PicoMic - 2 Microphones 1 Receiver 2.4GHz Wireless Microphone System

PICOGEAR, a small French company recently released a new dual channel wireless microphone system called PICOMIC. This prosumer level wireless mic system comes with two transmitters with integrated microphones and a dual channel receiver. The design priorities of this system are to record simple, quality audio for two people at the same time.

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F8 and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders.

Gear used and mentioned in this episode:

PicoMic Dual Channel Wireless 2.4GHz Microphone System - Amazon

Panasonic GH5 Camera - Amazon

Rycote Over Covers - B&H

Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 4K - B&H

Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS Lens - Amazon

Get a free trial of the best music for your videos at Musicbed

Copyright 2019 by Curtis Judd

Ethics statement: Some of the links above are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, or other affiliate links.

Sound Devices SCORPIO: Why do Pros Use Gear Like This?

In April 2019, Sound Devices announcement their new flagship audio mixer/recorder called Scorpio. Sound Devices caters to TV and film production sound mixers - the professionals working on large budget productions. The Scorpio has a lot of new features which are really exciting and help production sound mixers do things that they haven’t been able to do before or it simplifies things that were previously more complicated. But all this comes at what would seem like a hefty price from the perspective of a self-funded, passion project filmmaker: $8995 USD. In this episode, we run through the features of the Scorpio, and why for some pros working on the larger budget projects, the expense is easily justified.

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F8 and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders.

Gear used and mentioned in this episode:

Sound Devices Scorpio - B&H

Sound Devices 688 - B&H

Sound Devices 633 - B&H

Sound Devices MixPre - the more affordable line of high quality recorders for indie filmmakers - B&H

Allen & Heath DT168 Dante Stage Box - One example of a Dante device with 16 inputs and 8 outputs, all controllable by Scorpio - B&H

DPA 4017b Shotgun Microphone - B&H

Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 4K - B&H

Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS Lens - Amazon

Get a free trial of the best music for your videos at Musicbed

Copyright 2019 by Curtis Judd

Ethics statement: Some of the links above are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, or other affiliate links.

Zoom F4 Special Pricing

If you’re in the market for an audio recorder with great preamps, timecode, and a rugged build, the Zoom F4 has special pricing over at B&H in August. Check the Zoom F4’s details over at B&H.

I’ll be wrapping up my work on our Zoom F4 course at the end of this month so you can learn how to use your new F4!

Packing for a Location Sound Job

We run through my sound kit for a reality TV shoot I have coming tomorrow, talk about whether you need to have a Sound Devices recorder to get jobs, and relying only on gear you know well for paid jobs. Also, an explanation on my current perspective on cameras.

Gear outlined in this video:

Sound Devices Scorpio B&H

Sound Devices MixPre-10T B&H This is what I ended up using as my main recorder for the job

Sound Devices 633 B&H Backup recorder for the day

Audio Ltd A10 Wireless B&H The main wireless system for the job

RODELink Filmmaker kit B&H

Remote Audio Battery Distribution System B&H

Hi-Q Smart Batteries B&H

Orca Sound Bags (OR-30 and OR-34) B&H

Orca Bag Shoulder Harness B&H

DPA 4017b Shotgun Microphone B&H

Rycote Cyclone wind cover B&H

K-Tek Avalon KEG-150CCR B&H

Comtek Wireless Transmitter/Receiver system for other crew B&H

Sennheiser MKH 8050 Indoor Boom Microphone B&H

DPA 4160 Lavalier Microphone B&H

Countryman B6 Lavalier Microphone B&H

Sanken COS-11D Lavalier Microphone B&H

Tentacle Sync E Timecode Generators B&H

Sony MDR-7506 Headphones B&H

Voice Technologies VT500 Lavalier Microphone B&H

IDX V-Mount Battery B&H

Rycote Stickies for hiding lavalier microphones B&H

Moleskin - for hiding lavalier microphones Amazon

Joe's Sticky Stuff Amazon

Ursa Straps for hiding lavaliers and bodypack transmitters B&H

Basic Slate/Clapperrboard Amazon

Leatherman Tool Amazon

Boom Pole Holder B&H

C-stands B&H

Producer’s Choice Sound Blankets Vocal Booth To Go

Copyright 2019 by Curtis Judd

Ethics statement: Some of the links above are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, or other affiliate links.

Sound for Video Session: Q&A

In this week's live Sound for Video Session, we'll take a shot at answering your sound for video questions. You can submit them live, or for future sessions, just sign up for free over at our school and I'll email you when its time to submit.

