Help with first time audio setup.

[moxyman]

Hello all. I have never done a “professional” audio setup before and am hoping somebody can give me some advice. I am going to be doing a live shoot via a google hangout on my computer, and at the same time recording it to a camcorder. I am trying to figure out the best way to setup the audio to split to both devices.

The microphones we want to get have 2 XLR outputs (and apparently ¼” ones too per the description). It is this unit: Amazon.com: Shure BLX288/PG58 Wireless Vocal Combo with PG58 Handheld Microphones, K12: Musical Instruments I also have a choice of “frequencies” to choose from too. Yet, I don’t know why that matters, so any advice on that would be great.

That wireless unit is our audio source. I need to get the audio from those two mics (im assuming I need to use both xlr outputs on the back of the receiver) to the mic input of a computer and this camcorder ( Amazon.com: Panasonic HC-X920 3D Ready HD 3MOS Digital Camcorder with Wi-fi (black): PANASONIC: Camera & Photo )
Both the camcorder and computer are using 3.5mm audio connectors (the camera is stereo, nor sure about Dell XPS laptop).

I assume I need some sort of a mixer or splitter which will take the 2 xlr mic outputs in and split them to two separate 3.5mm connections for the computer and camcorder. So does anybody have any advice on the cheapest way to go about doing this? I already have the laptop and camcorder. I have not purchased the wireless mics yet, or a way to split them (im assuming mixer). So I’m open to suggestions if you think there is another way I should go about do this. Any help or a point in the right direction would be truly appreciated.

Thanks!
Eric

 

[ecc83]

You have set yourself a huge task here Eric!

Just getting decent videos is skill to master and capturing good quality sound live is a trial indeed! To attempt both together with no experiences is...Well, brave!!??

To get good quality sound in and out of a laptop you will need an Audio Interface. The Shure receiver will plug into that and the interface via USB to the PC. You COULD I suppose use a USB mixer? Record the audio at 24bits (AI) and 48kHz* sample rate.

You record the live action sound on the camcorder then using some video editing software such as Sony Vega or Camtasia (Reaper might do?) replace the poor camm' sound with, the rather better we hope, radio mic pickup. Don't forget to clap your hands for some lipsync points!

I have only dabbling in this area some time ago (I used a c'corder but fed the audio from a big cap' mic via a mixer to a domestic DVD Freeview recorder.) but I have read several other accounts of the practice.
*AFAIK! No doubt there are some video bods on HR?

Dave.

 

[moxyman]

Hi Dave,

This is not my first time doing video production (that is kinda what i do). Its also not my first live on location shoot... its just my first trying to do this sort of a setup using a professional wireless mic setup. I have no experience with mixers and splitters is my real issue. When you say to use a USB mixer, I assume that means the connections for the mixer are usb. But the cables from the wirless mic setup are XLR, and the inputs for the pc and camcorder are 3.5mm jacks. So im not sure what a usb mixer would do. Im thinking i just need something that takes the two XLR outputs into it, and splits them into two 3.5mm outputs. Im not worried about the editing after. I just need a way to get the wireless mic audio to my laptop and camcorder at the same time.

Eric

 

[ecc83]

Hi Dave,

This is not my first time doing video production (that is kinda what i do). Its also not my first live on location shoot... its just my first trying to do this sort of a setup using a professional wireless mic setup. I have no experience with mixers and splitters is my real issue. When you say to use a USB mixer, I assume that means the connections for the mixer are usb. But the cables from the wirless mic setup are XLR, and the inputs for the pc and camcorder are 3.5mm jacks. So im not sure what a usb mixer would do. Im thinking i just need something that takes the two XLR outputs into it, and splits them into two 3.5mm outputs. Im not worried about the editing after. I just need a way to get the wireless mic audio to my laptop and camcorder at the same time.

Eric

Right! As with every video recorder I have ever seen (which is not many I agree) that one does not have a decent line input. It can however take an external microphone but even after pouring over a zillion ways in the manual to record bloody video I cannt see word one about an external sound source!

The wireless mic receiver has an XLR output at mic level, so an XLR to (I assume) 3.5mm jack will feed the c'corder. But, a stereo jack or mono and if stereo which pins need to be hot? Unless you can find a dealer who can tell you I fear the only way is some leads, jacks, XLR pugs/sockets and a solder iron.

The feed to the PC could go straight from the line out on the receiver to the 3.5mm line in IF it has one. Just link ring and tip if you want a dual mono recording.

Problems: Cam corders have an auto-gain system, this might cause noise or undue level shifts. You might be able to turn this off (seems to do most things but make the bloody tea!).

The PC might not have a line in in which case you will need an in line attenuator (solder iron, trip to Radshak for resistors) or MUCH, MUCH better a proper Audio Innterface. Even the Behringer UCA 202 would be better here but get a Steinberg UR22 if you can.

Hope this helps?

Dave.

 

[RJrules64]

Ditto everything those guys said. Props to them.

 

[moxyman]

Thanks guys! Sorry, for some reason i didnt get the emails that anybody replied. Ok, I am going to look into the Steinberg UR22 now. Ill report back.

 

[JLondon]

Focusrite makes nice USB audio interfaces...

 

[ecc83]

Focusrite makes nice USB audio interfaces...

They do indeed. I am very pleased with my 8i6 but the 2i2 is perhaps a bit too cheaply engineered?
No MIDI and instrument input headroom is poor (I understand this has been improved lately but is still not that good and how do you know which are the modded ones?) The Steinberg also comes with Cubase which is hard to beat.

Dave.

 

[JLondon]

I didn't care as much for the Ableton Lite the Scarlett came with so I have Reaper I like better.

Also, I suspect the Scarlett has headroom on the minimal side for instruments (I have been looking for the impedance cant find it anywhere) My acoustic active pickup works ok on inst setting but I seem to detect tonal shifts so I am going to DI it here soon as soon as I get paid ha ha...

 

[ecc83]

I didn't care as much for the Ableton Lite the Scarlett came with so I have Reaper I like better.

Also, I suspect the Scarlett has headroom on the minimal side for instruments (I have been looking for the impedance cant find it anywhere) My acoustic active pickup works ok on inst setting but I seem to detect tonal shifts so I am going to DI it here soon as soon as I get paid ha ha...

You are right, the instrument max input is a marginal -3dBu, about half a volt. You are also correct about input Zs! Nowhere in the specifications for any of the Scarlet products can I find a single figure!

But I would not let that bother you. Despite some purists insisting on a "one meg load" for electric guitar it really makes little difference so long as it is about about 100k. In fact the lower the input Z the less cable capacitance sensitive the setup is.

It might be interesting to solder two jacks together but link the hot tags with a 1meg R. This should produce at least 6dB of headroom improvement. But put it very close to the AI input, like, use a pedal patch lead. Oh! And put it in a tin at some opportune mo'!

Dave.

 

[BroKen_H]

Don't know about the mic choice. Those mics are two separate mics with two separate outputs (one for each mic.) I don't believe the unit will mix for you. You might be better off getting a small mixer (say Xenex 802) and a pair of SM58s (it'll look the same and save you about $250). You can output both mics to both units using different outputs on the back and be able to mix and eq the mics.
The frequencies are transmission between the wireless mics and the receiver. You would not need to worry about this with wired mics. If you like the wireless approach, find out what freqs are available and check with local radio and tv broadcast to make sure they will not interfere with the signal.