Skilled video producers would be the first to inform you that high-quality sound is simply as important as picture high quality. Nonetheless, capturing well-timed, broadcast-quality audio immediately right into a digicam stays a big problem. Regardless of main developments in digicam expertise, audio seize isn’t the precedence. That’s the place double-system sound is available in. Using this fashion of workflow separates the recording of audio and video, providing extra flexibility and infrequently higher high quality. It’s the business normal for narrative movies, documentaries, interviews, and any manufacturing the place clear, high-fidelity audio is important.
What Is Double-System Sound?
Double-system sound refers to video seize and audio recording on two separate units:
- Video is captured by the digicam, typically with a primary reference audio monitor.
- Audio is recorded on an exterior discipline recorder, dealt with by a sound mixer or audio technician. Easy productions could solely have a sound mixer with a shotgun microphone connected to a increase arm.
Later, the 2 are synced in post-production, both manually or utilizing timecode programs.
That is the alternative of single-system sound, the place the microphone is plugged immediately into the digicam and each audio and video are captured collectively. Whereas single-system setups are quicker and simpler for some forms of capturing (like information or run-and-gun videography), they don’t supply the identical management or audio constancy.
Why Use a Double-System Workflow?
- Extra Mics, Extra Tracks
If you happen to’re restricted to recording audio immediately into the digicam, you’ll seemingly be restricted to simply two channels. By separating the audio from the digicam, nevertheless, you should use as many microphones as wanted and even document every mic by itself devoted monitor. As well as, when audio isn’t tethered to a digicam, sound mixers can place microphones nearer to the topic – on handheld boompoles or lavalier mics – with out worrying about cable runs to the digicam. - Superior Audio High qualityExterior recorders usually have higher preamps, higher-quality analog-to-digital converters, and assist for extra skilled audio codecs. This ends in cleaner, extra detailed sound.
- Superior Audio Mixing
A devoted sound mixer can stability ranges, apply limiting, and handle a number of sources (like lavaliers, booms, and ambient mics) in real-time, capturing remoted tracks for later fine-tuning. - Redundancy and Backup
Recording audio individually provides an necessary layer of redundancy. If the digicam’s onboard audio is misconfigured or fails altogether, you’ll nonetheless have a clear, usable backup. It’s commonplace to return from a shoot solely to find that the digicam audio is distorted by hiss, buzz, or is totally unintelligible. Having somebody devoted to solely capturing audio permits them to observe in actual time and avoids these widespread pitfalls.
How Double-System Sound Works on Set
Right here’s a primary overview of how the method performs out throughout manufacturing:
- Tools Setup
The audio crew usually makes use of a discipline mixer-recorder, similar to a Zoom F8n. Microphones (wired or wi-fi) connect with the recorder, the place ranges are monitored and adjusted. An necessary footnote: There are a lot of compact audio mixers in the marketplace. Two key components listed below are ensuring you select a mannequin that each information and is battery powered. The digicam may get a scratch (reference) monitor – both by way of a direct line from the mixer or from its onboard mic. This audio doesn’t have to be excellent; it simply helps with syncing later. - Syncing Strategies
There are just a few methods to sync the audio and video later:
- Timecode Sync: Skilled setups typically use timecode turbines – such because the Tentacle Sync or Ambient Lockit bins – to jam-sync each digicam and recorder. This embeds matching timestamps in each recordsdata, permitting for automated sync in put up manufacturing.
- Clap Slate or Hand Clap: In easier setups, a visible and audible clap (with a slate or hand) is captured at first of every take. Editors use the height within the waveform and the visible clap to align the recordsdata.
- Waveform Syncing in Software program: Most fashionable modifying software program (like Adobe Premiere Professional, Last Minimize Professional, and DaVinci Resolve) can analyze waveforms from each sources and align them mechanically.
Greatest Practices for a Easy Workflow
- Label Every part Clearly
Use constant naming for audio and video recordsdata or clips. Embrace the scene and take numbers on slates and in file names each time attainable. - Monitor Audio Independently
Don’t depend on what’s feeding the digicam. The sound mixer ought to at all times monitor with headphones immediately from the recorder. - Use a Clap Slate on Each Take (Even with Timecode)
It gives a fallback in case timecode fails and helps in visually figuring out takes. - Report Reference Audio to Digital camera When Attainable
Even poor-quality scratch audio can pace up syncing and stop confusion in put up.
Challenges and Commerce-offs
Double-system sound does introduce complexity as it should require:
- Extra gear and crew (a sound mixer/recordist),
- Extra setup and coordination on set, and
- Extra time in put up to sync and handle recordsdata.
Nonetheless, the trade-off is vastly improved sound, which interprets to greater manufacturing worth and a greater expertise for the viewers.
Conclusion
Whether or not you’re capturing a brief movie, company interview, or a feature-length documentary, double-system sound is knowledgeable normal for a motive. It lets you seize clear, managed, and versatile audio independently of the digicam. Whereas it provides a layer of complexity to the manufacturing course of, the readability and high quality of the ultimate end result make it properly well worth the effort. Nice visuals could draw your viewers in – however nice sound retains your viewers engaged. As with every high-quality manufacturing, it should require some extra funding. Contact our audio consultants at this time and we will probably be joyful to information you thru the precise gear on the proper worth!
