DMC Equipment: Recording Interviews and Lectures with the DMC Equipment

Audio only interview:

1. Please consider to use DMC audio studio as your first option to record interviews, since soundproofed room and the audio set-up offer superior recording quality. There are two stand microphones in the studio: one has on/off switch and the other does not. Use the one without the switch as the primary microphone, and use the one with the power switch as the secondary microphone and be sure to power it on. For step-by-step instruction, please refer Using Audacity to Record Audio.
2. To record more than 3 people's talking in the audio studio, please use Zoom H4n audio recorder. A mini tripod is stored in the upper drawer of the cabinet in the audio studio. Mount the Zoom H4n audio recorder onto the mini tripod and place the Zoom H4n audio recorder in the center of those who record. Refer this online training video to learn the basic operation of Zoom H4n audio recorder. Recommended setting is WAV-44.1Khz and 16bit.
3. Alternatively, you may check out Zoom H4n audio recorder or Zoom H2n audio recorder from the DMC. Both recorders are very portable and offer excellent recording quality as well.

Video interview:

1. Please consider to use DMC video studio as your first option to record video interview for the following reasons:
   1. A set of professional equipment is reserved for the studio users.
   2. 5 ceiling mounted LED lights provide better lighting.
   3. A black backdrop, a white backdrop, and a green wall are available in the studio.
2. If the interview cannot be conducted in the DMC studio, you can check out the following equipment from the DMC:
   1. For an easy setup, use Canon M500 video camera, Sunpack or Velbon tripod, Azden wireless microphone
   2. For an advanced setup and better audio recording quality, use Canon XA10 video camera, Velbon tripod, and one of the following microphones depending on its availability:
      1. Sony lavalier microphone (#1 choince)
      2. Azden 305/310LT UHF On Camera Body Pack System  
      3. Azden wireless microphone copy 1 or copy 2,
      4. external shotgun microphone in the checkout package can be used at same time as a backup audio, please refer to this guide for detailed set-up instruction.
3. Please refer this guide Tips and Tricks for Video Recording to learn more about techniques and other details.
4. In addition, DMC staff has been collecting the trips and tricks of using DMC Video studio. Refer this document for update.

Recording talks / lectures

1. You may consider to check out the following equipment to record talks or lectures:
   1. In general, you can use Canon M500 video camera, Velbon tripod, Rode condenser shotgun microphone, use either Zoom H4n audio recorder or Zoom H2n audio recorder as audio backup. Refer to the following scenarios for more specific audio equipment to use or simply come to the DMC and talk to our staff member for consultation:
      
      1. Scenario 1: classroom with built-in speaker with lineout, depend on the line out type, you can check out cables from the DMC. (revisit, bradley check the different cables and adapters)
      2. Scenario 2: the classroom without any build-in speaker, and if there is only one lecturer, then use Azden wireless microphone to record audio.
      3. For any classroom with more complicated audio setup, please talk to DMC professional staff member, and we will try to figure out the best audio equipment based on each case.
   2. For an advanced set-up, you may use Canon XA10 video camera, Sony condenser shotgun microphone that comes with the camera, and Velbon tripod. Use audio recorder as audio backup. (This setup is recommended for recording QA session or in the case there are more than one lecturer to be recorded.)
2. Tips and tricks: be mindful of recording distance of each shotgun microphone.