Audio for a Rugged Guerillafilm.

[Benjamin Devoe]

Apologies for splitting hairs guys, especially since I’m getting free advice.

But let me recap my queries:

“Can you pros recommend any specific hardware and/or setups (i.e. how many Lav mics might be called for and what brand)?”

“What are your thoughts on this item?[Azden] What about its design will cripple our production relative to having the SD-302?”

“What features, besides durability would the Azden lack that could produce more professional sound?”

I randomly picked a cheap mixer with good reviews for use as a low benchmark. The SD-302 is on my wishlist, but since I may have to make a thrifty decision at some point in the future, I wanted to know more or less “How is the SD-302 superior?” I.e. if its the best option because I need to capture a lot of dialogue in moving vehicles, I know that when compromising on equipment I can’t settle on something with a lower-quality limiter than the SD. Knowing both the faults of the Azden and the qualities of the SD will enable me to make economical and adept decisions on the in-betweens.

Sorry for the mis-communication.

Best,
Ben

[Greg Curda]

Hi Ben,

No prob…but again I’m still unclear on the scenario… Are you purchasing gear for the production company? If so, do you intend to use this gear on multiple shows, or for years to come? Or is this a one shot deal?

The idea is that gear should be able to handle any situation, hence there are many ways to capture dialogue in moving vehicles… No particular gear is better for that than anything else. It’s just another challenge. It has mostly to do with mic placement, cooperation from the talent, and a clean audio path. The 302 is a complete and lasting piece of gear… The thing I like most about it is the limiter setup. It’s virtually idiot-proof… If you will have a number of different sound guys and always provide the gear, it would pay for you to get a bullet-proof system that is consistent and reliable. Consistent and reliable are two of the benchmark keywords that mean the most to me…That way, your basic sound will remain the same, shoot after shoot. The 302 is simply better built, with better components, all around.

I guess I don’t know what more to say without clearly knowing your intention…

G