How to use an UHF audio system better? Kevin Harper, a senior location sound mixer from the UK, and John E Fry, an award-winning DOP, shared their professional tips while reviewing Saramonic K9.
John E Fry, the awarding-winning DOP (on the left) and Kevin Harper, senior location sound mixer (on the right) reviewing Saramonic K9.
Summary of the Pro Tips
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Keep the passage between the mic and the talent's voice clean even if it were upside down.
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Set the aerials (antennas) apart and the space between the transmitter and receiver obstacle-free will give you more signal security.
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Add headroom to the gain by balancing the gains on the transmitter, receiver, and mixer.
Keep the Passage Clean for Clean Sound Pickup
In wide scenes where shotgun mics are not an option for sound recording, hiding lav mics on talents or objects near by is the only choice (better than none). The first rule of thumb for concealing a lav mic on a talent is that you keep the passage between the lav mic and the talent's mouth clean, so they are less likely to sound muffled. The second rule is experiment with different mic placement — sometimes you have to hide it under fabric and have the mic hanging upside down in a tie knot, under the collar, or underneath a shirt. Start with a place before the chest about 15 to 20 centimeters away from the mouth and adjust from there.
Keep the Aerials Apart for More Secure Signals
Saramonic K9 is a dual-channel audio system. So the receiver has two aerials on top. One of the benefits of the dual aerials is that the system can switch between the two for optimal signal pick up — in case one aerial and its matching transmitter were interferenced, the other antenna may pick up the signal transmission automatically. The redundant design paves way for a more stable performance.
To use this feature to its finest, the aerials are suggested to be pointed pararelly or spread-out in different directions. Do not cross the aerials - you may invite interference by doing this.
The correct and incorrect ways of using the aerials
Another tip for achieving a more stable signal performance is that there should be as few obstacle between the transmitter and receiver as possible. You may place the transmitter in the front pocket, instead of at the back, for a cleaner transmission passage — the body can block some of the signals.
Add Headroom to Your Gain Setting
"You want to add a bit of headroom for your gains. So you're not hitting any end stops or any limiters. Of course you don't want to lower the gain too much, otherwise, you have to boost it in the mixer and invite noise," says Kevin in the review.
Ask your talent to speak quietly and loudly and adjust the gain accordingly until you find the sweet spot. The gain can't rely on only one source - it can't be solely on the mixer, the transmitter, or the receiver.
Rule of thumb for setting the right gain is configure the gain on the transmitter first, then receiver, and mixer as the last step. A balanced gain setting should allow your recording to have the least self-noise. For vocals, the peak of the sound should fall between -10 dB and -8 dB. You may refer to this free tutorial for detailed instruction and other tips for better sound.
Conclusion
Having the best microphone system, the best mixer, and the best camera in the world will not automatically empower you to create the greatest content. Use the audio system well will elevate your content's overall quality — It can be about having the aerials pointed in pararell or separated directions for optimal signal transmission, keep the passage between the microphone and the talent's voice clean for better sound pickup, and set the gains right for a better sound experience.
The Availability of Saramonic K9
The Saramonic K9 is now available to worldwide users through the company's official online store. Or you may contact their local distributors for a free demo here.
