[Nicholas Canavan]

Thanks again Michael for the response.

I’m understanding what your saying and thank you for your help.
So setting the 2k fresnel up as high as possible from a corner and directing it just off center from the opposite side of where the light stand is, then fill if needed with the redhead from the other side..

And yeah wouldn’t be easy to light behind the choir, but should be room to direct a light straight up behind them on the back wall to seperate the choir from the background..

For tighter work as you mentioned, are you saying move the fresnel around to the side more because the light might be too harsh for close camera shots?

Thanks for your responses, appreciate it.

[Nicholas Canavan]

thanks for the response John.

I understand now the setup suggested, thanks for that! I went to a lighting hire place and explained what i wanted. The cross beam part is very large, a triangular shape (is this the speed rail)? My problem with that is that i would need to hire a big van or truck to transport it, and for the length i would need it would cost a fair bit too.
Could i have 2 large grip stands that extend up to 4 metres, one on either side and have the lights angling into the centre of the choir??
Or will this give a harsh uneven light?

I am told now that there will be an audience so i can’t have a stand in the middle as it will block the view of the audience on the choir.

Thanks again for your response, really appreciate your time and effort.

[Nicholas Canavan]

Hi Michael, thanks for the response.

It is very informative, but i must admit, slightly over my head. My knowledge of lighting is not even close to yours, i’m just learning as i use them more and reading what i can.

There isn’t going to be an audience, as the choir is just rehearsing, so it’s really only the choir singing together that matters, as well as the conductor/director.

Are u able to break it down into something a little more simple for me? Some of the terms you use aren’t familiar to me…

Much appreciated.
Nick.

[Nicholas Canavan]

hey rob

thanks for the response too.

I will be sure to ask if i’m being sent a line or mic level signal, but i fear some have no idea, but yeah like you said, ill have to buy a xlr to mini adapter.

And as you mentioned the led’s, i mentioned earlier in the thread, the problem is that even when i turn the level right down…like minus 40 db etc, it still distorts, which i guess is where the problem is more detailed, hence all the help from everybody.

Thanks again Rob.

[Nicholas Canavan]

Thanks Ty,

As to the question about getting in there early, yes and no. Sometimes i can get there for a sound check of sorts and test it out, but alot of times the d.j or engineer says no probs hooks it up and gives me the thumbs up, only to find out it should have been thumbs down. Boyz 2 men toured here earlier this year and my doco group was opening for them…my sound was terrible and unusable, and there engineer who i thought would know his stuff was guessing which plugs and which buttons/faders would change…frustrating.

And most frustrating is the fact that im just the ‘guy with camera’ etc..noone gives me much priority, access can be a problem with some places..

There is a big show this week at Melbournes Casino so i will try everything possible, take on the advice and see what i can do.

Just quickly, thanks again for your (and everyones answers) i honestly appreciate the time spent to help out a stranger.

[Nicholas Canavan]

Hello again Ty,

Its not a music video as such, i’m making a documentary on a music group in Australia, a group of rap/hip hop artists and a few pop singers, so as you can imagine its pretty loud in the club shows. My main aim is to have the audio good enough so that viewers can hear the group well enough to make there own opinion on them (good, bad, average) so they can decide if they think that the group will ‘make it’.

So no live instruments, just cd tracks and the live mics of each artist in hand.

Is there a site you prefer to upload small files and i will provide a link to show you..?

Sounds like the sound devices 442 mixer is a required unit. I imagine not too cheap however?

[Nicholas Canavan]

Hi Ray,
hope i’m not wasting your time to accept your offer and explain to me the balanced/unbalanced concept. Would appreciate it.

In the marantz i have 2 options for input, 1 is mic, the other is line. I thought that if i have it on mic, it means i should use the xlr input, if i select line, it means i should use what is labelled on the marantz as line in, for an rca cable.

Correct?

Thanks Ray

[Nicholas Canavan]

Hey Jeff, thanks for the response..

Not sure on the latest occasion if it was a rec out or monitor mix. Sometimes im dealing with a dj who doesnt seem to knowledgable on the desk etc.

My main problem is that at the club, its just way too loud to hear a thing through my headphones when connected to the marantz to test the levels. I have to record 20 seconds, then leave the club, (which takes 10 mins with the crowd) to listen to what ive recorded to see how the level is…

So best to look if there is one for a rec out level which can control the output specific to my marantz?

Thanks again
Nicholas.

[Nicholas Canavan]

Thanks for your continued support Ty,

That story you mentioned above seems like the exact same thing..basically just too damn loud.

The Oade brothers thing i have seen, but being in Australia they won’t deal with me unfortunately.

I now know what you mean as far as XLR or rca etc being just plumbing, its the level that is set before it even gets into my marantz that is the problem, hence like you said, getting a pre-fader mix. And yes your 100% correct, some desks ive encountered havn’t got that level of control, and some operators don’t know how.

So assuming that some of the time the marantz just wont cut it for a live desk feed, could i get decent sound with 2 mics toward the back of the room connected to the marantz ??

[Nicholas Canavan]

Thanks again Ty,

Is there any way at all to pad the camera sound? Could i do something like put foam etc over the FX1e’s microphone?

I bought the marantzpmd660 because i thought it was a proffesional unit that can do the job well..maybe its not. What would be a better option if i had to buy again?

All things considered, what is the best type of source from a live desk? A XLR mic input or a rca line? I have a pad for a mic input and the marantz has an -20db cut option..

Thank you again