Canon 5D Camera Audio

whitneyince

The Canon 5D Camera is quickly becoming the number one camera choice for many companies and operators. While the camera produces amazing images the audio options on the camera are poor. The  only real option to get good audio is recording it double system on a high quality professional recorder. Here is how I approach shooting on The Canon 5D and other cameras similar to it:

If it is a studio shoot with multiple camera I run my 442 mix with the prefader iso outs to my 744T @ 23,976 with my Smart Slate. I usually also provide them with a back up mix via my 442 into my Fostex Fr2le. I usually have them turn on the camera microphone to hear the slate clap. If requested I can also send a scratch take mix via Comtek or G2 Wireless but since the camera is so small I prefer not to add any weight to it. I have also ditched the smart slate and just used a dummy slate with good results as well.

If it is a more run and gun shoot I do everything the same except I don’t carry around the fostex fr2le as my back up recorder I use the SD Card in my zaxcom unit instead to cut down on weight and size. If we don’t have an AC or someone to take care of the smart slate. I prefer to use a dummy slate to keep it simple.


I have done a number of Canon 5D/7D shoots this way with great results.

RED Camera Audio Follow up

whitneyince

A few weeks ago I posted regarding my purchase of  of RED Camera Audio Cables and Timecode cables. I am happy to report that these cables are all preforming flawlessly. I can now do the following:

Using my Remote Audio ENG Snake to feed audio to the RED Camera and listen via the Headphone Matrix Menu because I am using the audio out jack instead of the poor sounding headphone jack. I can also when hardwired to the RED have it trigger my 744T recorder via record run and jam time code.

This set up works well for my main red client since we do mostly studio shoots.

RED CAMERA AUDIO

whitneyince

The RED Camera isn’t going anywhere and is quickly becoming a very common camera on a variety of different jobs mostly Films and commercials. The RED isn’t a ENG Camera and anyone trying to use on in that capacity is making a poor choice like any technology its limitations need to be understood and worked with. Below is the most fool proof way to get quality audio via a RED. Make sure you have the right cables I have recently ordered the Remote Audio Tails for my current Breakaway snakes so that I have the right cables they are a bit pricey but work well like all Remote Audio Cables. Even though most RED Owners have the needed audio cables I prefer to always have my own.

RED Audio Workflow:
Feed RED Audio via my 442 and Also run my 702T/744T slate via Smart Slate. I treat it like a film shoot.Most clients prefer to use the on camera audio but I can rest easy knowing that I have a double system back up or if the client chooses it can easily be used as primary audio.
This workflow has worked well for me thus far in the future I want to get Denecke SBT boxes so I can sync everything up via timecode. I will post my findings after I do that