Making Super 8 Film - Properly!

[lightfeat]

Hi there folks

I am a pretty experienced super8er, and make drama films, and so need good sound, good everything actually. I have a Nizo 6080 and a 4080, an UWIII wide lens, a minidisc recorder, am buying a good shotgun mic and am planning to send my 6080 off to The Film Group to get it crystal synced. I've bought 24 carts of K40, and I'm possibly going to ask Moviestuff to do my transfer, or else buy a workprinter Pro machine from him. I have a single 300-500 watt tungsten balanced light, which I've never used before, a $3.99 Disney toy clapper, which works fine, and have experience of how horrible it is to take 70 rolls of K40 with a non sync cam on a documentary and try to sync up. I never finished the film and it was a steep learning curve.

Am I now on track to making something that isn't going to be doomed to failure? Obviously my script, acting, artistic stuff is something else entirely, but am I, equipment wise, barking up the right tree in your collective experience?

Many thanks

Lucas

[Greg Crawford]

After you get your camera back, run a roll using your new system.

Try extended sound takes. It usually easy to do a short sound take ...but sync problems will keep getting more obvious, the longer your sound take runs.

I do not know your camera, and you did not mention any steps to sound proof it. You might want to have a Barney made for it, to reduce camera noise.

Good luck.

[lightfeat]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=2 face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><table border="0" width="90%" bgcolor="#333333" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="0"><tr><td width="100%"><table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" bgcolor="#FF9900"><tr><td width="100%" bgcolor="#DDDDDD"><font size=2 face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by bossjock-dp:
After you get your camera back, run a roll using your new system.

Try extended sound takes. It usually easy to do a short sound take ...but sync problems will keep getting more obvious, the longer your sound take runs.

I do not know your camera, and you did not mention any steps to sound proof it. You might want to have a Barney made for it, to reduce camera noise.

Good luck.</font></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thanks for your reply. My camera is the quietest super 8 camera available, but I am consulting with Custom Upholstery Products to see if they can make me a sound barney. I'm getting a bit obsessed with getting all the equipment right at the moment.

Does anyone have experience with crystal sync sound recording with a Film Group modification? I'd be interested in hearing your opinion of the product and your experiences with sound syncing.

I've got to get me to bed....I am becoming an internet addict.

[Scotness]

Sounds like you're heading in the right direction - a barney is a must - don't just think you can correct it in post despite someone telling you to get a barney - I thought that - foolish me! - also you nmust unplug the leads each time you've finished for the day with the film group synch unit or the battery will flatten and you might not realise....see where that is heading?? Anyway check out my page www.mnago-a-gogo.com/inmyimage/image.htm - it's about my feature now in post - I go into some details on the equipment and experiences I had etc --- keep us informed

Scot M

[Greg Crawford]

Dear Lightfeat,

I realized I did not answer your most pressing questions. I did not have the answer.

I thought I would be helping by posting anyway. It's funny abut these posts. If no one ever "brakes the ice," ...then I think they stay unanswered.

If your new shotgun mic has a roll off switch, you might want to roll off the low end, that will also help reduce camera noise. (I personally do not like to do this since voices also get a little thinner. But it might help....test both ways, if your into running a test.

[Scotness]

okay typo! try:

www.mango-a-gogo.com/inmyimage/image.htm

[lightfeat]

Thanks bossjock and scotness. Good advise. It's a real pain that I have to get so materially obsessed with all the equipment because I'm becoming a producer, which was never the idea, and it's interfering with my aesthetic and dramatic considerations. Still, needs must! It ain't cheap doing Super8 properly, that's for sure -even with K40, but it still beats the old Arri 16mm I used to own. I'm sure I'll get around to actually making another film - someday!!!