u/Legitimate_Guava_218

I'm a starting recordist and doing my first student/no budget indie gigs to build up network and xp. In the end I'd like to be a boom op. I've picked up a used SD 442 and a Tascam DR680 mkII as it was the cheapest setup I could find, and use an Oktava MK012 hyper cardio or a Sennheiser MKH416. I record ISOs so I don't have to worry about any mix and can focus on booming during takes. I don't have enough gear to give director and continuity monitoring anyway (yet) so not mixing on set isn't that much an issue.

Every day I setup my gains the same way aiming for around 0 dbu on the 442 meter, then I equalize the Tascam levels to match the SD ones. During takes I monitor the mixer, master fader is at 0, monitoring fader is right up at noon, and it's like I can hear everything clearly, loudly, every single noise, every fabric movement. And sometimes I feel I'm getting noisy useless recordings. I did a bit of post during my training course, so I know how much you can clean up sound now, but still I feel like I'm way far off the ideal recording of having only the performance and nothing in the background. And I don't turn down gain because I was told to push it as high as I can to have the best signal-to-noise ratio, as it's the preamp role to do so and they're good at that. Hence to 0 dbu gain setup, and aiming to not go too much above 12 dbu.

But then after shooting I listen to the recordings (I have to because the Tascam take naming system is clearly being pushed past its limits so I have to rename every single file by hand), I use VLC on my personal computer, my DT 990 Pro, volume is at 100% on the OS, 125% on VLC, and the level is clearly not the same. It feels average, almost too quiet given the playback settings. It feels a lot clearer too, like I can still hear the stuff that bothered me but couldn't do anything about on set (fridges in a restaurant for example) but the overall noise level feels way down, like a proper recording that still needs post of course but at least I could say "yeah this is the best I could do, I'm satisfied by the result".

So is this normal? Is this how it's done and I must train my hear some more to be able to better listen on set and detect what's acceptable and what's not? Or is there a problem somewhere in my technique, my setup? Is it maybe just a consequence of my playback setup and a proper mixer with ProTools will hear everything like me on set?

Warning: very light spoilers ahead, I think?

I've not finished the game yet, got all DLCs, I think I have one archipelago left both on the main story and the capitalist expansion, I'll see if the game surprises me with more. I haven't touched the second DLC, I am not 100% everything in my path, I go as I want, chilling and upgrading as I see fit.

I wasn't a particular fan of eldritch stuff nor a fan of the North Sea and not even interested in fishing, but here I am loving the game so far. It may be a bit repetitive at times, but it mainly comes from long play sessions, the short "end of my day chilling in bed" ones are awesome, the Switch is definitely a good console to run it.

But. I feel like as the game progresses it loses charm. It has plenty of charm and character all around so losing some isn't a big deal, but the start of the game, being stuck in the first zone, being slow as fuck, not seeing anything, not understanding anything about what's going one, feeling like the world is dark and huge and ready to swallow you whole if you go into the wrong creek at the wrong time, man these feels were immaculate.

With progress you gain abilities, speed, confidence, and the game doesn't feel quite the same anymore. It's more relaxed, exploration, discovering the characters and all the small storylines that makes a world feel alive. There isn't really dread or tension anymore.

Does anybody feel the same way?

Please be careful with spoilers

No damage support oriented Rogue Thief: what homebrew modifications to enable it?

I have this idea for a rogue thief that doesn't do damage in itself, but is a disruptor in the battlefield. The current class is almost there with its Utilize as a Bonus action, use of manacles, rope, caltrops and such, good movement, overall utility.

But rogues are mainly built around Sneak Attack, and not using it feels like a waste. Cunning strikes are awesome, but until level 14 you won't be able to convert all your sneak attack damage into utility/support.

Also I don't know if the current system, the class features + thr available adventuring gear, supports the concept well enough into higher tiers of play.

Take into consideration that:

\* I like my martials spell-less. I get the current meta around thieves and scrolls, but I'd prefer not going that way. I like class features and physical stuff that weighs in the inventory, that you have to buy or craft or find.

\* The campaign will probably last until level 15

\* We're working together with the DM on this (3rd long form campaign together, last one we created a homebrew class together on my initiative for my character)

So, what would you do?

I have this idea for a rogue thief that doesn't do damage in itself, but is a disruptor in the battlefield. The current class is almost there with its Utilize as a Bonus action, use of manacles, rope, caltrops and such, good movement, overall utility.

But rogues are mainly built around Sneak Attack, and not using it feels like a waste. Cunning strikes are awesome, but until level 14 you won't be able to convert all your sneak attack damage into utility/support.

Also I don't know if the current system, the class features + thr available adventuring gear, supports the concept well enough into higher tiers of play.

Take into consideration that:

* I like my martials spell-less. I get the current meta around thieves and scrolls, but I'd prefer not going that way. I like class features and physical stuff that weighs in the inventory, that you have to buy or craft or find.

* The campaign will probably last until level 15

* We're working together with the DM on this (3rd long form campaign together, last one we created a homebrew class together on my initiative for my character)

So, what would you do?

Hi I'm a debuting sound engineer after a small career in IT, I want to go into filmmaking, and I'm going to have my first shootings soon. It's all student/no budget films, small projects small teams, getting experience and building network kind of stuff.

If I know there'll only be one mic the boom one, no lav, I'm the only sound guy on the team, what are the arguments against going with just an HF transmitter on me and receiver on the mixer, for a lighter setup?

I've got my own second-hand gear, as it's easier to find these kind of starting gigs when you're equipped, based around an SD442 + Tascam DR680 mkII (cheapest gear I could find). So my bag is technically portable, but can get kind of heavy. And I haven't had enough budget for a good quality bag so I'm stuck with a small kind of uncomfortable one, with a singular shoulder strap only.

If I'm only ever going to need one mic I'm thinking there'll be no need for mixing while shooting, so no need to have the mixer and recorder on me.

Apart from not having the recorder directly accessible, so having to walk back and forth between each take, are there any major downside not worth the increased comfort?