![]() The H6 is capable of recording 6 channels at once: 4 XLR inputs and 2 more from the onboard microphones. Mid-Budget Field Audio Recorders ($300+) For skeleton indie crews, it’s size and ability to rig this to camera is a winnerĪ slight cash injection will offer more options and flexibility at the $300 price point. Includes two XLR/TRS connectors, a 3.5mm input, 3.5mm camera input, and flexible monitoring options designed for indie filmmakers. Another option from Tascam with a box-like form-factor designed be mounted beneath a DSLR camera. The DR-40x arrives with two onboard microphones and two XLR/TRS input jacks, allowing 4 channels of audio to be captured. This is also a great on-the-go choice for recording sound effects! The combined XLR/TRS input allows flexible connectivity, as does the modular microphone-mounting ability. This compact portable recorder can capture 4 channels of audio. In all other cases, indie filmmakers can begin exploring options under $300. Let’s hope you’ll not encounter a disaster necessary to use a backup recorder. Low-Budget Field Audio Recorders (Under $300) The DR60d MKii is built for on-the-go videographers tackling their own sound Want other economical options? Last resort backups can include Rode’s i-XY ($159) or Shure’s MOTIV ($149) mobile phone systems. For all other situations, inexpensive portable recorders such as the Zoom H4n Pro ($229) with onboard microphones will capture audio when all else fails. Pro kits will have backup audio recorders that outshine an indie filmmaker’s main kit. I’ve heard of absolutely catastrophic situations where a director is thrilled that sound crew can capture dialogue on a mobile phone. Just the same, many sound mixers pack a backup recorder in case of emergencies. Of course, these situations will be rare if you are well prepared. Emergency Audio Recorders The Zoom H5 is a great audio recorder to keep in your bag along with a shotgun mic capsule and XLR input expansion moduleĭid your main recorder run out of power? No backup batteries? Perhaps someone carelessly knocked your recorder to the ground, smashing it to pieces. Let’s look at options for recording sound on a budget. Of course, the sky’s the limit if your bank account is flush. Digital Audio Recorders for Indie Filmmakers Now that we have our list of essential features, let’s see what our options are. The features above can be considered basic requirements for capturing decent sound on set. ![]() Of course, audio recorders have dozens of other options. Allow the recorder to spool to a second storage medium after the first fills. Power redundancy switches to a second power source after the first expires. It may be a challenge powering audio equipment for the long days on set. Creates a tone on the recorder at a standard specification to ensure post-production pros are monitoring levels to match what was recorded on set. It allows the production sound mixer to dictate info to the track even if the microphones are being used far away. This is a small, low-quality microphone built into the recorder itself. While many low-budget cameras will not have timecode sync options either, this may not be a necessity. Some offer time-stamping the starting timecode into a BWAV file. Budget recorders lack timecode, others are able to read timecode but not generate it, and higher-end recorders generate timecode themselves. Timecode is a way of synchronizing multiple cameras and audio recorders. Capture multiple microphones simultaneously on discrete channels. If you’re using boom and lav microphones, you’ll want at least 3-4 inputs. Allows professional microphone connections. Ensure an audio recorder can capture at least 48 kHz audio in the uncompressed BWAV or WAV format. What are the absolute deal breakers when choosing audio recorders to record for film and video? Let’s learn: That means indie production sound mixers must make careful choices. That’s rarely the case when working on indie films. Like any other pro sound gear, choices are endless with an unlimited credit card limit. Audio Recorder Must-Have Features Sound Devices is the name to beat in terms of both build and sound quality. Today’s post explores the best indie film audio recorders for under $1,000. The next step? Amplify your indie film sound quality with a dedicated audio recorder. We explored shotgun and lav microphone options under $1,000 in the last post. The first step is to upgrade to better microphones. Recording audio direct-to-camera isn’t going to cut it any longer. You must accommodate for distant talent and prolonged Steadicam takes. This time, you’ll need better, cleaner sound. It has a bigger budget with more cash for the sound department. For months you’ve been shooting video using your camera’s onboard microphone.
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