They are often placed in an audio
bag<http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/shop/8927/Recorder_Audio_Cases_Audio_Reco=
rder_Cases.html>alongside
portable field mixers, wireless microphone receivers, IFB
systems <http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/shop/12653/IFB_Systems.html>, etc.
Field mixers usually have multiple outputs. Their multiple outputs make it
possible to send the same audio to more than one device. It's a common
practice to send one output of the mixer to a portable audio recorder, and
another output to the audio inputs of a video camera. Doing so creates two
copies of the audio, one on the portable recorder and the other on the vide=
o
camera:
A mic is plugged into the audio mixer. The mixer's multiple outputs send
audio to both the camera and the portable recorder.
The audio recorded into the portable recorder typically sounds better than
the audio recorded into the camera. The audio circuitry built into the vide=
o
camera isn't nearly as elegant as the guts of a portable audio recorder.
Video cameras also compress audio as they record, which further decreases
the quality of the sound. So why should you bother patching audio cables
over to the video camera if it doesn't sound as good? In a production you
never know when a piece of electronic equipment is going to malfunction. If
the audio fails on either end, you will have a second copy to cover you.
When you're shooting extensive amounts of footage, it can get increasingly
taxing to keep track of what audio files are supposed to accompany what
video files or video tapes. Syncing the externally-recorded audio with the
video in post production can be very time consuming. This is where time cod=
e
really comes in handy.
Time Code
The very mention of the term "time code" tends to strike fear in the hearts
of those unaccustomed to working with it. Time code is simply a protocol
that gets encoded into audio and video footage that allows you to sync and
lock the recorded audio with the video in post production. For a deeper
understanding of the subject be sure to check out this informative B&H
educational article<http://www.bhphotovideo.com/find/newsLetter/Time-Code.j=
sp>
.
Portable recorders with built-in time code generators capable of syncing
with other devices are expensive. To keep costs down, most portable field
recorders do not include internal time-code generators. However, some
portable audio recorders will feature inputs that enable them to sync with
external time code generators. The Tascam
HD-P2<http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/404262-REG/Tascam_HD_P2_HD_P2_P=
ortable_Stereo.html>is
a good example of this kind of recorder. It's a nice option for
someone
who doesn't need time code currently, but may need to sync with it in the
future.
A video camera and a portable recorder with time code inputs sync to
an external
time code generator<http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/406893-REG/Deneck=
e_SB_T_SB_T_Time_Code_Generator.html>
: The green line represents the audio from the sound kit. The red lines
represent time code.
Many higher end professional video cameras feature internal time-code
generators with outputs to sync external devices. Common devices that will
often be synced with cameras and portable recorders are time code
slates<http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/406885-REG/Denecke_TS_3_TS_3_T=
ime_Code_Slate.html>.
These peculiar-looking tools should be familiar if you've ever seen footage
of a professional production crew at work. The digital screen on the face o=
f
the slate displays the time code. This is useful for editors in post
production to be able to visually check if the time code of the footage is
synced properly.
A video camera generates time code and syncs with a portable digital
recorder and a time code
slate<http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/406889-REG/Denecke_TS_C_TS_C_Co=
mpact_Time_Code.html>
: The green line represents the audio from the sound kit. The red lines
represent time code.
Some of the more professional portable audio recorders will feature interna=
l
time code generators with the ability to sync external devices. Devices wit=
h
built-in time code generators often also have the ability to sync to
external time code generators. There are never two time code generators
operating at once. One generator will be the master, and the other devices
will slave to it. All time-code generators are not created equal. The
generator in may not be as accurate as the generator in the portable
recorder, or vice versa. External time code generators (also referred to as
Sync Boxes) like the Denecke
SB-T<http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/406893-REG/Denecke_SB_T_SB_T_Tim=
e_Code_Generator.html>are
generally considered to be more accurate, and are preferred as the
master clock.
A portable recorder generates time code and syncs with a video camera and
a time code slate: The green line represents the audio from the sound kit.
The red lines represent time code.
