as final cut editors, how do you prefer to monitor audio?
by todd reid
on
Sep 26, 2008 at 5:29:44 pm
In every edit suite I've ever worked in there was (usually quite large) an audio mixing board. Even when the switch over happened to non linear. I saw the luxury, but not necessity, of having this. I found some to be more hassle than it was worth. Ever heard massive feedback????
Anyway, I digress. Now that I have my own setup, I chose to eliminate the mixer, since the majority of my stuff now comes in on P2 cards, or my one tape deck, so there isn't much need to have multiple sources.
How many of you have audio mixers in your setup?
Am I the odd man out?
Re: as final cut editors, how do you prefer to monitor audio? by David Roth Weiss on Sep 26, 2008 at 5:37:50 pm
Todd,
Admittedly my mixer these days is primarily nothing more than a huge volume control for my speakers, but having sliding R&L pots right next to me at arm's length, with instant access, is very important to me. I would never want to be without them.
There are other solutions, for sure, but if you think that reaching up and truning down the control on the back of your speakers is a good solution, I'd argue with you.
David
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los Angeles
POST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
A forum host of Creative COW's Apple Final Cut Pro, Business & Marketing, and Indie Film & Documentary forums.
Re: as final cut editors, how do you prefer to monitor audio? by todd reid on Sep 26, 2008 at 5:44:59 pm
Thanks for the speedy reply.
I failed to mention the most important part of my issue.....the slightest touch of my speakers volume control is a huge change in volume. So not only do I need to stand up and walk around my desk to the back, but I can never get that sweet spot.
So I'm trying to decide if I should add a mixer, or just "create" a inline, more practical, volume control.
After hearing your short description of your set up, that is exactly what I've been missing.
what brand of mixer are you using?
Re: as final cut editors, how do you prefer to monitor audio? by Warren Eig on Sep 26, 2008 at 5:55:48 pm
I use a Mackie mixer, like David, to control the volume in my suite, but there are alternatives such as Mackie's Big knob: http://www.mackie.com/products/bigknob/
Re: as final cut editors, how do you prefer to monitor audio? by David Roth Weiss on Sep 26, 2008 at 5:56:00 pm
I have a Mackie 1402. It's not small, but it has faders and not knobs like the smaller 1202.
If you check with one of the many large companies dedicated to hardware sales, such as B&H, you will find that thy're are many solutions today that will do he job that did not exist just a few years ago.
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los Angeles
POST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
A forum host of Creative COW's Apple Final Cut Pro, Business & Marketing, and Indie Film & Documentary forums.
Re: as final cut editors, how do you prefer to monitor audio? by Steven Gonzales on Sep 26, 2008 at 5:58:43 pm
Perhaps you might want to consider a mixer that is also a midi controller, and it would be useful for audio mixing within Final Cut as well as monitoring audio.
Some are using this model, although I have no experience with it:
Re: as final cut editors, how do you prefer to monitor audio? by Nick Price on Sep 26, 2008 at 6:06:58 pm
Hi there,
i always prefer a mixer to hand, mainly for doing what it is designed to do. mix several sources without rewiring. How else can you listen to your Digi deck, Dvcam, deck computer output, sound/video card output, mic input, DVD player, VHS player, etc...
Obviously also useful to control speaker volume.
Re: as final cut editors, how do you prefer to monitor audio? by Chris Poisson on Sep 26, 2008 at 6:21:05 pm
What Nick said, plus that a decent mixer gives you control over EQ coming in and going out. I have ad agency clients who would crap on the floor without those options.
Re: as final cut editors, how do you prefer to monitor audio? by Jason Porthouse on Sep 26, 2008 at 6:31:32 pm
I run a Yamaha 01V in my suite -overkill I guess, but handy to have. One day I might sell it on and replace with one of the MIDI/mixer hybrids, which would probably suit better. But nowadays for simple monitoring, Mackie, Behringer et al do mixers in the sub $100 bracket that are perfectly good enough for monitoring and even mic to line conversion for VO's and the like. Wouldn't be without one myself.
I guess there's still a part of me that hankers after the 'Rick Wakeman' like feeling of being surrounded by acres of incredibly complex kit, even if it ain't doing much - ahh, suite memories of a 32 channel Grass Valley mixer with an equally absurd audio panel and an Abekas DVE... just need a lame suit and a cape...
