Best way to record a 4-way conversation, round a table, for a film...?

[Armistice]

This is for a short film competition at work which I've been volunteered to assist with...

There will be four people round a table chatting. I'm going to have to use two camera angles (with two cameras at the same time) to capture as much of the faces as I can, so that puts the cameras 6 to 8 feet away from the peeps.

They'll probably be up against at least one glass wall, which I can do nothing much about. Otherwise it's a relatively open space.

I'm assuming the audio from the camera (Canon 6D and, unless someone comes up with something better, a Sony Handicam) will be rubbish in terms of putting audio into the final film.

I can't have microphones appearing in the film, it's supposed to be a restaurant scene, so I'm thinking my best bet is to suspend a single LDC omni just above everyone, coach them to (a) speak at approximately the same volume (b) not talk over each other if at all possible to give me maximum flexibility with the audio.

Anyone got any better ideas?

I don't have big boom stands, just your basic stage variety, so I'm thinking I'll just have to drop the mic from the ceiling (typical office panelled ceiling) via its cord. There's also no budget so I have to work with what I own, which is a few mics and a 2 channel interface.

Cheers guys 'n' gals.

 

[DM60]

Do you have a ceiling? Dangle it from the ceiling as close to the center and to the people but out of site of the camera. Either take some type of rope or thread so that there is no stress on the cable. Just an idea.

 

[Armistice]

Do you have a ceiling? Dangle it from the ceiling as close to the center and to the people but out of site of the camera. Either take some type of rope or thread so that there is no stress on the cable. Just an idea.

Yeah, that's sort of what I was thinking. Good call on the rope/cable though... don't want my $1800 (things is expensive here in Australia) mic crashing onto the table..

 

[DM60]

Yeah, that's sort of what I was thinking. Good call on the rope/cable though... don't want my $1800 (things is expensive here in Australia) mic crashing onto the table..

Now this is really dumb, but what if you had four mics on a two stereo holders in an X configuration with the rope holding the mic holders.

OK, I am dome with creative thinking (probably moving to weird), but I think you are starting to get your approach.

 

[Armistice]

Now this is really dumb, but what if you had four mics on a two stereo holders in an X configuration with the rope holding the mic holders.

OK, I am dome with creative thinking (probably moving to weird), but I think you are starting to get your approach.

Except I don't have four mics or two stereo holders..

I'm more afraid that if I suspend a mic from the ceiling, one of the "actors" will decide to be a wisearse and pretend it's like one of those mics in a boxing ring, and tug on it. Could get ugly....

 

[Chili]

I thought you might duct tape your mic to the end of a paint pole and use it as a mic boom. But maybe the Omni approach will work. If you've got the room noise under control, that is.

 

[Armistice]

I thought you might duct tape your mic to the end of a paint pole and use it as a mic boom. But maybe the Omni approach will work. If you've got the room noise under control, that is.

Hmm... didn't think of that. Worth a try... won't have much time on the night to get the method "right" so I'll take a pole along and a couple of mics and see what works... guess that way I can just put it in cardiod and point it at the table..

 

[Chili]

Hmm... didn't think of that. Worth a try... won't have much time on the night to get the method "right" so I'll take a pole along and a couple of mics and see what works... guess that way I can just put it in cardiod and point it at the table..

Hmmm, if you have the time, 4 takes with the mic pointing at only one person per take. Comp together all the takes to make a cohesive conversation.

 

[Synthzizer]

2x Figure 8's disguised on the table or in lamp shade

 

[Bobbsy]

Find your local broadcast equipment hire company in the Yellow pages and hire 4 lav mics--they can be wired rather than RF if they're not moving around which'll save tons of money.

Tape the mics to chests under their shirts--bonus for the sound guy if any of them are women!

Voila--perfect sound.

You may actually want a fifth mic just recording room atmos for use when editing--and definitely record a minute or two of atmos with nobody talking. The editor will love you for it!

 

[Armistice]

Find your local broadcast equipment hire company in the Yellow pages and hire 4 lav mics--they can be wired rather than RF if they're not moving around which'll save tons of money.

Tape the mics to chests under their shirts--bonus for the sound guy if any of them are women!

Voila--perfect sound.

You may actually want a fifth mic just recording room atmos for use when editing--and definitely record a minute or two of atmos with nobody talking. The editor will love you for it!

I thought of trying that... 2 channel interface, however... and I am the editor! And the sound guy.. And the cinematographer... and, and, and...

Seeing they were expecting to do it on iPhones, I figure I'll smash their expectations whatever I do...

 

[Armistice]

Hmmm, if you have the time, 4 takes with the mic pointing at only one person per take. Comp together all the takes to make a cohesive conversation.

The actual film footage works against me doing that... I'll have two angles each focused on a pair at a time, with the other two in frame as well...

 

[Armistice]

2x Figure 8's disguised on the table or in lamp shade

I see where you're going... but I only have 1 with a figure 8... anyway, since I posted, the layout / script has changed somewhat... and now we're at drinks, rather than a restaurant, and so it won't be four people round a round table but 4 people arranged round the corner of a square table, so I'm heading towards just two LDCs in cardioid pattern hidden in the shrubbery on the table. I'll have to find some way to stand them up and get the cables out of the way, seeing I don't have any small stands...

 

[Bobbsy]

I thought of trying that... 2 channel interface, however... and I am the editor! And the sound guy.. And the cinematographer... and, and, and...

Seeing they were expecting to do it on iPhones, I figure I'll smash their expectations whatever I do...

Okay. Go with your most directional SDC and the broomstick fishpole then but be prepared to have to move it a LOT--rehearse so the pole op knows where he has to point line by line.

If you can use two, so much the better!

LOL...then download the Adobe Audition 28 day trial and use the auto sync function to re-record it all with ADR. (On some pro features more than 90% of dialogue is re-recorded after the fact.)