RTV Camera and Audio Basics

January 9, 2020By Posted in: RTV Production Classes

A quick guide that explains how the Canon XF405, Canon 80D and Canon C100 are set up and how to get started recording.

Camera Presets

Most of our cameras come with presets put in manually or through an SD card. If these settings do not appear in your camera please have the lab monitor on duty load the settings for you.

  • 405 Presets: Manual Exposure, MP4 recording, 1920×1080, 23.98p, AAC 16-bit audio with 2 channels where input 1 is scratch audio and input 2 is open for other mics, Standard Stabilization, custom button set to change F-stop and shutter speed and gain (similar to ISO on this camera), peaking, zebra, manual focus. All audio inputs are set to manual so the student can control levels.
  • 80D Presets: Manual Exposure, MP4 recording, FHD 1920X1080, 23.98p, manual audio with 2 channels. This setup has to be done manually.
  • C100 Presets: Manual Focus, MP4 recording, 1920×1080, 23.98p, Audio Output monitor channels CH1/CH2 where input 1 is scratch audio and input 2 is open for other mics, peaking, zebra, manual focus. All audio inputs are set to manual so the student can control levels.

Formatting a SD Card

You should always format your memory card in the camera to ensure that there is no media on your card and that it will work with the Camera. If you are formatting a personal sd card, be aware that all data on the card will be deleted.

  • 405: Recording Setup>2> Initialize SD
    • Please note that the preset requires you to place your SD card in slot A as slot B is for loading menu settings for the Lab Monitor to do before checking out the camera.
  • 80D: Set Up> 1> Format Card
  • C100: Other Functions> Initialize Media> Complete
    • Please note that the preset requires you to place your SD card in slot A as slot B is for loading menu settings for the Lab Monitor to do before checking out the camera.

Frame Rate

Frame rate can change based on what you are shooting for, most cinematic looks are done with 23.98 fps.  These cameras have multiple options for frame rate and bit rate which will affect how large the media file is on your sd card. All of our cameras are set to 23.98fps which is close to cinema standard, 24fps. However if you are filming for studio 5 or 7 playback then you will need to switch the frame rate to 59.97i, or 29.97p.

  • 405: Recording Setup> 1> Frame Rate. Can also do 29.97p and 59.94p for MP4 and XF-AVC though 59.94i can also be done as an XF-AVC file.
  • 80d: Shoot> 4: Movie> Movie rec quality. Can also do 29.97p, 59.94p and can also do MOV files in 29.97p
  • C100: Other Functions>MP4>Frame Rate. Can also do29.97p and 59.94p if bit rate is changed.

White Balance

Lighting varies from 5600 (outdoor, blue) to 3200 (indoor, orange) Setting your white balance will ensure that your coloring is correct, this is especially important for skin tone. Our cameras have presets such as daylight and tungsten as well as custom options.

  • 405: main screen Function>K (White Balance). To set custom, fill screen with white balance card and try to place the card where the subject will be standing/where your lights are pointed. Press bow tie 1> Adjust> Set WB
  • 80D: Shoot> 2> White balance. To set custom, fill screen with white balance card and try to place the card where the subject will be standing/where your lights are pointed and take a photo. Shoot> 2> Custom White Balance> Choose the photo you just took> Shoot> 2> White Balance> Bow Tie> Set. This can also be done on the main screen> Q> K> Bowtie> Set.
  • C100: on the left side of the camera, press the WB button then use the joystick choose bowtie A. To set custom, fill screen with white balance card and try to place the card where the subject will be standing/where your lights are pointed.

Shutter Speed

Remember that your shutter speed should always be twice your frame rate. For us this means that if we are shooting at 23.98fps our shutter should be 1/48 unless told otherwise.

  • 405: Func> SHTR> scroll until you are on the proper speed. OR press custom until there is an orange highlight over the shutter speed> use the knob on the bottom of the camera to set the speed.
  • 80D: on the main screen press the number on the bottom left (this is the current set shutter speed> scroll until you are on the proper speed.
  • C100: on the left side of the camera press shutter button and use the joystick to adjust the shutter speed.

Gain/ISO

In order for a well exposed image with minimal noise you will want to adjust the gain/iso.  Adjusting these settings changes the light sensitivity of the camera’s sensor. Many cameras have a native ISO which is the preferred setting for the camera’s sensor.  For example, the c100 has a native ISO of 850.

  • 405: press the custom button until the gain (third option) is highlighted orange, then turn the knob at the front of the camera body till the picture is properly exposed. This can also be done through the Func> Gain> scroll until you are properly exposed.
  • 80D: press the iso button and use the knob on the top right of the camera to adjust until you are properly exposed.
  • C100: on the left side of the camera press the ISO button and use the joystick to adjust until you are properly exposed.

Audio

Adjusting your audio is important for post-production work and ensuring that your audio is clean in camera is the first step.  Remember all the cameras come with scratch audio mics which are not meant to be used as your main audio source.

  • 405: on the left side of the camera, ensure that the top notch is set to M, and that the second notch is set to input 1 or 2. Then ensure the third notch is set to MIC +48V as the microphones you use require phantom power. Headphone volume can be found in Audio Setup> 3> Headphone Volume.
    • Note that the volume on these cameras can be quite and most times you will have to turn the headphone volume up.
  • 80D: 2 channels are recorded at all time. To set levels Shoot>4: Movie>Sound Recording.
  • C100: on the left side of the handle is audio control area, make sure that the top notch is set to M, and that the second notch is set to MIC +48V as the microphones you use require phantom power. Then ensure that the third notch is set to EXT. as we will not be using the interior microphone.

MixPre Settings

Formatting the SD Card

You should always format the memory card pre-inserted in the Mix-Pre to ensure that no custom settings are on the device and that you have a clean card for recording.

  • Menu> SD Card> Edit> Format

Sample Rate and Bit Depth

You can only change your Sample Rate and Bit Depth in the Advance mode. The only reason this should be done is if you are recording for radio or require a higher Sample Rate.

  • Menu> Record> Sample Rate AND> Bit Depth

Phantom Power

This is used to provide power to condenser microphones. If the mic you are using is a condenser microphone on the main screen tap on the knob with the corresponding xlr input for your mic.  Press “phantom” to turn phantom power on.

  • Note: condenser mics in the lab: all shotgun mics, wired lavs, aputure mics in c100/fs7 audio packs, senheisser 416k in c200/c300 audio packs, perception mic, mxl770, Rode NT-1, rode NT-5.

Setting Levels

Dialogue should be recorded between -20 and -12db to avoid peaking or low audio.

  • In order to do this in basic mode you use the main knobs and will see the levels changing on the main screen
  • In advance mode you will need to press the main knob in to reveal the sub menu. Press the gain button so that it turns green, this is a preamp.  Using the small headphone gain knob on the side of the MixPre change the preamp to be the proper level.  Once all preamp gain levels are set the large knobs on the front will change the mixdown levels.

Transferring Audio Files

To get the files from the card to your computer USE THE PROVIDED CABLE!  Plug the cable into the usb on the computer and the usb-c in the Mix Pre.

  • Menu> System> File Transfer
  • Note: If the sd card does not appear on your desktop go into the MixPre Menu>System and ensure USB-C is set to Audio by pressing on it.

Download: Basic Cam and Audio