As you may know, RODE Microphones has recently entered the Lavalier market with their own iteration. I happened to be shopping around for a new lav for an upcoming project, and RODE kindly sent me one of their units to evaluate and share my thoughts on.
Recording clean audio for film and video is a complex profession unto itself, and newcomers – especially those entering into the business via the popularization of hybrid DSLR/video cameras – can often find their head spinning while they research their options.
Traditional filmmaking techniques typically call for two or more crew members dedicated solely to the task of capturing sound. But in some scenarios, independent filmmakers and hobbyists must often assume the role of the jack of all trades, becoming at least somewhat knowledgeable and technically proficient in multiple areas which would normally be reserved for dedicated crew. As more hobbyists and aspiring professionals cross into ultra-light filmmaking and the DSLR arena, they may find themselves in the position of having to acquire location audio on their own — or at least provide the necessary gear.
Unfortunately the built-in audio capabilities on all current DLSR cameras are wholly inadequate for this task. You can do a few things to increase your odds, such as adding external microphones and special mixer units, both of which must still ultimately answer to the weak and noisy preamps, circuitry, and limited audio controls offered by the existing DSLR’s. In most such cases, a dual-sound setup consisting of a digital field recorder (preferably along with a good mixer) will provide the robust features and control needed to acquire the very best audio for your production.
Right on the heels of some of the first production fixed-lens Scarlets appearing in the flesh, RED has released a few EPIC teasers for us to experiment with over the holiday.
