Re: Audio

Ah - a bit of a problem then for us documentary people! - Syncing sound and picture is not something Id ever want to get into.

My experience shooting docs is that double-system sound is the rule, not the exception, even when shooting video. I did nature docs almost exclusively, and with a budget about the size of your monthly cable bill and mine combined. Ironically enough, I found that the further out I went, the more I needed double-system sound, both for more natural sounding, uhm sound, and to minimize noise from the camera.

The other great thing about recording double system is that the audio is a discrete element with its own timecode from the recorder. The nightmare is when you AREN'T shooting double, and your audio becomes unsynchronized from individual clips in your NLE - you're in for no fun at all. Those are problems. Double system sound is the solution.

Since the first NLEs were designed for film, they're highly optimized for these workflows.

Seriously, if you're looking at Red, don't even think about cutting this corner....even if the camera ever winds up with built-in audio. Which I hope it doesn't. It's not the ideal workflow for a DVX100a, and it's the wrong workflow for Red.

Not meaning to be arrogant or elitist. Like I said, I had ridiculously low budgets. And to top it off, I'm an idiot. But double system is easy to learn, easy to use, and contributes more than you can imagine to having a great picture.

Best,
Tim