Matt James Smith ?

Here's the desk setup: I'm trialing the numeric keypad with macros before I splurge on a Stream Deck.

In case anyone is interested, I've just set up a £40 Korg NanoKontrol2 for colour correction in FCPX, using the free Command Post app (which is a new discovery for me and fantastic if you're using FCP). I followed the vid above to set it up initially but spent yesterday afternoon on my own configuration using the Color Wheels (just brightness & saturation) rather than the board (which I've mapped for my own reference - see image below). So far I'm very happy - it's a pretty solid MIDI controller and Command Post seems pretty stable. It's only useful for correction - I won't be doing much grading with it - and couple of other things (clip volume, keyframes, timeline zoom) but to have physical controls and not have to fiddle with the mouse and keystrokes so much is great.

Folks I'm looking at getting a Stream Deck to use with FCPX - my setup is currently a standard keyboard and Kensington trackball. Do any of you have advice on whether to go with the standard size or the XL? I like the idea of having the smaller model to the left of my keyboard (flat) and being able to use it by touch without always looking at the keys. If I went for the XL I think it would sit behind my keyboard on the stand, which may be fine if having more keys is really useful. I'm just not convinced I need that many keys. All input appreciated!

Just grabbed a used SVMX on eBay. It’s in pretty rough shape cosmetically but I got a decent price (£290) and doubt I’ll ever be looking to sell it on so as long as it works perfectly I’m happy. Thanks for all the advice everyone!

Exactly the same - I have the mke 600 as my main mic and really don’t need to add another big mic to the rig. The AT8022 looks really nice - if I knew I just wanted a stereo mic to swap out with the 600 sometimes I’d go for it.

This guy has several videos. If you skip towards the end of this video to the shots of the lake, you get a good feel for the wide soundstage of the mic.

I'm looking very closely at the AT8022 as an alternative to the Rode SVMX. I really like its wider soundstage (120 degrees vs 90 on the Rode). It doesn't quite match the SVMX in terms of SNR, DR or SPL, but I've never been one to care that much about spec sheets. What I don't like about the AT: No custom/obvious windfurrydeadkat thing available, though I'm sure with enough research Rycote will have something (but adding to the cost). If I want to use it alongside my shotgun, I'll need to make room for a second suspension thingy on the rig - and the whole setup might start getting a bit overwhelmed with mics. I like that the SVMX is compact and self-contained with a built-in hotshoe mount. But I do really like that wider soundstage of the AT - what I've heard is very 'enveloping', which is what I'm after.

Have to admit I wrote off the Canon DM-E1 but will take a proper look. Will also look at the AT Pro24, which I probably just wrote off based on price. I have the Rode Micro but its no good as like most 'proper' cinema cameras the C200 annoyingly doesn't offer plug-in power via 3.5mm. The Canon and AT do use batteries though I think.

Hang that, it actually looks like the AT8022 does allow 3.5mm - interesting!

Yeah I looked at that one. I was hoping Deity might do their own version of a Rode SVM (seeing as Rode have nicked a fair share of Deity's designs!) but the Duo seems to be intended as a front/back mic and I assume they're not a 'matched' pair that can be mounted at 90 degrees to simulate a figure-8/binaural type effect. On that note though I have vaguely considered making a binaural rig thing with a stereo pair of omni's going to a 3.5mm, atop the camera. I think handling and camera noise would be an issue though unless I came up with a really elaborate rig.

BTW I have to say I really haven't liked what I've heard from the MKE440 at all. I may be biased because I had an MKE 400 (the mono version) a long time ago - it was cute but it was useless. My main audio kit is all Sennheiser though - if they did a mid-range stereo option I'd jump on it, but I've concluded the 440 is very much an expensive low-end mic. May take a second look just to be sure though ...

The BP4029 looks really very nice (a cheaper alternative to the Sunken CMS-50 mentioned above) and if I was going all-in on sound-only field recording I'd definitely be looking closer. But for now it's a bit pricier than I'd like and it doesn't have a direct 3.5mm option. I'm starting to think my requirements limit me to to the Rode's - SVM Pro, X and NT4. BTW spl measurements are out of the question 😉 - I'm turning up to places I don't know and shooting on the spot. It's mostly external suburban/rural without heavy machinery or nearby vehicles etc so mid-range levels I assume.

Yes this is what's making me consider the lower end (& cheaper) Rode Stereo vm Pro. Like you say once it's in the mix and just ambient with visuals, quality may not be a huge issue. I do however want to shoot some extended ambient-sound only scenes, with fairly static/ uneventful visuals, that will be shown in a cinema space. The footage will be 4K RAW derived so I'd like the audio quality to not be obviously incongruent. But ultimate quality is definitely not vital. I'm just trying to find the sweet spot and I'm not sure about the RSVm Pro - the X sounds significantly bettering online tests to me. I get what you're saying about EQ etc but there's no question the X is a big step uo n quality from what I've heard.

Yeah I'm currently trying to figure out which recorder has the best XY mics built in, and how simple it'd be to mount it with a line-in to the camera, but I'm loathe to complicate my kit any further seeing as the C200 has 4 tracks and good preamps.

Yes I've done a bit more research and the two AT's you mention seem to be the best option in the same price range as the Rode SVMX and NT4. I like the look of them but like you say there's not much info out there on their quality. Also need to make sure there's a decent furry option. The big issue though is as far as I can see they're phantom power/ XLR only, which means I couldn't use them straight to camera if I also wanted to record dialogue etc.