ENG - Broadcast

The original Rode VideoMic has been one of the most popular on-camera microphones in video production for several years. It greatly improves the sound-quality of a camera, making it one of the best options for video shooters who need to upgrade their sound on a budget.

DSI NewsShark systems are portable transmission devices that attach easily to ENG (Electronic News Gathering) cameras and use the H.264 (MPEG4 AVC) video compression and ACC audio coding. Available in a combination of Wi-Fi and cellular transmission combinations, there is certain to be a DSI NewsShark that works ideally in your area.

Advancements in technology have allowed manufacturers to shrink the size of broadcast-quality camcorders, while at the same time squeezing in better performance. A case in point is Sony's new PMW-100 camcorder; ENG professionals sporting this compact new unit will appreciate the lighter load and greater maneuverability.

A clever new piece of equipment is available that corrects all of the shortcomings of HDSLR audio, in a single compact, camera-mountable box. The Fostex DC-R302 is a three-channel field mixer, with a two-channel high-resolution audio recorder built in.

Shotgun microphones are used to capture sounds such as dialog in film and video productions, for “spot” miking specific areas on sets, stages and installations, and for creating Foley and sound effects. 

One way to improve the quality of your in-camera audio when shooting video with an HDSLR camera is to utilize an external adapter box (called a Camcorder XLR Adapter). These gizmos attach to the base of your camera and enable you to connect multiple XLR microphones to your camera’s lowly mini-plug mic input. 

When you’re operating a boompole to capture dialog for a video or film production indoors, it’s often best not to use a shotgun microphone. The kind of microphone that you want to use is a small diaphragm condenser with either a hypercardioid or a supercardioid pick-up pattern. More specifically, there are only a handful of microphone models that are preferred for this task.

The Tascam DR-40 is the most budget-friendly portable digital recorder on the market that offers advanced features like dual combo-XLR inputs and four-channel recording. A new firmware update adds independent level-control to its external inputs.

Olympus knows a thing or two about making portable recorders, and its new LS-100 has the distinction of being the highest-quality model the company has ever produced. It features an excellent-sounding pair of built-in stereo condenser microphones, as well as a pair of XLR combo inputs.

Røde is the undisputed leader in on-camera microphone technology, and its new Stereo VideoMic Pro is the most lightweight, compact and superior sounding camera-mountable stereo microphone the company has ever built.

The original Tascam DR-100 stood out from the pack for being an extremely well equipped, compact portable digital recorder laden with useful features, like its dual XLR inputs and thumb-friendly level-adjustment dials. Even though it was a popular and well-regarded model, Tascam decided to push things further.

Portable digital recorders that feature dual XLR inputs are popular among musicians and audio engineers and they’re also the tool of choice for recording the sound for video productions. Until recently, there were only a few handheld digital recorders with XLR inputs available, but the announcement of the Olympus LS-100 adds an attractive new option to the menu.

It’s common to see equipment made by Shure being used on professional television and film shoots. Even though this company’s presence in the “audio for video” market never faded, recent announcements have given a new energy to Shure’s line of ENG and EFP gear. 

What does a portable digital recorder have in common with a farm-fresh egg? You can use an egg to glaze an apple pie, cook a Denver omelet or to make fresh gnocchi. Likewise, you can use a portable digital recorder to capture live music, record the sound in a video shoot or to create a podcast in the field.

A portable digital recorder is a compact, battery-powered device that’s capable of creating high-resolution digital audio recordings. Most portable digital recorders feature built-in microphones, but some only have inputs for connecting external audio signals.

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