Dave

Hi All, Just wondering if anyone has any tips or knowledge about recording Skype or FaceTime video chats? I have to do a long distance interview and need to capture both video & audio for subsequent editing in Final Cut. Hoping for highest quality - clear image and reasonable audio sync. I'll only want to show the interviewee's image on camera (and voice), but still want the interviewers audio questions. Have you encountered any helpful apps for current iPads? Thanks for any tips - much appreciated. Best Regards, Dave

Hi All, Has anyone heard or worked with the newish Equator Audio D8 studio monitors? (Read the favourable posts regarding the smaller D5 model). Just curious about general build quality, accuracy, power and most importantly, the bass response and handling for ultra-low bass heavy synth productions (i.e. the low lows in Spectrasonics Omnisphere). Thanks for your thoughts - much appreciated. Link : http://www.equatoraudio.com/D8-Coaxial-Studio-Monitors-p/d8.htm Cheers, Dave

Thank You Tom - very kind. For some reason the pull down list of service depots didn't load/show when first visiting Tascam Canada website - all well now. Have a great day! Best Regards, Dave

Hi, Would anyone know where to get a Tascam HD-P2 repaired in Ontario, Canada? The Tascam Canada website is not helpful. My issue is the flimsy little black plastic "flash card ejector button" broke off inside the unit and it's a pain to get compact flash cards in and out easily. Thanks for your help. Cheers, Dave

Hi All, Not sure if you're using Final Cut Pro 7 (or earlier) to sync up clips? Bruce Sharpe (original creator of PluralEyes) has a helpful article and posting about Sync Drift in Final Cut Pro. He references FCP Sequence Settings as a Sync Drift cause, different audio devices (Tascam, Zoom,etc.) frame rates & timecode. He provides an explanation and possible solution to the Drift Issue - perhaps it may help you and your editor? http://brucesharpe.blogspot.ca/2010/02/dslr-sync-drift-in-final-cut-pro.html One thing you may want to check before you even begin syncing audio, is to see if your in-camera audio (scratch track) is actually in sync with the camera's own picture. I learned, after much frustration, that my Canon 7D (and other DSLRs) audio is inherently out-of-sync with it's own picture - in my case the audio is approx. 1 frame ahead of picture - what a pain, and worse when coupled with any FCP sync drift due to mismatched Sequence Settings. Anyhow, hope the link above leads you to a solution. Best of luck. Dave

Thanks everyone for the very good advice - should a fun challenge, hopefully without feedback :-) Best regards, Dave

Hi All, Hoping to use my Sennheiser G3 bodypack for live PA use - a public speaker/presenter standing at a podium giving a corporate Powerpoint presentation. Medium sized meeting rooms/halls with stand mounted PA system. I just have the standard G3 lav that came with kit - not good, I know - feedback prone too. Any suggestions for stage use lav under these conditions? Cardioid versus Omni, brand, models, etc. Thanks very much. Best regards, Dave

Hi All, I always enjoy watching this George Duke "in the studio" video : http://player.vimeo.com/video/23984637?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&autoplay=0 Cheers, Dave

Hi, Perhaps the Fostex DC-R302 3 channel mixer/2 channel recorder might fit your budget and be useful now and in the future. Paid $1,000 for mine when it first came out last year but good deal now ($699.00) at B&H : http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/846034-REG/Fostex_DC_R302_DC_R302_3_Channel_Audio_Mixer.html Good preamps and sound, compact, light weight... some helpful DSLR features. Only potential downside is no XLR outs - has RCA and 3.5 mini - could rig adapter cables. Also, a used 415 T or 416 from Trew Audio : http://www.trewaudio.com/consignment/microphones/ Low budget Rode NTG2 (battery powered) is an ok practice mic. In addition to practicing mixing, I find that booming while listening live through headphones is very educational. You can learn a ton about different voices tonal qualities, mic placement & angles, proximity to sound sources, ambience, mic functionality, etc. To record your practices and then hear the tracks back through studio monitors is very fun and enlightening :-) Anyhow. have fun doing this - I do too. All the best, Dave

Hi All, Saw this new JamHub Tracker MT16 "Recorder" on Sweetwater site : http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MT16/ Looks interesting - wonder how it's powered? 1/4 inch line inputs to 7 tracks. Has WiFi upload capabilities, too. Maybe handy for something? Thanks - all the best, Dave

Try to do your gig with all these grasshoppers :-)))) Check it out : Cheers, Dave

Hi Olle, Thanks for your feedback. I know that "plastic" Zoom kind of tone you mean. Had a Zoom unit - returned it. Nonetheless, I'll hope to hear the R-88 soon in hopes that they've upgraded the pre-amps. Cheers, Dave

