Here's a GREAT place to start -

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/wedding-event-videography-techniques/

I'm not sure how 'standard' my audio setup is but I:

(1)Have a shotgun mic on my Camera - feeding into one channel
(2)Use a Sennheiser wireless lavalier on the minister - feeding into the other channel on the camera
(3)Slip an MP3 recorder with a lavalier (Giant Squid) in the groom's pocket
(4)Set up a minidisc recorder on the lectern if anyone is going to read poems and/or bible readings.

I'm in the process of updating (4) to another MP3 recorder.

Cheers
Wayne

wow wayne....

i have to say the only weddings i've ever shot we're for friends, and i did them with my me66 mounted on camera - no complaints, but then again, i wasn't getting paid for it ;-)

my kit for 'talking heads' etc., is me66 / senn evo100 / sure 58. if i need more i hire, but that's very, very rare. but looking at what you're using i feel somewhat under-equipped!

i hope you wedding guys get paid enough for all your investment....

would a proximity mic on the lectern work?

leslie

My MP3 recorder is a somewhat old iRiver - nothing fancy and my Minidisc reorder is an even older model, but MP3 reorders are getting cheaper all the time hence my desire to upgrade.

The minidisc gives great results but then the audio has to be captured with audio software (as opposed to MP3's which can simply be dragged and dropped).

I use the multiple microphone setup because it seems that Murphy's law dictates that wherever you plan to put your microphone/camera at the rehearsal, someone will change their mind and leave you stupidly listening to a thin voice which, if boosted on the timeline, induces a lot of background noise!

I use two cameras - one fixed and one that I 'drive'.

To provide a reference point for later synching I simply place my 'roving' camera alongside my fixed camera, start both cameras about 5-10 minutes before the ceremony then walk out the front so that both cameras can capture me and fire the flash on a cheap disposable camera (with the flash pointing downward).

I leave both cameras running (I use 80 minute tapes) and pick up my roving camera and set up for the entrance of the bridal party - usually just to the right of the minister pointing down the aisle towards the rear of the church.

This gives a single frame of flash which makes synching later dead easy.

Does that make sense?

Leslie:

I do wedding, event and industrial video and I agree that Waynes description is pretty typical (with variations) for a setup.

The DVinfo link is the best advice you will ever get. The "All Things Audio" forum there is also a great resource to learn how to capture audio.

The audio is actually more important than the video in most events. Get a wireless setup and a digital audio recorder (both mandatory)and start practicing.

Do mostly promotional, instructional and demo video.
Recenlty did a wedding for a friend, ceremony only. And I have to say wedding videographers make every cent they get.
And on an energy expended, money return basis they make the least.
My experience was kind of like covering a hockey game. You think you know what's going on, but you never know for sure what might happen.
For instance, a still photogrpaher popping up in frame!
And that digital recorder on the lecturn,---priceless.
If I had it to do again I'd also record a board feed just for the music.
A third camera for a cover shot would also be great for something to cut to in a pinch.
Let's have a moment's of silence for wedding videographers who are working for a bride, a mother and a mother-in-law. Anbd being directed by a priest, minister or rabi while dodging two still photographers.
You missed what, the cutting of cake!
Rodney Dangerfield with a camera.
Wedding videography. A ticket to humility?

I would also recommend a Zoom H3 to go along with the wireless and the miniDisk recorders in your arsenal. The Zoom uses an SD card for storage. It has no moving parts (contrary to the miniDisk). So the battery will last longer. It also has 4 mics built in and can capture pseudo 'surround sound' if necessary or simply stereo. With the built-in mics it's not practical for the groom or pastor. But great for setting up in front of the strings or in front of a live band at the reception. It comes with it's own little stand and also a screw-in handle that will fit into a mic holder on a standard mic stand. USB download to the computer.

Also, for receptions, make nice with the DJ or the sound guy from the band. Always bring a cable that will plug into your miniDisk or Zoom with RCA or 1/4" on the other end. Most DJs will let you tap off of their record-out on their mixer board. Having a clean feed of the toasts and the music is great. Then you can mix in as much or as little of your live camera mics as you choose in post to get the 'live party sound'.