Michael Wynne's video on setting up a com system for sound mixers, boom operators and utilities:

On-Set Sound Lingo

When you work on the set of a film or video project, there’s a specialized language the crew often uses. Here is a run through some of the more common sound lingo you’ll hear on set.

Here’s a free sound gear packing list for production sound mixing over at Airtable.

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F8 and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders.

Gear used and mentioned in this episode:

RODE TF-5 Microphone Matched Pair (B&H)

Slate (Amazon)

K-Tek Boom Pole I use (B&H)

Audio Ltd A10 Wireless Microphone System (B&H)

Sound Devices 633 Mixer/Recorder (B&H)

Countryman B6 Lavalier Microphone (B&H)

DPA 4160 Lavalier Microphone (B&H)

Get a free trial of the best music for your videos at Musicbed

Copyright 2019 by Curtis Judd

Ethics statement: Some of the links above are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, or other affiliate links.

Mikme Pocket - Wireless Lavalier Microphone, Recorder, USB Mic

Mikme launched a Kickstarter campaign for a new Bluetooth wireless lavalier microphone/recorder/USB mic they call the Mikme Pocket. We got our hands on a prototype of the Pocket and run through the features in this episode, complete with unprocessed audio samples.

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F8 and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders.

Links to gear used in this video:

Mikme Pocket (Kickstarter campaign, should start shipping in December 2019)

Falconeyes 120TDX - (Amazon) 4’ x 4’ LED roll-flex panel light used as a key light and for the table-top product shots

Lupo Superpanel Full Color 60 - Used for the background light

Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS Lens - (Amazon) used on the Pocket 4K for the product shots

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K - used to shoot the product shots

Nikon Z6 & 24-70 f/4 Lens- (Amazon) used to shoot the talking head shots

Get a free trial of the best music for your videos at Musicbed

Copyright 2019 by Curtis Judd

Mikme Pocket & DISH.TC

Two quick audio for video gear Kickstarter campaigns: 1) Mikme Pocket - a wireless lavalier body pack recorder and bluetooth transmitter. 2) DISH.TC - a super-simple to use timecode generator which jams with satellite time.

See the DISH.TC kickstarter page.

See the Mikme Pocket kickstarter page.

Copyright 2019 Curtis Judd

Marantz PMD 750 Wireless Microphone System: Dual-channel on a Budget

Marantz has been in the audio business since the 1950s and was founded by Saul Marantz. They were mostly known for high-end Hi-Fi systems and are also quite popular in the DJ gear world. Recently, Marantz released a wireless microphone system aimed at DSLR and interchangeable lens hybrid cameras with a dual channel receiver - the Marantz PMD-750. To date, this is the least expensive dual channel 2.4GHz digital wireless microphone system. Let’s see how it holds up under some pretty tough testing.

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F8 and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders.

Links to gear used in this video:

Marantz PMD-750 Transmitter/Receiver Kit - all of the sound in this video was recorded with the PMD-750

Additional Transmitter Only

Falconeyes 120TDX - (Amazon) 4’ x 4’ LED roll-flex panel light used as a key light and for the table-top product shots

Lupo Superpanel Full Color 60 - Used for the background light

Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS Lens - (Amazon) used on the Pocket 4K for the product shots

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K - used for the product shots

Panasonic GH5 - (Amazon) Used to shoot the talking head and distance test shots

Get a free trial of the best music for your videos at Musicbed.

Copyright 2019 by Curtis Judd

Mikme Gold: Bluetooth, USB, Portable Microphone and Recorder

Large diaphragm condenser microphones are often used in recording studios for vocals and voice overs. But many consider them less practical for mobile or location recording. The Mikme Gold challenges that idea in an impressive way. The Mikme Gold is a portable, wireless, microphone and recorder. You can record to the Micme’s in-built memory. You can wirelessly record to your iPhone (and soon, Android phone), and you can also record to your computer when you connect via USB cable.

In addition to that, the Mikme sounds quite good - in my estimation, it rivals the sound of the AKG C414. That’a s recording studio staple microphone. Let’s have a closer look and a listen.

View my location sound gear packing list at Airtable.com.

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses at https://school.learnlightandsound.com including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F8 and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders.

Links to gear used in this video:

Mikme Gold Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone and Wireless Recorder (Amazon)

Falconeyes 120TDX - (Amazon) 4’ x 4’ LED roll-flex panel light used as a key light and for the table-top product shots

Lupo Superpanel Full Color 60 - Used for the background light

Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS Lens - (Amazon) used on the Pocket 4K for the product shots

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K - used to shoot the talking head shots

Get a free trial of the best music for your videos at Musicbed.

Copyright 2019 by Curtis Judd