Since audio is such an important element of video and film production, ther=
e
are often production scenarios that call for more than two tracks of
recorded sound. Reality programs are among the most popular shows on
television. These shows will regularly have numerous people wandering
around, all of them wearing wireless microphones. Since their actions are
unscripted, the challenge of mixing all of those separate wireless
microphones down to two tracks is often too risky. One solution is to use a
portable audio recorder with multi-track capabilities.
[image: Edirol
R-44]<http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/542280-REG/Edirol_Roland_R_44_R=
_44_Solid_State_Four_Channel_Portable.html>
The
Edirol R-44<http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/542280-REG/Edirol_Roland_=
R_44_R_44_Solid_State_Four_Channel_Portable.html>records
four separate tracks of audio
Multi-Track Portable Recorders
A standard audio recorder typically has two tracks. The two tracks are most
commonly used for recording left and right of the stereo spectrum.
Multi-track recorders have the ability to record separate tracks beyond jus=
t
left and right. Portable multi-track recorders feature separate inputs for
each separate track. In a reality television shoot where you have four
contestants scrambling around a parking lot, you can have each of their
wireless microphones recorded onto its own audio track. It's a smart way to
work in a production environment when using multiple microphones because
you're a lot less likely to miss important dialog or sounds.
[image: Sound Devices
788T]<http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/555771-REG/Sound_Devices_788T_7=
Message: 88T_8_Channel_Portable.
Subject: html>
The
Sound Devices 788T<http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/555771-REG/Sound_D=
evices_788T_788T_8_Channel_Portable.html>records
eight separate tracks of audio.
Special purpose portable audio recorders
There are a couple of portable audio recorders that have been designed to
act as both the portable audio mixer and recorder built into one. The Foste=
x
PD-606<http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/548619-REG/Fostex_PD_606_PD_60=
Message: 6_PORTBL_6_CH_MXR.
Subject: html>and
the
PD-204<http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/548621-REG/Fostex_PD_204_PD_20=
Message: 4_PORTBL_4_CH_MXR.
Subject: html>are
both integrated field mixers/recorders with built-in time-code
generators. The difference between the two models is that the 606 is also a
multi-track recorder. The 204 has four inputs and allows you to mix them
down and record them to two tracks, while the 606 has six inputs and record=
s
onto six separate tracks.
[image: Zaxcom
ZFR100]<http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/459481-REG/Zaxcom_ZFR100H_ZFR=
Message: 100_Digital_Audio.
Subject: html>
The
pocket-sized Zaxcom
ZFR100<http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/459481-REG/Zaxcom_ZFR100H_ZFR1=
Message: 00_Digital_Audio.
Subject: html>includes
time code.
The Zaxcom ZFR100<http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/459481-REG/Zaxcom_Z=
FR100H_ZFR100_Digital_Audio.html>is
a small beltpack-sized device that records high-quality audio with
time
code. You can plug a lavalier microphone directly into it, or keep one in
your bag and send the audio to it for a failsafe copy. The addition of the
STA-100<http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/459482-REG/Zaxcom_STA100_STA1=
Message: 00_Stereo_Adapter.
Subject: html>accessory
expands the device into a two track line input recorder, and gives
it time code and audio outputs.
*What about all those buttons and controls?*
Portable audio recorders tend to be fairly simple machines, they just don't
always look that way. Some models enable you to edit the audio directly
inside the recorder, so navigation and editing buttons are needed. Most
recorders give you some way to name the files you create to keep things
organized, and more buttons are needed for these functions. It's not
uncommon for portable recorders with microphone inputs to have basic
controls like preamp gain knobs, phantom power buttons, and mic/line
switches.
Below we have created a chart with some of the popular portable audio
recorders sold at B&H. If you're interested in smaller, handheld portable
recorders that are capable of making high-quality recordings, check out the=
B&H
Handheld Digital Audio Recorders Buyer's
Guide<http://www.bhphotovideo.com/find/newsLetter/Digital-Audio-Recorders-B=
uyers-Guide.jsp>
.
Portable audio recorders without time code:
Model
Channels
Size and Weight
Input / Output
Features
Multi-source
Price Range
Marantz PMD-660<http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/362023-REG/Marantz_PM=
D660_PMD660_Portable_Compact.html>
B&H# MAPMD660
2
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