In Memory of Cinematographer Haskell Wexler
Our condolences to my friend and fellow Sound Mixer, Jeff Wexler and family, and, indeed, the entire film industry, with […]
Gear Fear #1: Wireless dropouts and backup recorders
by Glen Trew Since it’s almost Halloween, here’s a scary thought for film/video sound professionals: On a 200-person film or
Cantar X3 Overview – A Journey to the Industry’s New Flagship
A couple of weeks ago I took a trip to Europe, and while there visited Aaton’s headquarters in beautiful Grenoble, France to better get to know the company that makes the new Cantar audio recorder.
By Glen Trew
Review: The Sennheiser MKE-600 Short Shotgun Microphone
New microphones for film and video production come around as slowly as wrap on an 12-page day, but just last year it happened again.
The Sennheiser name gives the MKE-600 plenty of street-cred, and from my listening evaluation and field test, I believe this German-made mic delivers on the brand’s legacy, particularly for the intended professional market often referred to as “ENG” (Electronic News Gathering) or “Journalism”. While the MKE-600 is priced for the growing market of small hand-held video production, the audio performance of this electret condenser far exceeds what the low price suggests, and will likely find a place in the mic kits of many accomplished sound mixers.
Recorders, Uncategorized
Tascam DR-60D: Problem Solved
As mentioned a couple of months ago in an August 21 article posted in Trew Audio Flow (see the article here), we discovered a problem having to do with noise being induced into the Canon 5D-MkII camera when – and only when – attached to the DR-60D. The amount of testing that could be done was limited by Tascam not being able to deliver more DR-60Ds at the time (they were between production runs). However, other customers responded to the report, saying they had the same problem with their DR-60D and 5D-MkII setup. So it may well be a consistent problem with earlier DR-60D recorders.
Articles, Mixers, Recorders, Reviews, Uncategorized
TASCAM DR-60D Mixer/Recorder Problems
TASCAM DR-60D may eventually turn out to be a good product for double system DLSR production, but there are some concerns.
A Trew Audio customer brought his Tascam DR-60D to our Los Angeles store hoping we could figure out why his recordings had a serious noise issues. He also brought in the two Canon 5D Mark II cameras he was using with the DR-60D.
Are You Ready to Go Back to Work?
Summertime, and the living is easy… but as always, that’s about to change. For many in the world of Television production sound, late spring/early summer is a much needed time of rest (called “hiatus,” in the industry, usually a couple of months) that comes between the wrap of the prior season and the beginning of the next. The 16-hour days, week after week, take their toll on us, but it is also brutal on our equipment. In addition, trends change, equipment advances, and we should always be refining the way we work. But whether you work on television series, feature films, reality TV, commercials, news, or whatever, my advice is the same: after some much needed rest, when cabin fever sets in, remember that continued success depends on being prepared. Here are some ideas to help you get ready for the next run.
Boom Poles, Microphones, Miscellaneous, Wireless
Zaxcom 742 Plug-On Transmitter
As purists often do, we who have stubbornly insisted on a hardwired boom must finally admit defeat: What started as
Reviews
Dipole vs Sharkfin vs Polarized Diversity (Diversity Fin)
A new antenna called the “Diversity Fin” (polarization diversity), made by the company RF Venue, has been getting enough attention to warrant a comparison with two other popular antenna designs, the dipole and the “Shark Fin” (log periodic).
Recorders
Zaxcom’s Nomad – The next step in field recording..?
RE-PRINTED WITH PERMISSION from Sound & Picture.
Manufacturers await my reviews of their products with a bit of anxiety because they know I’m going to filter out the sales talk and tell it like it is for the benefit of the end-users. That’s probably why I’ve been asked so many times what I think about the new Zaxcom Nomad mixer/recorder.