JP
_________________________________
Before you criticise a man, walk a mile in his shoes.
Then when you do criticise him, you'll be a mile away. And have his shoes.
Re: as final cut editors, how do you prefer to monitor audio? by walter biscardi on Sep 26, 2008 at 6:40:55 pm
Mackie 1202 in all our suites. We have audio patch panels so we can listen to our edit systems, various VTRs and Cable TV without the need for switching anything. We also feed our microphones for VO's through the Mackies.
We use KRK Rokit 5 for actual monitoring.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.
Re: as final cut editors, how do you prefer to monitor audio? by Shane Ross on Sep 26, 2008 at 6:49:28 pm
My main bay has a Tascam mixer that actually controls the audio levels on the timeline. But at home I have a $69 Behringer 4 channel mixer...because all it is doing is adjusting audio levels. BUT...I need the mixer because I need to output to Beta and Digibeta sometimes, and sometimes I need to boost the audio to the Beta deck. The only thing that allows me to do that is a mixer.
Re: as final cut editors, how do you prefer to monitor audio? by Mike Cohen on Sep 27, 2008 at 4:58:38 pm
while I use Premiere, the concept is the same. I have a piece of gaffer tape over the volume knobs on my speakers so no one touches the optimal levels. I also have gaffer tape over the trim pots on the inputs to my Mackie, calibrated so tone from Premiere timelines hits the right mark on my DVCAM deck. Then, like Shane, I use the volume control for either speakers or headphones. Most of the time it is headphones, since our office has an open floor plan with no walls!
Mike Cohen
Re: as final cut editors, how do you prefer to monitor audio? by Rennie Klymyk on Sep 27, 2008 at 6:26:23 pm
I used to use a Mackie 1604 as it also functions as a switcher but it had just too big a footprint to keep close enough at hand to be convenient. I've settled on a 1202 vlz (the rca's are useful) for it's smaller footprint. Everything goes from there to an EV7100 amp to a pair of Mission 701 speakers. It sounds very real.
"thou can not stir a flower without crumbling a star" ......Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Re: as final cut editors, how do you prefer to monitor audio? by John Davidson on Sep 27, 2008 at 6:58:02 pm
I use a Behringer Eurorack 2440 from guitar center with two M-Audio BX5's (with a small pc subwoofer for a little extra kick so that everything doesn't sound like the new metallica album). Before I bought the Behrenger I had been looking at more expensive Mackie mixers, but a few of the rooms we'd rented out over the years had problems with their Mackies that made me decide it wasn't worth it (static when adjusting VU, bizarre balancing issues, etc). Granted, not all Mackies do that as I'm sure everyone will attest. My point is I got the same thing with my Eurorack that I would have gotten with a Mackie and I didn't spend as much. I don't regret not getting a Mackie. It's never been missed.
I should mention I have a kona 2 that provides SDI audio to my digibeta, so my board is purely for monitoring. Were I to be laying back via analogue obviously it would be more important to go top of the line.
jd
John
President & Creative Director, Magic Feather Inc.
Re: as final cut editors, how do you prefer to monitor audio? by Frank Philip on Sep 29, 2008 at 2:50:33 pm
This is probably the wrong area to post on this thread but I want to know how you are monitoring your audio. Currently I have a iMac with firewire out to my Canon XL1 for a digital to analog conversion to a 20" monitor via composites. Is it better to run audio through iMac's on board speakers or through the 20" monitor? There's an obvious delay between the video on the iMac and the 20" monitor.
Re: as final cut editors, how do you prefer to monitor audio? by adam taylor on Sep 29, 2008 at 7:54:25 pm
hmmm, how do i say this politely...I've got a Big Knob !!
Its absolutely spot-on for my edit suite. All my inputs to FCP are direct from digibeta, so i have no need for a mixing desk. The mackie Big Knob does have plenty of options for various sources, and plenty of other features that i rarely use.
One great option it does have is a mono/stereo switch, so you can easily check audio mixes for phase problems.
adam
Adam Taylor
Video Editor/Audio Mixer/ Compositor/Motion GFX/Barista
Character Options Ltd
Oldham, UK
