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Home: Video University Forums: Wedding & Event Videography:
Audio for weddings

X-Matthew
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May 3, 2003, 1:05 AM

Post #1 of 8 (1288 views)
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Audio for weddings	Can't Post

When you all record wedding ceremonies, how do you record the audio of the special music, instruments, etc. Do you connect to the sound system, or have a way of micing those things?
Or do most of you not record the entire ceremony, just parts of it?

X-Brian_m
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May 3, 2003, 11:32 AM

Post #2 of 8 (1287 views)
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Re: Audio for weddings	Can't Post

We use 3 mini-disc recorders.
1st in groom's pocket
2nd on the podium
3rd either in front of musician or soloist or in front of a church speaker (if in reach).
All these recording have to be captured and synced up in a computer.
Couples have complained about poor audio on other videos they've seen while speaking with us at demos so we now spend extra time and $$ on making audio close to perfect!
We're very anal about everything sounding good.
Mini-disc recorder has to have a mic input
(ex. Sony MZ-N707 from $170-$250 depending on where you buy it).
Brian M
Video by Moak

X-Joel_Peregrine
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May 3, 2003, 1:25 PM

Post #3 of 8 (1287 views)
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Re: Audio for weddings [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Brian,
Have your MD recorders just stopped recording for no reason? I used two plus two wireless mics at the wedding on Saturday and one of the MDs stopped recording at 35 minutes. I had all the settings correct, i.e. sync recording off, mono, etc. It was a new blank MD so there isn't the chance that it was set to start at the end of the last recorded section on the disc, the battery had plenty of life and the hold button was on. Luckily it was the mic by the string quartet so I didn't miss the vows or a reading. Has this ever happened to you?
Joel

: We use 3 mini-disc recorders.
: 1st in groom's pocket
: 2nd on the podium
: 3rd either in front of musician or soloist or in front of a church speaker (if in reach).
: All these recording have to be captured and synced up in a computer.
: Couples have complained about poor audio on other videos they've seen while speaking with us at demos so we now spend extra time and $$ on making audio close to perfect!
: We're very anal about everything sounding good.
: Mini-disc recorder has to have a mic input
: (ex. Sony MZ-N707 from $170-$250 depending on where you buy it).
: Brian M
: Video by Moak

X-Brian_m
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May 3, 2003, 1:45 PM

Post #4 of 8 (1287 views)
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Re: Audio for weddings [In reply to]	Can't Post

: Have your MD recorders just stopped recording for no reason?
Just once - there were vibrations from the DJ's amps that caused it to shut off, but never during the ceremony (knock on wood)
I now try to suspend it on a mic stand and keep it away from hard surfaces that might pick up vibrations.
What was the last thing you heard? Could it have been vibrations from a bass instrument?
BrianM

X-Gregory_Lee
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May 3, 2003, 3:02 PM

Post #5 of 8 (1287 views)
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Re: Audio for weddings [In reply to]	Can't Post

How do you find the sound quality of the mini-disc recorders compared to using a wireless lavalier?
Do you think it would be unwise to use say, a wireless lavalier for the groom and a mini-disc recorder for the priest, due to the different sound quality?
: We use 3 mini-disc recorders.
: 1st in groom's pocket
: 2nd on the podium
: 3rd either in front of musician or soloist or in front of a church speaker (if in reach).
: All these recording have to be captured and synced up in a computer.
: Couples have complained about poor audio on other videos they've seen while speaking with us at demos so we now spend extra time and $$ on making audio close to perfect!
: We're very anal about everything sounding good.
: Mini-disc recorder has to have a mic input
: (ex. Sony MZ-N707 from $170-$250 depending on where you buy it).
: Brian M
: Video by Moak

X-Brian_M
Imported Account

May 3, 2003, 6:19 PM

Post #6 of 8 (1287 views)
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Re: Audio for weddings [In reply to]	Can't Post

Mini-disc sounds great for vocals.
When recording the DJ it needs a little enhancement during editing.
We don't use a wireless at all. One priest in this area doesn't allow them because he fears it will interfere with the Church's wireless. We can stay back pretty far and not worry about losing reception or getting interference on the channel by using the mini-disc.
It's probably a lot easier to edit using a UHF wireless plugged right into the camcorder and I'm sure it works fine most of the time.
For us, worrying about that extra connection and wearing a headphone to monitor the sound is another step we don't want to deal with.
We can't monitor the mini-disc at all but even if the wireless went bad you can't exactly say "excuse me...hold those vows, I have to fix something"
Brian M

X-chuck
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May 4, 2003, 1:15 PM

Post #7 of 8 (1287 views)
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Re: Audio for weddings [In reply to]	Can't Post

I had a Sony MZ-700 do just that at a reception - stop recording on its own. I'd start it recording and then check on it awhile later and it would be stopped. I was unable to link the problem to any particular audio or physical event. Never trusted it again. I'm now using an MZ-707 with no problems, so far.

: Have your MD recorders just stopped recording for no reason? I used two plus two wireless mics at the wedding on Saturday and one of the MDs stopped recording at 35 minutes. I had all the settings correct, i.e. sync recording off, mono, etc. It was a new blank MD so there isn't the chance that it was set to start at the end of the last recorded section on the disc, the battery had plenty of life and the hold button was on. Luckily it was the mic by the string quartet so I didn't miss the vows or a reading. Has this ever happened to you?
: Joel

X-Gregory_Lee
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May 5, 2003, 1:40 AM

Post #8 of 8 (1287 views)
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Re: Audio for weddings [In reply to]	Can't Post

Is there a "hold" switch on the MZ-707 which prevents any buttons being accidently pressed while recording?
Does the MD recorder have a belt clip, or do you simply put it in the groom's pocket?
Gregory
: I had a Sony MZ-700 do just that at a reception - stop recording on its own. I'd start it recording and then check on it awhile later and it would be stopped. I was unable to link the problem to any particular audio or physical event. Never trusted it again. I'm now using an MZ-707 with no problems, so far.
:
: : Have your MD recorders just stopped recording for no reason? I used two plus two wireless mics at the wedding on Saturday and one of the MDs stopped recording at 35 minutes. I had all the settings correct, i.e. sync recording off, mono, etc. It was a new blank MD so there isn't the chance that it was set to start at the end of the last recorded section on the disc, the battery had plenty of life and the hold button was on. Luckily it was the mic by the string quartet so I didn't miss the vows or a reading. Has this ever happened to you?
: : Joel