EEVblog Electronics Community Forum
EEVblog => EEVblog Specific => Topic started by: sonicj on November 10, 2010, 01:51:47 pm
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Dave,
Don't take this the wrong way, but your audio sucks! ;) I have a feeling you aren't using a external mic on your camera??? You may want to consider something like the Rode VideoMic (http://www.rodemic.com/microphone.php?product=VideoMic). Its a lot smaller than it looks in the photo. Should fix like 98% of your audio problems.
Something like the Tascam DR-07 would allow you to tap into the house sound system at your next conference. link (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/599284-REG/Tascam_DR_07_DR_07_Portable_Digital_Audio.html) This is by far the best method for capturing audio in a conference room. Audio will sound better than actually being there.
Cheers!
-sj
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Dave,
Don't take this the wrong way, but your audio sucks! ;) I have a feeling you aren't using a external mic on your camera??? You may want to consider something like the Rode VideoMic (http://www.rodemic.com/microphone.php?product=VideoMic). Its a lot smaller than it looks in the photo. Should fix like 98% of your audio problems.
I *DO* use a Rode VideoMic, have done so since Episode 40 or something.
Yes, the acoustics in my lab suck.
Yes, the acoustics in my car suck.
External mics are great, but they are not magic.
On what blogs does my audio suck?
The lab ones are OK I think?
The recent Open Source lecture sucked big time because I goofed a setting on my Zoom H1, so had to rely on the VideoMic in the conference room.
Sometimes, shit happens, and you don't get a second chance to record something, so I have to upload what I've got.
Dave.
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well dang...!
the lab audio sounds great. it was the conference stuff shot from the audience perspective that has been unintelligible.
im surprised the rode performs so poorly in those situations. we're the speakers in the ceiling or towards the stage? it would make sense if they were overhead.
i know how the "shit happens" thing goes.... the one that comes to mind was a power failure mid show, didn't think to re-start the md recorder until after the performance was over :-\
-sj
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well dang...!
the lab audio sounds great. it was the conference stuff shot from the audience perspective that has been unintelligible.
im surprised the rode performs so poorly in those situations. we're the speakers in the ceiling or towards the stage? it would make sense if they were overhead.
Can't remember where they were...
The lab audio is ok when I'm a fixed distance, but when I hold the camera to film stuff and am talking off-camera all the levels get screwed.
I could always put the audio through The Levelator, but that just adds another step in an otherwise already too complicated workflow.
Dave.
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It really sounds like you need a little wireless mic in your kit.
... I know, I know ... "an otherwise already too complicated workflow" :)
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It really sounds like you need a little wireless mic in your kit.
Already got an Azden wireless mic.
They are too much hassle for general use, and I don't particularly care for the resultant sound quality.
Dave.
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Can't remember where they were...
The lab audio is ok when I'm a fixed distance, but when I hold the camera to film stuff and am talking off-camera all the levels get screwed.
I could always put the audio through The Levelator, but that just adds another step in an otherwise already too complicated workflow.
Dave.
i can't tell if hes wearing a lav or not....
Anywho, check out the polarization pattern for the VideoMic... Like all shotguns, its very directional. Sources from the sides or rear are highly attenuated. If the audio source isn't directly in front of the mic, its not going be picked up without a significant increase in gain. if you use autogain, your levels might look fine on the VU, but when you get home to edit, the ambient noise is almost as loud as the dialog. this is where a good set of closed ear headphones comes in handy.
if he was amplified, a desktop stand with the VideoMic aimed directly up at a ceiling speaker would likely produce excellent results. if he wasn't amplified, then that room is just naturally ringy and the conference center needs to invest in drapes. a PZM mic on the table in front of the presenter might be a ok choice.
for off camera narration, obviously the VideoMic isn't going to work unless you can rotate it. a lav would work depending on your clothing and amount of movement. a headworn boom is a clear winner for narration if you can deal with the nerd factor. ;D
-sj
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99% of eevblog audio has been fine for me; if I can understand it, its fine. Dave isn't singing.
The Devcon Renasas meeting was worst when Dave was recording the speakers, but from himself, its fine, IMHO.
I've never heard of Renasas until Dave's video. Its surprising it went from nowhere to #1 in only a few years:
http://www.intomobile.com/2008/02/18/renesas-became-the-worlds-number-2-supplier-of-application-processors-practically-overnight/ (http://www.intomobile.com/2008/02/18/renesas-became-the-worlds-number-2-supplier-of-application-processors-practically-overnight/)
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If you made a small cubicle around the mic with that undulated "egg-tray" pattern foam, would that not act a bit like an anechoic chamber for sound waves? http://www.customaudiodesigns.co.uk/absorbers.htm (http://www.customaudiodesigns.co.uk/absorbers.htm)
...Something like this, but smaller and more of an enclosure: http://www.acquris.se/media/product.php?id=272&lang=en (http://www.acquris.se/media/product.php?id=272&lang=en)
Personally, I didn't realise there was a problem with the sound until someone pointed it out, and I am still not sure that there really is one, but I suppose the better the sound quality the better.
.o:0|O|0:o.
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A couple of the contests I'm doing require/suggest some sort of video component. Since I have virtually -NO- equipment to shoot video I'm just going to have to cobble something together.
Given the critiques here, I hope you guys never see it !!! :)
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99% of eevblog audio has been fine for me; if I can understand it, its fine. Dave isn't singing.
The Devcon Renasas meeting was worst when Dave was recording the speakers, but from himself, its fine, IMHO.
I've never heard of Renasas until Dave's video. Its surprising it went from nowhere to #1 in only a few years:
you're right... most of the stuff is fine. i found the open source presentation difficult to watch due to the audio, very fatiguing and it isn't exactly short.
thats what happens when you change your name from NEC. ;)
-sj
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I guess there could be subtitles for the occasional unintelligible and "Australian" bits... (how does Obama manage to deliver a polished speech time and time again?)
.o:0|O|0:o.
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99% of audio is OK. And as it is video, you can go back and listen again if you missed something.
Dave puts on a good show with a lot of effort.
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(how does Obama manage to deliver a polished speech time and time again?)
he speaks inches away from expensive, redundant microphones designed specifically for the task. the signal is processed and routed to tape &/or press pool feeds.
-sj
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I've never had a problem with the audio...in fact, be it in the lab or in the car, I thought it sounded quite excellent! Wouldn't go as far saying it's pornographic though ;) haha! Keep doing what you've been doing, Dave! I've been viewing your blog for a long time now, but have only recently become a member of the forum. Great learning tool. The sound is good, no need to fret about it.
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As a hard of hearing person, good audio quality is essential for me to be able to follow YouTube videos without subtitles ( UK word for closed captions ) and I have to say that the majority of Dave's videos have really good audio! Far too many YouTube vids have been filmed with crappy cameras that have crappy microphones ( check out the sole video out on my YouTube channel TheWelly888, it's sound is absolute shite, so bad I could not follow it well enough to subtitle it!! Only because I was using a compact digital camera in movie mode :-[ )
I know what you mean about the Renesas one, the meeting ones sucks big time because the microphone was miles away and not precisely aimed either but you need to understand that good filming needs advance preparation which Dave was too busy to carry out.
His early drivetime rants had too much background noise and excessive contrast but to his credit, Dave has learnt so much from his technical mistakes that his latest drivetime rant was so much easier to watch and listen to!
So Dave is one of my favourite YouTubers not just because of his contents but his highly professional recording and presentation of his videos and clear evidence of his willingness to learn from his mistakes.