Just read through the R-88 manual. Here : http://www.rolandsystemsgroup.com/assets/media/pdf/r88_manual_e01_W.pdf Looks pretty fully featured. Like the ability to simultaneously record internally and to computer via usb. Also can transfer/copy sessions/projects from R-88 internal directly to a connected USB stick; bypassing need to copy through computer. Like the footswitch idea to start/stop recording and other assignable functions - could maybe have a boompole mounted start/stop switch. Can assign knobs as mixer faders or use touchscreen. If I understand correctly, from the R-88 you could record internally, record to computer, feed at least 2 cameras, feed DSLR, send to external mixer/recorders. If mic pres sound good, not bad at the $2,500 pricepoint - has anybody heard the sound quality yet? Would also like to hear sound of R-88 preamps recording music tracks into Logic, ProTools, etc. Cheers, Dave

Hi All, Just did a search for "Doc Kit" and found a post or two from 2011. Now that we're in 2013 and so much new gear is appearing, what would a basic contemporary doc kit be made up of? I noticed that different countries and regions had different basic kit setups and therefore rates. Any thoughts about kits/rates in Canada? If one was to build a new kit these days, how would you best set your rates reflecting current gear costs and economic conditions? Thanks very much for your thoughts - much appreciated. All the best, Dave

Hi All, Stumbled on this article re: Facebook. What do you think about this? http://www.theloop.ca/opinion/article/-/a/1576430/Should-Facebook-make-billions-but-pay-no-tax- Maybe us peasants oughtta light the torches and complain ? :-) Cheers, Dave

Hi, Not an "all-in-one" but : Fostex DC-R302 with an external stereo mic. I use mine with audio technica stereo mic - small and light rig and does double duty as backup recorder. Good for dslr stuff. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/846034-REG/Fostex_DC_R302_DC_R302_3_Channel_Audio_Mixer.html Ignore file issues with DC-R302 - all well now with latest firmware. Cheers, Dave

New this week : Looks like Apogee is now offering their gear with iPad connections and software. Curious as to how an iPad would actually perform when recording multi-track audio. http://apogeedigital.com/ Cheers, Dave

Hi All, I'd be curious if a studio "reflection filter" would help to negate boomy room ambience with a dialog mic. This kind of device : http://www.seelectronics.com/instrument-reflexion-filter-2 http://www.karmamics.com/shop/Reflection-Filter.html http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/786693-REG/MXL_RF_100_RF_100_Reflection_Filter.html Interesting Articles and Videos re: sound blanket room deadening : http://cheesycam.com/diy-sound-panels-treat-large-empty-spaces/ http://cheesycam.com/sound-absorption-for-voice-recording-room/ Sound Blankets : (Expensive) http://www.audimutesoundproofing.com/audimute-sound-absorption-sheets-materials-that-absorb-sound-soundproofing-blankets.aspx?ref=Cheesycam.com Sound Blankets : (Cheaper) http://www.uscargocontrol.com/uscc/Sound-Dampening-Blankets I've heard vocal tracks from untreated home studios and the reflexion filter seemed to dry up the sound a bit - although a singer is much tighter in on the mic. I've had luck in my somewhat untreated studio by heavily padding down one of the walls behind green screen and making the set directly in front of and close to this wall. If camera angles, lighting and space allow, try to artificially reduce the room size behind the camera as much possible by stacking big heavy objects - office dividers, desks, road cases, drapes, sofa cushions, carpets - whatever is on hand. Add sound blankets on top of this pile of objects. If your garage is big enough, maybe park a vehicle in there to add mass into the hollow space? Worst case if garage is too echo-y - green screen setup in back of 5-ton truck? Anyhow, just a thought or 2 :-) Best of luck. Cheers, Dave

Hi All, I have an older hardwired Audio Technica Pro 7A LAV that I was hoping to use for occasional public speaking gigs ; in emergencies when wireless is a problem. It runs with a hard-wired single AA battery pack. My issue is that AA batteries are no longer fitting into the battery compartment - the battery (brand new Duracell) is too long and therefore too tight to get into the receptacle. I'm afraid to force it in and cause damage. I could swear that when I first got the mic a AA would fit without any issues. Have they started making these current AA's a bit longer? Inside the compartment it indicates a "UM-3" battery, a Japanese AA equivalent? Maybe there's a slight difference in the dimension/length? Thanks for any tips - much appreciated. Have a great day! Cheers, Dave

