Sync Nikon camera's audio with an audio from a Voice Recorder like Sony UX560 or PX 470. Problems?

[Gustavo Del Vechio]

Hi

I have a Nikon D5100 camera and I'll try to record some videos. After recording a test and importing to Premiere Pro, I noticied the video is 1920 x 1080 px (Full HD) and source audio format (from camera's internal mic) is 48000 hz, 16 bit, stereo.

But I´m not thinking about using the audio from the camera's internal mic. Instead, I´m thinking to buy an external microphone, like Sony ECM CS3 ( https://amzn.to/2KqR8S0 )  and connect it to a digital voice recorder, like Sony UX560 ( https://bit.ly/2KqaFSS ) or PX470 ( https://bit.ly/2COIyIM ).

So, I would like to use the Synchronize option in Premiere Pro to sync the camera áudio with the digital voice recorder's captured audio.

I've read the default audio sample these digital voice recorders use is 44.1 khz and although I can change to 48 khz, the audio turns mono (does anyone has these devices to confirm this info???)

So my question is (I do not understand so much about audio): If I rec stereo 44.1 khz in Sony voice recorder and, inside Premiere Pro, I try to sync with the Nikon D5100 internal mic audio (the original audio from video camera, that's 48 khz), can I have problems?

Does anyone have these devices and can help?

Thank you a lot

Gustavo

[jasontcox · Accepted solution]

The answer is that USUALLY you will not have problems. But with so  many combinations of hardware recorders and cameras, once in a while, issues do pop up. But using either  the  Merge Clips command or the Make Multicamera Source Sequence command and  telling it to use audio to sync USUALLY works.

Worst case, if there  is an issue, you can use Audition to quickly and easily convert one of the files to a different sample rate and import that into Premiere.

[salvo34 · Accepted solution]

I use a nikon d800 (with atomos recorder) full HD. I usually have sound on in nikon ( sometimes with external rode mic plugged into camera sound input which is a little mic mounted on top of camera and 9V battery in it ). That's like an 'emergency' thing... if independent recording gets messed up somehow. I use tascam and rode shotgun and boom pole to record ( or H4N sometimes ).

The ONLY thing that is sure to work is using a little gadet called a SLATE... here's the type of one I use which is inexpensive. But I did have to tighten the screws on the clapper when I got it.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1226671-REG/dot_line_dl_v_ccb_color_clapboard.html

I usually shoot really simple stuff and just write SC and Takes on the thing real fast... and don't bother with the other info.

I agree with Jason that you can simply use audition to save your sound stuff as Hz, bit depth, and mono or stereo as you see fit...and if shooting 10 min or less time stuff should stay in sync well... these things are NOT crystal sync'd and pro tools ( especially considering frame rates used, etc. ) so the longer you record the more chance it will end up going out of sync eventually.

I have the talent do the slate for me ( they hold in front of face, clap it when I say so ) and that's the end of that.

I DON'T use auto sync or any of that stuff... because frankly it's stupid.

[salvo34]

PS. those specs for sound files don't effect the time duration... only the quality. I record WAV .. you should convert to that if you can.

🙂

[salvo34]

The basics of sound is fairly simple. Let's take two soup cans and empty them and drill a hole in bottom and attach string ( knot inside can so it can't come out when pulled tight ).. and one person speaks into a can while the other ( 10 feet away ) puts other can to ear... you can HEAR the person talking. The quality is not so hot, but if that person speaks for 5 seconds... the person who hears it is also hearing it for 5 seconds.

[Richard M Knight]

The cheaper and more 'consumer' a sound recorder is, the more chance it will drift in sync.

[salvo34]

put bmpcc on table of a room where I live and pointed it outside onto frozen lake in back yard.. ( several weeks early freeze this year ) and shot nice birds eating seeds etc... MOS ( or Mitt Out Birds in German).

bmpcc... sound in camera is totally useless.. 

can you make bird noises to overlay on the video ???? get stock sounds and or make your own bird noise ?

if they move their beaks and 'talk' it's a good idea to try to realize the travel of light and the travel of sound are not the same. For example, someone might shoot the birds with a shotgun and you will see the flash and the birds turn into burst feathers, and a second later you would hear the BOOM of the shotgun... gosh, think about THAT !

[Gustavo Del Vechio]

Thank you very much for the answers! That's what I need.

Thank you a lot.

Gustavo.