Revisiting NAB 2017

A look back at some of the best new products we saw at the industry’s leading trade show, a number of which we’ve since had a chance to review hands-on

David Schloss

Canon EOS C700 We’re taking a look back at some of the new products we got to check out at NAB 2017. We’ve since had a chance to review a number of them hands-on since this article appeared in print, so look for the links throughout this article. The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show in Las Vegas is a massive, sprawling affair each... Read more

SmartSound Sonicfire Pro 6

With infinite remixing at only $199, the Sonicfire Pro 6 software and massive royalty-free library of music tracks and sound effects may be the most capable soundtracking service yet available to indie productions

By David Alexander Willis

Available as a free trial for 21 days, SmartSound’s Sonicfire Pro 6 soundtracking and audio effects program includes a starter pack of 15 music tracks. While that may not seem like enough for most film and video productions, at only $199, the software also offers incredibly complex remixing capabilities as well as numerous song arrangements per each... Read more

Transvideo And Aaton Digital To Showcase New Products At CABSAT 2017

Transvideo’s StarliteRF-a monitor-recorder and Aaton Digital’s CantarMini digital mixer-sound recorder will debut at the Dubai show, March 21-23

Staff

The front view of Aaton Digital’s new CantarMini 16-track digital mixer-sound recorder, with swivelling display open Sister companies Transvideo and Aaton Digital will debut new products at CABSAT 2017, March 21-23, at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Transvideo will introduce the new StarliteRF-a monitor-recorder with wireless camera control of the... Read more

The Balancing Act: High-Quality Production Sound On A Low Budget

Many HDSLRs and HD cameras deliver amazing picture quality, but with mediocre sound. Here’s advice on capturing crisp external audio on new, affordable gear.

By Dan Brockett

Zoom H4n Handy Recorder The reality of modern productions, especially low-to-no-budget projects, is that low funds make it impossible to hire professional sound mixers with top-notch recording gear. The good news is that the quality and capability of sound gear has increased exponentially over the past few years, while the cost to purchase medium to... Read more

K-Tek Audio Accessory Bags: The K-Tek Gizmo Bag Set

The $99 Gizmo Bag Set of K-Tek audio accessory bags for small gear like wireless systems, cables, adaptors, transmitters, batteries, lavalieres and more

David Alexander Willis

K-Tek, who made an appearance on my top ten list of best new products at last year’s NAB show, has announced a new set of three Stingray Gizmo Bags for only $99. The bags have see-through designs for sifting through contents without opening as well as transparent lid pockets for quick access to smaller items like memory cards. K-Tek Audio Accessory... Read more

New 624 And 8A MOTU Mobile Audio Mixers

New 624 and 8A MOTU Mobile Audio Mixers: portable and capable sound capture and mixing

David Alexander Willis

Offering your choice of 32 channels of audio I/O in the MOTU 624 or 34 channels via the MOTU 8A, two new MOTU Mobile Audio Mixers are built for capturing and mixing top shelf analog audio. Inheriting many of the features and audio performance of the flagship 1248 and 16A interfaces, at only $795 per system, the MOTU Mobile Audio Mixers have console-style... Read more

At A Glance: Zoom F8

A multitrack field recorder for location sound that offers value-for-cost performance

By Dan Brockett

I was lucky enough to be invited to the West Coast introduction of the new Zoom F8, an 8-input, 10-track recorder capable of recording a stereo (or 2-track) mix, plus 8 isolated tracks. The F8 is the first product from Japanese audio company Zoom that’s designed to compete with industry-established offerings from high-end pro competitors such as Sound... Read more

The Sounds Of Chaos

Overcoming location audio challenges on the frontlines of production

By Dan Brockett

It’s no secret that location sound is challenging. While the other departments have their own unique obstacles to overcome, it seems that the production sound team is often tasked with capturing clear, dynamic and legible sound in noisy, chaotic situations that seem to make that assignment nearly impossible to complete. Speaking with location sound... Read more

At A Glance: RØDE Stereo VideoMic X

Setting the standard for single-system audio

By Neil Matsumoto

Although you can capture high-quality images, DSLRs and compact mirrorless cameras were never designed to capture high-quality sound. Their built-in microphones are pretty useless except for capturing scratch audio for dual-system sound. Also, the cameras lack XLR inputs for use with professional mics and their preamps are pretty rudimentary. Since... Read more

Cut The Cord – Wireless Audio Overview

Wireless microphones can add a new dimension to your production

By Bud Osborne

Wireless microphones are ubiquitous. They’re used by broadcasters, corporate video producers, large- and small-venue sound-system owners, filmmakers and just about anyone who has a need to communicate or record audio from a microphone without a cable getting in the way. In the last 60 years, they have changed the way we look at audio challenges... Read more

At A glance: juicedLink RM333

Single-system sound strikes back

By Neil Matsumoto

For DSLR filmmakers, the biggest obstacle to climb is sound. For young filmmakers who have never touched a frame of film, dual-system sound (where a separate audio recorder is employed) is often a foreign concept. For most, employing audio recorders like the Samson Zoom H4n has been a great and affordable solution in capturing good sound. The major... Read more

At A glance: Sound Devices PIX 240i

A versatile video recorder/monitor that also can record high-quality sound

By Neil Matsumoto

With the ability to output data via HD-SDI or HDMI, video recorders such as Convergent Design’s nanoFlash, AJA’s Ki Pro Mini and Atomos’ Ninja and Samurai have become extremely popular with indie shooters looking to capture higher-quality 4:2:2 files rather than H.264. Sound Devices, which is primarily known as a high-end audio... Read more