OLympus LS-100 Workshop

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Revision as of 13:17, 2 October 2013 by Krusea (Talk | contribs) (Recording Checklist for Single Narrator Recording)

Media Loan

  • www.evergreen.edu/medialoan
  • Bring your Evergreen ID with the current quarter sticker.
  • Make a reservation for equipment, stop by Lib. 2504, or call (360) 867-6253.
  • Test and confirm all equipment is in working order before leaving Media Loan.
  • Media Loan has SEVERE LATE FINES. Return equipment on time, or call to make a renewal. Follow up with an appeal form to negate late fines.


Late Fines assessed daily, per item
Equipment valued over $250 — $20.00 per day
Equipment valued under $250 — $10.00 per day
Keys and all equipment and accessories valued over $50 — $10.00 per day
Equipment and accessories valued under $50 — $5.00 per day



Audio Basics


Microphones

Microphone Types

  • Dynamic Mics
    • Can withstand louder noises, rugged pickup elements.
    • No power needed
  • Condenser Mics
    • More sensitive to quieter noises, and more delicate pickup elements.
    • Needs power supplied through a battery, or through phantom power on the recorder.

Microphone Pickup Patterns

  • Omni: picks up sound from all directions.
  • Cardioid: picks up sound from front:
    • Proximity Effect: low frequencies are boosted as mic is closer to the source.
  • Super-Cardioid: Picks up from front with a narrower pattern.

Microphones Categories

  • Handheld
  • Lavaliere: small clip-on attaches to clothing for vocal only recording.

Connector Types

  1. XLR = for professional balanced microphones.
  2. Mini or 1/8 inch = consumer microphones.

Mic Usage Tips

  • Use a stand if possible to reduce noise (table, or floor)
  • Listen for:
    • handling noise
    • proximity effect
    • popped p's
  • Signal to noise ratio
    • The closer you are to your source with your microphone the higher the signal to noise ratio
    • The further away you are from your source the more unwanted noise gets into your recording.
  • Perspective
    • Close up recordings produce isolated sounds which enhances the texture of certain objects and provides a narrow and close up perspective.
    • Recording at distances provides width and depth to your sounds which can provide clues to location, combined actions of objects, weather, ambiance, time of day, etc.

Media Loan Shopping List

  • Olympus LS-100
  • Mic cables
  • Headphones
  • Extension cables
  • Desk stand, floor stand, microphone handle
  • Microphones:
    • Recommended for vocal recording > SM-58, SM-57, Sennheiser 421, ECM-50 Lavolier



Olympus LS-100 Recorder

  • Digital audio recorder that records to flash memory cards.
  • It has 4 GB's on internal memory or you can use your own SD card.
  • 96kHz/24 bit linear PCM recording.
  • Two 90° stereo condenser microphones.
  • Left & right XLR / phone combo inputs and a stereo mini mic input.
  • When you are done you copy files off just like using a USB drive.

Record Settings

  1. Menu > Record Mode > Normal.
  2. Menu > Mic Gain > XLR (L) > LO.
  3. Menu > Mic Gain > XLR (R) > LO.
  4. Menu > Rec Level > XLR (L) > Manual > Limit/Comp Off.
  5. Menu > Rec Level > XLR (R) > Manual > Limit/Comp Off.
  6. Menu > Input Select > XLR/Phone.
  7. Menu > Rec Format > PCM > 48.0 Khz / 24 Bit.
  8. Menu > Low Cut Filter > 100Hz.
  9. Menu > Pre-Recording > Off.
  10. Menu > Rec Monitor > On.

Recording Checklist for Single Narrator Recording

Select a controlled and quiet recording location. Avoid noisy public locations (like restaurants, or areas near a road). If possible, eliminate background noises (turn off stereos, TV’s, fans, air circulation vents). A room with carpeting and furniture will typically sound better than one with hard floors (too much echo).

Check the Settings

  1. Insert tha battery.
  2. Turn on recorder
  3. Format card
  4. Plug in headphones. Turn the Rec Monitor on.
  5. Connect an external XLR mic to the recorder.
  6. Set to record 48 Khz / 24 bit, manual record levels, and set the Limiter to off.
  7. Set the Low Cut Filter to 100 Hz.

Make a Test Recording

  1. Press Rec button once - this will go in record pause mode
  2. Test the microphone placement, confirm if you are hearing the built in mic, or the external, any crackles, or hums, room noise, too close, too far away from the sound source?
  3. Set levels with the record level controls on the right of the recorder. Levels should be the loudest around -12dB
  4. Press Rec to start recording (counter will be running, record light will be solid)
  5. Listen on headphones
  6. Press Stop to stop recording

Playback the Recording

It is recommended to record some "room tone" to be able to insert any pauses needed later in post-production.""

Copying Files

  1. Connect provided USB cable to the computer.
  2. Turn on the recorder.
  3. The recorder should appear on the desktop as LS-100.
  4. Copy files from the audio recorder to a computer as you would from a USB drive. Protect the privacy of your recordings by deleting all files on the recorder before returning equipment to Media Loan.
  5. When finished click and drag the device icon to the trash before turning off the recorder.


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