Andy Balla
Forum Replies Created
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Hi Jim. I’ve used (and continue to use) both of these poles in the 12′ length. The aluminum pole does have a good bit of flex at full extension, but it works. The carbon one weighs like half as much, so that is a factor as well. If you have the money, I’d go with the carbon fiber pole.
I’ve also used some of the lower end K-Tek poles, and honestly couldn’t wait to get back to my Gitzos. The collar locks are really solid, and the segments don’t twist around when loosened. -
As the guy who started this thread way back when, thought I’d chime in. Contrary to my posts here, I couldn’t resist the deal on the Twelco mixer, and ended up buying it. Since then, I’ve enjoyed the hell out of it! Its been a solid performer, always does what its told, and I can run it for two to three days off of an NP-1B battery, depending on the length of shoot day.
Anyway, this mixer was a huge step up for me, as a noob, and has great flexibility on both the input and output side of things. Funny you mentioned Cooper, Spencer, since that was the next mixer I have been checking out. I like the fact that my Twelco is all analogue with physical switches and knobs for every parameter…Makes things very clear to me. May not be the latest and greatest, but still quite capable in its own right.
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I use a field mixer to run my NTG-3 into an H4n. Phantom power comes from the mixer, so I get more life out the H4n before I need to change batteries. I’m looking at getting a battery distribution system to power both the mixer and H4n, as well as wireless receivers.
As for settings, I use the tone from my mixer and set one channel on the H4n to -12 and the other to -20, then use the mixer to control levels from there.
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Like I said in my original post, I have an MD-421 I was thinking of trying. If I get the chance tomorrow, I’m going to put up the NTG-3 and MD-421, both with the -10db pad engaged, and see what happens. Thanks!
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Thanks Eric! My mixer (Twelco LP4 32) doesn’t have separate trim and gain controls, but it does have a -10db pad per input channel. I’ll engage that, and play around with mic position. Would you recommend sticking with the NTG-3 or trying another mic?
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Thanks! I’m already signed up with the NC Film Office, and Production Jobs North Carolina on FB. I’ll look into more options there. I’ve actually picked up a few good jobs lately through my listing on mandy.com, so that’s pretty cool.
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freesound.org has always been a good starting point for me, when its something that I can’t record myself locally. I generally use the sounds I find there as inspiration, though. Once I’ve put together something I like in pre-production, I record things locally which will get me to the same place. Sometimes there are things I just can’t find locally, so I use the recordings from that site, though.
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I’m a little confused by your question, but it seems like you have a Rode Video Mic and an H4n, plus a boom pole. Put the Video Mic on the end of the boom pole, run it into the H4n in stereo mode. Don’t use the built in mics on the H4n. It should function solely as your recording device. If you want to get fancy, get a splitter that will turn the one XLR output of the mic into two XLR outputs (a “Y splitter” or something like that). Then you will have two lines from the mic into the recorder. Run one input a little hotter, one a little less hot (maybe 10 db lower).
In post, to sync it with the 7D footage, use Plural Eyes software. https://www.singularsoftware.com/howto_pe_finalcut.html
Keys to decent sound here would be getting the mic as close to the talent as possible, a boom op who can keep the mic well cue’d and keep it quiet, and keeping an ear out for stray sounds that might interfere with dialogue. That’s my rough take on this kind of setup…
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I already got a reply from one of the guys I contacted. He told me they actually have a small group of guys that meet up for lunch once in a while. They pass work to each other within the group. Like you said, Noah, they have standards about quality of work and gear. They also don’t undercut each other. It sounds sort of like a union. Anyway, I’m going to meet up with them soon, so that’s a start…
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Well, I’m definitely willing to travel, though.