[C. Kauffman]

Great thanks Ty. I didn’t take audio into the water on this week’s shoot, just camera. I did use the Zoom on land in conjunction with the 5D and EX1. The handling noise on the Zoom is pretty bad and the 4 channel mode isn’t as flexible as far as setting levels as I would have thought, but otherwise it worked well.
I set up a test yesterday where let the Zoom and EX1 run for 45 minutes. I ran the 5D in 12 min bursts as well and used Pluraleyes to synch.
As far as I can tell there is no synch drift between the EX1 and the Zoom or the stops and starts of the 5D.

Sony EX1
Canon 5d mark 2
FCP 6.06

[C. Kauffman]

Thanks for all of the great info guys, appreciated.
As for synch drift, If I leave the Zoom running for a few hours out on the water, but stop and start the camera a bunch (which I’ll have to do because of limited memory and battery and the inability to open the Ikelite housing to change it) that should mitigate any synch drift no?
If you wanna get an idea of the conditions I’m shooting/recording in check out the short film version we cut out of the footage shot so far https://www.theskisherman.com/
Since I’m in the water floating with my subject, no boats etc to rely on, here’s my plan of attack:
On the water my subject will be wearing the G2 transmitter in this Aquapac https://www.adorama.com/AQU515.html He’ll wear the lav on his neoprene hood, we’ll sew it on and I plan to seal the mic with a condom (yes a condom) which was recommended to me by several sound guys.
I’l have the Zoom and receiver in this Aquapac strapped to me https://www.adorama.com/AQU554.html
I have to figure out how to immobilize the Zoom and G2 Receiver in the pack to minimize handling noise. Figured I’d throw the furry windscreen on the built in mics and maybe that would help a bit.
I’ll have Aquapacs’ headphones passed through the dry seal to monitor audio https://www.adorama.com/AQU916.html
I’m sure they’re not the best, but better than nothing.
Any other ideas about this rig are welcome, I’m shooting tonight.
I’ll report back on how this all works and if the Aquapacs lived up to their guarantee. If not they’ll be getting an unusually high claim on their replacement warranty for ruined equipment
Thanks

Sony EX1
Canon 5d mark 2
FCP 6.06

[C. Kauffman]

Interesting, I’ve heard just the opposite; that plugging in the Zoom to the Canon is a bad idea as the Canon sound software/circuitry is pretty crappy.
Regardless, the 5D will be sealed in an Ikelite underwater housing and the Zoom in its own waterproof case so plugging in isn’t an option. I’m not worried about synching, used to it from back in the days of film.
Believe it or not, aside from using the Canon’s onboard as a scratch track, I get some pretty cool bubbling and gurgling noises from within the housing.
When recording on the Zoom in 4 track mode, is it possible to monitor just one channel?
I’ll have a lav on one of the guys and want to make sure that’s clean, I’ll also be running the two on boards but I’m assuming they won’t be too usable from within the splash bag
Also, what do you guys think of running the Zoom in auto levels, bad idea?
Thanks

Sony EX1
Canon 5d mark 2
FCP 6.06

[C. Kauffman]

Great thanks Michael. I’ll be adding it into a 23.98 sequence so frame rate shouldn’t be an issue. The Zoom can do 4 tracks mono and stereo

Sony EX1
Canon 5d mark 2
FCP 6.06

[C. Kauffman]

I just bought one to sue with my 5D mark 2. Any tips on settings etc you use? I’ll be cutting it in with footage and audio shot on the EX1 23.98fps
Thanks

Sony EX1
Canon 5d mark 2
FCP 6.06

[C. Kauffman]

Hey Brent, have you figured out any profile settings on the 5D and EX that or reasonably similar, or do you just match them in post?
MY EX profile is pretty contrasty, which I love, and my 5D very neutral as so many people have recommended. Wondering if there’s a middle ground

Sony EX1
Canon 5d mark 2
FCP 6.06

[C. Kauffman]

Probably over ambitious. Looking to rent for an upcoming shoot and buy if I like it, thus the compressed timeframe.
The problem is really focus, if I can’t go tight and get nice moves and good focus (especially with the no DOF 5D) then I might as well just upgrade my handlheld rig. Feel like it’s also a bad precedent to set with clients, doing complex camera work without a proper AC pulling focus.
Any handheld rigs you guys like? I have a Zacuto for my 5D that isn’t beefy enough for the EX1

Sony EX1
Canon 5d mark 2
FCP 6.06

[C. Kauffman]

Thanks Ryan, what did you do for focusing? If you were using a follow focus, were you able to pull without unsettling the rig too much?

Sony EX1
Canon 5d mark 2
FCP 6.06

[C. Kauffman]

Thanks guys. What’s the learning curve like with the Merlin and the Glidecam 4000? Looking for something that I can get comfortable with in about a day of testing and playing around

Sony EX1
Canon 5d mark 2
FCP 6.06

[C. Kauffman]

What would the sound quality be like from a dictation device? If it’s not good it will wind up costing me a mint in post.
I was thinking about an H4N as a backup for other applications, I know a lot of sound people don’t like it, opinions?
Also why condoms, will I not get rustling from it when it’s close to the mic like I would with plastic?
Not that I mind being the guy loading up on three industrial sized boxes of Trojans at the drugstore

Sony EX1
Canon 5d mark 2
FCP 6.06