Happy Friday, everyone!
This week’s poll question comes from James Young of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan:
What microphone/recording devices do you use to record audio at a client's business (i.e., when a client wants to voice part of their own ad)? Do you use your smartphone or other equipment?
James adds, “Ideally - we like to have clients come in and voice, but there are times when distance and/or time makes it impossible to get them in studio to record and I have to go to them. Thanks everybody!!”
Looking forward to reading everyone's answers. Thank you for the question, James!
We use Zoom H2 Handy portable stereo recorder , it records Wav 96khz ,48,44 and has a built in USB 2.0 port for data storage. Its easy to carry just like a mobile phone, Sometimes back we had Nagra recording Machine the size of a boom box . The broadcast technology has made our work so easy , with a handy recorder , a laptop and a modem i am able to conduct field interviews and sound effects and send them straight to the studio .
Another good portable recorder is the Tascam DR-05 or alternate higher
number.
Some tricks I've learned in my years of covering news for CBS News, Radio, in my job as a Radio World columnist, and as an SBE Certified Broadcast Technologist:
For a standalone recorder that goes in the pocket: Olympus LS-10. With a smartphone (Samsung Galaxy S4) I am now using an Audio-Technica 9913iS shotgun microphone. It's not yet available in US (which may change), but you can buy one on line.
Smartphone/tablet editing software for my Android devices: Lexis Audio editor and Audio Evolution Pro. Can even multitrack and mixdown from Audio Evolution, so if you wear a production hat, too, the job gets easier.
Pro tip: stifle the urge to record original audio in mp3. Do your mixdowns and editing in WAV. If you need to convert to mp3, do so just before you are sending a spot for client approval or uploading to an automation system. Your audio will sound better. There is nothing worse than listening to down/up/down converted audio, and the artifacts that come from that, especially on HD. And the whole point of this exercise was to put the client's message (voice) in the best possible light, no?
I record a ton of client actualities on location, not to mention a lot of VO on the go. Accordingly, I have two mobile recording rigs.
Rig One:
- Core i7 ThinkPad running Vegas Pro
- CEntrance MicPort Pro
- Audio Technica AT8035 shotgun OR
- Neumann TLM 103
- OnStage stands boom mic stand
The MicPort Pro is an excellent small USB interface, about the size of a small cigar. The AT is directional and great for not picking up all those environmental sounds that invariably invade a client's workspace. If the recording environment is acceptably quiet, I sometimes substitute the Neumann. Probably overkill. But there's a degree of anal retention at work here. There's a reason clients ask me why my work sounds so much better than other stuff they get. I've even carried furniture blankets in the car to deaden spaces that sound too lively.
Rig Two:
Gen 3 iPad running Voice Record Pro by Dayana Networks
Tascam iM2
Apple 30-pin to lightning adapter
Arkon travel stand
The mic is still available at a closeout price and is surprisingly good. Tried other apps and was quickly disappointed. Voice Record Pro came highly rated, has lots of flexibility and (most importantly) big, "analog" VU meters. (Ya need those.) Overall, the recording quality is better than you'd expect. I'll use this if the circumstances are right. (Namely, the recording isn't that important or I'm being incredibly lazy.)
Good stuff, Paul. Going to have to look into using my S4 accordingly. That AT mic looks interesting.
And best possible light for the client voice? Indeed. Back when I was still working in a station, it's astonishing how many times we were handed recordings made with a lousy mic in a client's kitchen or bathroom and were told, "It's fine. It's just an actuality."
We use the Zoom H2 and also the Tascam DR-07. They work very well. We also use them for news coverage.
Like you, and probably most of us, I like the client to come in to the studio. However with the quality of recording on smartphones now I have found that is a great second. No investing in another device, I can send the audio to the station for immediate editing form wherever, and I most always have that with me so there is no setting up another appointment if they have time right now.
The first time I did this was next to a running fire truck at the scene of a house fire. The interview with the information officer cam out clear enough to go on the air with out any filtering or manipulating. The sound dampening in the software kept the sound of the fire engine (that was pumping at the time) well into the background of the audio. As a bonus the story was on the air well before I even got back to the station and on our websites with pictures I had just taken as well.
We use Roland's Edirol R-09. It's a good device. Records in stereo. FIles: Mp3, or WAV. WIthout an external mic it needs to be held a certain way to prevent pops. Quality is excellent.
I use a Marantz PMD 660. It's not quite studio quality but it's close. Maybe 90%. I have also had good results with the Roland R-09. Smaller, lighter and just a tad less quality but convenient for quick hand held work.
We use the Tascam DR-07. We can take the recorded material put it thru the editor, and it sounds just as good as in the studio.
I use my Samsung phone with an iRig interface that has phanton power and an ev-20. BEST place to record a client is in the back seat of your car. I have my peeps record in .WAV and use Dropbox to get it to the studio for editing. Done right I defy you to tell the difference bwteen studio and Samsung.
Makes no difference whether the .WAV file is cut on a studio machine or your Samsung; that's the way to get the good quality that your clients deserve and pay for. I have done many a wrapper/voice track and a few live shots for CBS News, Radio from the front seat of a car; your suggestion is a good field expedient; the Dropbox helps with collaboration and post production.
