How to record two people at once who are walking without a third person recording it?
June 15, 2011 6:34 AM Subscribe
I need to record two people at the same time. I can't follow them around with a boom mic and I don't want them to be attached at the hip with a splitter to one recorder plus 2 lapel mics. How do I record two people, walking around, talking to each other? Do I need two recorders? AND if I have two recorders, how much of a pain will it be to edit the material/will it sound weird? How is this normally done? It is for the radio.
A little more info: They will be walking around in NYC, which can be pretty loud. They will both also be talking with other people (at times), so I want that audio to be...audible (not TOO important, though).
What kind of mics should I use? I have one recorder. It's an Olympus LS-10 linear pcm recorder. If I have to get another recorder to do this project, does it need to be the same one? How would that effect the audio?
A little more info: They will be walking around in NYC, which can be pretty loud. They will both also be talking with other people (at times), so I want that audio to be...audible (not TOO important, though).
What kind of mics should I use? I have one recorder. It's an Olympus LS-10 linear pcm recorder. If I have to get another recorder to do this project, does it need to be the same one? How would that effect the audio?
If you don't want to use a boom or have wires going to them, you're going to need some kind of wireless mic, either lavalier or handheld, for each person. The Olympus is 1/8" stereo in, so you'll need a splitter cable to plug each wireless receiver into. That way you'll have person A on the left and person B on the right when recording in stereo.
If you have two recorders, lining stuff up could be a really big pain. You could try having them stand close enough to each other so that each mic is picking up your voice, and then slate the take, but I really wouldn't recommend that route.
posted by dubold at 7:03 AM on June 15, 2011
If you have two recorders, lining stuff up could be a really big pain. You could try having them stand close enough to each other so that each mic is picking up your voice, and then slate the take, but I really wouldn't recommend that route.
posted by dubold at 7:03 AM on June 15, 2011
I'd go for two recorders. If you're using digital recorders then it won't matter much for the sound quality if you have matching ones or not. The mic's should be the same though. I have one of these from Radioshack which I've used for film audio and it worked out fine.
In terms of lining up two recordings, just set them both recording and clap loudly then line up the clap on your audio program and the rest should line up just dandy.
posted by merocet at 7:14 AM on June 15, 2011
In terms of lining up two recordings, just set them both recording and clap loudly then line up the clap on your audio program and the rest should line up just dandy.
posted by merocet at 7:14 AM on June 15, 2011
This is how I've done this in the past:
1. Wireless lavs, clipped somewhere appropriate, and carried by the subjects.
2. Battery-powered wireless receivers, carried by you.
3. A cable that will combine the (hopefully) line-level outputs of the two receivers into a single stereo line that you can plug into the line input of your recorder. Each channel gets panned hard to one side, and you've got perfect sync and separation.
You're in NYC, so I promise there will be an audio rental house that will set all of this up for you, and if you like, rent you a recorder that will be easier to use. Single day rates are usually pretty reasonable.
posted by god hates math at 7:38 AM on June 15, 2011
1. Wireless lavs, clipped somewhere appropriate, and carried by the subjects.
2. Battery-powered wireless receivers, carried by you.
3. A cable that will combine the (hopefully) line-level outputs of the two receivers into a single stereo line that you can plug into the line input of your recorder. Each channel gets panned hard to one side, and you've got perfect sync and separation.
You're in NYC, so I promise there will be an audio rental house that will set all of this up for you, and if you like, rent you a recorder that will be easier to use. Single day rates are usually pretty reasonable.
posted by god hates math at 7:38 AM on June 15, 2011
I know a lot of people who do this (linguists recording conversations) and they almost always use two recorders. Once you have both rolling, make a loud noise that can be captured by both, so that you can align the files using that event later. Repeat this if you switch the recorders on and off or pause either or both later.
I can ask around and see if any of my colleagues have other tips for how to make this work well.
posted by lollusc at 5:22 PM on June 15, 2011
I can ask around and see if any of my colleagues have other tips for how to make this work well.
posted by lollusc at 5:22 PM on June 15, 2011
What lollusc said.
Use two recorders, with decent lapel mics.
Have a reference noise (i.e., a clap) so you can align the tracks in your editing program.
We used to do this with minidisc recorders, but digital recorders are so much better.
The recorders don't need to be identical, but they need to be recording at the same bitrate.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 5:09 PM on June 16, 2011
Use two recorders, with decent lapel mics.
Have a reference noise (i.e., a clap) so you can align the tracks in your editing program.
We used to do this with minidisc recorders, but digital recorders are so much better.
The recorders don't need to be identical, but they need to be recording at the same bitrate.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 5:09 PM on June 16, 2011
« Older How long do I have to wait before my criminal... | Should I pay for cam and oil pump seals? Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by HopStopDon'tShop at 6:55 AM on June 15, 2011