Hi All and Happy New Year :-) For an upcoming public presentation through a small PA with 2 stand mounted speakers (each a 15" and horn) : I'm looking for a reasonably priced headset mic to go into a belt-pack Sennheiser G3. I've seen a few low profile miniature mics mounted onto very thin dual over-the-ears rigs. Some of them are omni while there were 1 or 2 hyper cardioids. What pattern would you recommend for a public speaker who may move around the room? How do these type of mics perform with regard to voice sensitivity/clarity and are they feedback prone at mid volume - mid size meeting hall (150 people). I'm not necessarily recording with this mic - mainly PA use, but it would be nice if the mic sounded ok as a recording mic too :-) Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. All the best, Dave

Hi All, Since you're looking at the Oktava mic, thought I'd mention this other low budget mic that people are liking for music recording. The Avantone CK1, pencil condenser : http://www.avantonepro.com/Avantone-CK-1-Small-Capsule-FET-Pencil-Microphone.html It might be an ok budget mic for dialog perhaps? Anyhow, a nice little 3 capsule setup for $149.00. Can't find any dialog samples but it sounds quite good to me on instruments : Crisp and warm string sound : Nicely balanced (bass-mid-treble) acoustic guitar : CK1 into handheld Fostex recorder : I intend on getting 1 or 2 for home studio - will let you know how it goes. Thanks and best of luck :-) Cheers, Dave

Hi Richard, Just a quick note to say thanks for bringing us your newsletter. I very much enjoyed reading the articles & watching the videos. Great content - I really appreciate the effort that went into pulling it together. All the best, Dave

Hi Andy, Strange HD-P2 behaviour for sure - I haven't seen that with mine. The only thing I'd suggest is to install or reinstall the latest firmware on a freshly formatted CF card. I know you need the latest firmware to use a CF card bigger than 8 GB. Probably wouldn't hurt to do a factory settings reset and start with new project settings as well. Get 1.06 firmware here : http://tascam.com/product/hd-p2/downloads/ I did have the CF card "ejector" lever break off internally (the black plastic fold-in tab thingy) and have to seat and pull the card out manually. How are you powering your unit? Internal AA's or ? Same powering method when connected to the mixer and not connected? Maybe not getting enough power? What's the machine do if you run it apart from the mixer but powered from the AC adaptor? Power polarity reversed somehow? My last thought : is the Tascam unit physically oriented differently when plugged into your mixer and when not? Is it sitting upright in mixer bag versus flat on table when not plugged into mixer? Maybe the internal CF card gold contacts are bent, dirty or wiggling around and the orientation makes for poor CF Card connection? Very strange - hope you have luck troubleshooting. I'll be very interested to know why you're having this issue. All the best, Dave

Hi Jim and Matt, Hope you don't mind my 2 cents worth ? :-))) I was just experimenting with my Canon 7d DSLR today : feeding it "scratch audio" from mixer/recorder (Fostex DC-R302). I didn't use a wireless hop however - hardwired from Fostex to DSLR via 3.5mm cable with no return from the camera. I set the newly available 7D "manual audio" level setting to halfway (50 %) on the 7D. Upon playback I found I could have set it a bit lower still - could just hear it on the edge of being too hot. I think after today, I would err on the side of setting levels a little low and safe rather than slightly hot. I would highly recommend testing extensively to find an optimum input level setting on the DSLR (assuming the camera has this ability), whether wireless or wired. Another thing that I discovered is just how "flimsy" the DSLR 3.5mm input is - it is very easy for the incoming 3.5mm cable jack to get wiggled out a bit and drop audio in and out. Even though my DSLR audio might only be for guide purposes, I'm looking for somewhat decent levels & quality in order to sync with Pluraleyes. The flimsy DLSR input jack could compromise your camera guide track if the camera person bumps the cable like I did. After working on my DSLR audio tests, I would highly suggest having a main standalone recorder for master tracks. My tests today left me thinking that the DSLR is the weak link in the audio chain, first for the physical connections and secondly for control of levels and overall sound quality. The good news for me was that the Fostex DC-R302 sounds very good and has some features that make DSLR work a bit easier - mainly that you are recording good sounding master tracks while simultaneously sending the same clean mic level mix to the DSLR all from a single unit. I am going to try your camera hop idea with my G3 too though - I'm curious about the 3.5mm plug from the Sennheiser receiver going straight in to the DSLR. - wish the 7D had a more secure input jack though. Good luck with your experiments too. Thanks for your time and all the best, Dave

Hi All, Yes, well padded. It's form-fitted foam that can be reconfigured for different shapes or removed altogether. Cheers, Dave