For the record, I have 3 miniDisk recorders with Giant Squid mics, 2 Sennheiser wireless lav mics. One wireless has an additional transmitter that will attach to a handheld mic... Huge for getting impromptu interviews or just placing it in front of unexpected action you need audio for. I keep one channel on my camera on the handheld for the entire reception, and just carry it around sticking out of my pocket so I can use it on a moment's notice. For the ceremony, I put one wireless on the groom and one on the officiant. BTW.... if you are shooting more than one camera, split the two wireless feeds across separate cameras if possible. Avoid single point of failure. If the tape is bad on one camera, you still have the other wireless audio on the other camera. Then I also have the Zoom H3 for strings, piano, reader, soloist. Oh, and keep a small roll of gaff tape in you case to tape your mic to podium mics, etc.

2G

I am working on a "redo" of a wedding video. The official video was made 8 years ago and has very poor sound. I was given a VHS of the wedding made by the brides brother. I was able to add new footage and replace about 75% of the audio using his camera as the source. Made it a two camera shoot. Plus the brothers camera was a head-on view of the minister rather than the side shot rendering everyone but the bride as silhouettes.
It is always good to have multiple sources for sound. The big problem is all the noise that people make! Coughing, telling children to be quit, etc.

I did the same thing for a wedding reception video given to me two years ago, but that was a lot harder to sync because both cameras were turned off and on throughout the reception. It was great to be able to pick the audio to use when I had a choice.

Don't waste your money on a shotgun mic...about the only useful recording process with a horizontal shotgun is maybe an outdoors wedding...maybe. Instead, invest in a good wireless (be aware that in 2009 however, FCC changes could makes current UHF freq. problematic) and good/small 24 bit flash recorders like the Marantz PMD620. The marantz is a very small form factor recorder, great pre-amp, and is able to have its buttons locked (so it is not accidentally shut off).
Another great source of wedding videography:
http://www.videouniversity.com/forums/gforum.cgi?forum=16;

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. That really helped to direct my research although I still have alot of research ahead of me. It's always nice to get recommendations from people with experience.

Any suggestions for lighting in the wedding videography department?

Thanks again.
Leslie

I am primarily a wedding videographer.
I use a three camera set-up. Where I place them depends on the ceremony location and "house rules"- the bride and groom may not be getting married there again but I may have to shoot another wedding at that location, so you don't want to piss off any pastors or priests...etc.
I usually attend most rehearsals. Even if a wedding is a basic formula, common practices, each location may have a different way or time to do things. I get my camera possitions from watching the rehearsal. As someone mentioned above... you can plan on certain things happening but you never know. Guest interfierence is the most common and unpradictable obsticle.
As far as mics. I have a shotgun mic usually on the cam in the back. Lav Mic on the groom (sennheiser-might be spelt wrong). and stereo mic on my other cam at usually the front.
At the receptions, 100% make friends with the MC and the DJ's.
Lav mic at the podium-direct feed to my cam, cam hooked right into the sound board and one stereo ambiant - usually dim this right down during speeches.
Wedding videography is a very demanding and somewhat rewarding career. Rewarding in the praises of those who's live's you've captured, and emotionly touched. Not rewarding as far as money. I think I am at minimum wage if I price out how much time I spend on a video from start to finish.
I do love it though. You will learn something every wedding you shoot. That's for sure.
Best of luck.

Oh as far as lighting. I have two Bescor on camera lights with battery pack.... 20/40 watt on each.
Have also in the past used a portable 800 watt battery - the kind you can boost your car with.
A work light stand modified with a dimmable florescent spotlight plugged into it with a dimmer and remote control on off.
I can get a good 8 hours of light if I wanted too.
The beauty is, is that it's self contained. I put the lightstand on top of the battery and I can have light anywhere without messy cords for people to trip over.
I tend not to use it so much though, I have enought gear to lug without adding that too it. It is best to talk to the head of the hall and kindly request they don't dim the lights till their completely off.
Communication I find is the key to success.

"I would also recommend a Zoom H3 to go along ..."

I think you meant to say the Zoom H2. The H2 and H4 are the only two that I know of.

As I mentioned in an earlier post I have been in the process of updating my MD recorder to an MP3 recorder.

After a lot of research (and thanks to this thread) I've ordered a Zoom H2 and am eagerly waiting for it to arrive - it seems the most cost-effective solution for my needs.

Wayne

Woo Hoo - my Zoom H2 arrived today and I've got to say that I'm pretty impressed,

I have a wedding coming up in a week's time so that will be my first chance to try it out in a 'real' situation, as opposed to running around pointing it at the cat, the dog, my wife etc.

Wayne

I just did my first wedding....I wouldn't have known what equipment I would have needed without all your help!

I used two cameras: Cannon XH-A1 and my old Panasonic G200 (I think it is) as my stationary backup. I had the Sennheuser wireless mic on the groom. I bought a Zoom H2 (the audio on that baby was crystal clear!) I forgot about the shotgun mic until afterwards. But I can see why it's needed. (although I didn't miss anything because I forgot to get a better shotgun, but it's a good idea.)

That set up was perfect. I can see why the backups are so important since you never know what will happen and what kind of human errors I will make and I can't ever go back and get it.

Thanks for all the help and advice.
Leslie

Congrats, Leslie.

The guys who do live weddings I hold in high esteem. I've done live weddings with our TV Station's "ultimate wedding" promotions, and a lot of other live broadcasts, but we have a full crew, and a full rehearsal and setup, plus a lot of control over the situation. Most of my studio live stuff is stage or other music productions where I have some setup and control.

For my own studio use, that little Zoom H2 has saved my butt at live performances, especially as a backup device.

This December, I got caught in a situation having to tape a Messiah concert (audio only) at a church, and it was so last minute I couldn't possibly set anything up properly within the few minutes I had between being asked to do it, and the performance itself. I rushed home, grabbed the Zoom H2 and chanced using it by itself out in front of the production and used the surround mode to capture the audience "sing-along" to the rear.

You know, after tweaking the audio in Sound Forge for a while, the resultant concert turned out MUCH better than I had expected, and the music minister was absolutely blown away that I had done it using only this little self-contained gadget on top of a mic stand.

Enjoy your new career!

Tom

If I was willing to spend upwards of $500 for a recording device, is the Sony PCM-D50 the best there is for the price, or is it still unjustified? Most reviews I see are stellar for that thing. Are .wav files a pain in the butt to deal with or are mp3's just easier to deal with?

I really like the Marantz PMD 620. All I've read about the Zoom's is that the sound is fairly good, but build quality is sorta questionable.

Any thoughts?

My plans are to get a Panny HMC150, and then focus on good audio from there.

Brad, I can definitely say that $175 for the Zoom H2 does NOT buy a very sturdy build. One other slight disappointment is the USB 1 interface, which makes direct transfer pretty slow. That's not a biggee, as I take the SD card out and put it in a reader anyway, but you should know that going in.

Overall, I've been really pleased with the sound quality for the price point. I think the bass response is a bit lacking, but for what I use it for it's OK. I'd love to be able to directly compare it to the Sony's and Marantzes and others, though.

The multi capsule pickup is very interesting, as you have a 90 degree stereo image off the front, and a 120 degree spread off the back. You can record in 4 channel "surround" and have it record with the 90 or 120 individually as a 4 track record, record either the 90 or the 120 pattern by itself, or do a surround sum, which downmixes the 4 capsules to L/R 2 channel. That all makes it very flexible for various venues.

It has several different AGC/Limit functions, and sensitivity adjustments.

I've not recorded mp3 except as a test, but instead record in WAV for most everything.

I have noticed that the internal reference clock is off a bit compared to the 48K recording in the HDV cam, and I have to stretch the file slightly in Vegas in order to maintain sync over the duration of, say, an hour program - but I suspect that would be true of most of these types of devices.

Tom

I'm still using three iRiver MP3 recorders for weddings. Been using them for 4 years and none of them have ever lost sync. Too bad they discontinued the units with mic inputs.

@plasmavideo- Thanks for the insight.

Im leaning more towards the Sony PCM-D50 or the new Zoom H4n coming out. Both are impressive on paper, and I know Sony's is good because of sound clips I've heard.

Another question I have for some of you who are using digital recorders for officiating, vows, etc up front.....
where do you find unique areas to put these things that isn't distracting or tacky looking for the wedding party or to the audience? Other than handing the officiator a handheld and either holding it for the bride/groom or making the bride/groom hold the mic.....how and where do you put the mic to capture good clean audio?

Thanks!

On their lapels via a lavalier mic, both on the groom and officiant.