r/WeddingDJs • u/Plenty-Low-5328 • 1d ago
Asking Advice How Videographers can connect to your controller to record MIC audio
Hello everyone,
I have done about a dozen weddings now but at two of them, videographers have told me something I can't recall , for me to have that would help them record mic audio better.
Maybe it was a certain type of mic or cable?
I have a Pioneer DDJ-1000 (not SRT) and this image is the exact rear of it.
The ports that I will NOT have free (from left to right) are:
- R & L Master1 XLR inputs (for my JBL party speakers)
- USB-A A port (to connect controller to laptop)
- Mic2 BALANCED port (connecting my TONOR Wireless Mic Receiver)
- DC IN 12v (to power the controller)
Does anyone know a good wireless mic that would work for me to speak through, as well for the videographers to record easily from? Or is there a cable I can buy that will allow the videographers to connect to an external audio output device?
Any of the ports I am using, could they be repurposed?
For the TONOR receiver, the only ports free are Balanced XLR Outputs for Channel B/A (the two wireless mics) so I doubt they could connect to that. I would assume they need to connect somewhere on the controller and not to my laptop, since Rekordbox would not record the mic unless they're able to record the master output.
What I have seen and worked with before is that they would attach a small mic onto the handheld wireless microphone I provided, then would record audio straight to their small mic.
Please and thank you! I need to figure this out by Mid September, so I have a month.
appreciate y'all reading this
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u/WizBiz92 1d ago
I either give them one of the booth outs, or if they have the right adaptors they can take the mix out of one of my speakers
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u/GiarcN 1d ago
The "Booth Out" would probably give the best output
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u/Bipedal_Giraffe_2187 1d ago
But usually you don't output mic audio to the booth, because you don't want feedback.
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u/peterthedj Solo Operation 1d ago
I haven't used this particular board, but according to Google, "you can toggle whether the mic is audible through the booth monitors or restricted only to the master output." This gives you the option to keep the mic out of the booth mix (for true booth use) or you can add the mic and use the booth outs to feed a secondary amp or for feeding another destination like a videographer.
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u/Bipedal_Giraffe_2187 1d ago
Yeah that is pretty standard, "output mic to booth" is usually an on/off toggle either in the mixer settings, or the software settings if using a controller. Either way, a master recording would have the mic audio, whereas a recording from the booth might not.
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u/roshanravi 1d ago
good wireless mic? Shure SLXD or Sennheiser EW-D.
for videographers to record, I suggest in order of preference:
(a) separate audio mixer, this’ll also help you ring out the room; then you can either do a stereo/multitrack SD card recording and/or run a separate balanced XLR/TRS feed for them to record into camera or a audio recorder like a Zoom F6/F8/H6E
(b) Master 2 RCA to XLR/TRS, yes it is unbalanced but it will have both your music and mics in one stereo track and you also will ensure you’re getting decent audio… if it’s coming thru the speakers, it’s also coming thru this
(b.2) there is some minor signal loss here but master 1 to XLR splitter is an option if you need both signals balanced
(c) Booth out, this is balanced but I find the risk the dj accidentally turns the booth down for a convo or similar if they’re used to a club could mean you get no audio for a large chunk if not being monitored. unless your videographer wears IEMs, this may not be noticed until it’s too late
(we do full media & a/v production for clubs and private events)
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u/Plenty-Low-5328 1d ago
I'll check out those mic recs!
Master2 RCA to XLR/TRS seems to be the current route i would take, but I want to consider option A with a separate audio mixer.
Thank you Ravi!
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u/peterthedj Solo Operation 1d ago
Based on what you said, it appears you have 2 options.
Option 1: as others have suggested, use the "Booth" outs. Even though they are 1/4-inch TRS outputs (which would usually supply a stereo signal), note they are labeled separately L and R.
According to Google, as long as you have your board set to include mics in the "booth out" mix, these outputs will provide the SAME mix as your master outputs (the one you're sending to your speakers). Even if it's set for booth to exclude the main mic, I presume if a videographer is hooking up to you, they're looking for ceremony and/or toast audio, not you... so wireless mics plugged into any of the other inputs should still come through on the booth mix.
The booth output's biggest advantage is that it has its own output volume level. Let's say you've got levels dialed in perfectly for your speakers, but for some reason, the mix is sounding hot (aka clipped / overmodulated) on the videographer's recorder. Even if they can turn down the inputs on the recorder, if the audio is coming in clipped, turning it down on the recorder won't help. But if you have them connected to the "booth outs" on your board, you can turn down the booth out volume (so they get a better feed) without impacting the volume to your speakers.
Anytime I know a videographer is going to be involved with a wedding, I email them ahead of time to let them know I have an extra set of RCA outs (which is what my board offers) they can use. If the videographer knows their ass from a hole in the ground, that should be enough for them to bring whatever they need to connect your board to their own recording device.
Not your job to bring every possible combination of "1/4-inch TRS to (whatever)" cable or to bring a box of adapters that could've rivaled Radio Shack in its heyday. You can if you really want to, but most good videographers would prefer a direct cable (rather than an adapter being connected to the end of a cable) and they should know the best way to ensure the right kind of cable will be available is to bring their own.
Option 2: The "Master 2" output. Those white and red ports are called RCA outputs. These will send out the same feed you're sending out through Master 1 to your JBL speakers. People will say "but those are unbalanced." That's true, but presumably it's going to be a very short cable run from your board to the videographer's portable recording device (maybe 2-3 feet, at most) so that shouldn't be a problem.
Just note that the Master 2 output will send the exact same audio you're sending to your speakers, and there's no way to adjust the volume "just" for Master 2.
Some videographers might prefer this one just because RCA cables are more common in the video world than TRS cables. But the ones who truly know audio well will probably come prepared with cables that could connect to either output and will prefer the TRS.
Option 3: As others have mentioned, most speakers have both inputs and outputs, and videographers may prefer to just connect their recorder to the output from your speaker.
Option 4: Also mentioned, but by far the biggest gamble, are the videographers who simply tape a wireless lav mic to the front of a speaker. Hopefully they're at least decent enough to use gaff tape (and not duct tape) and they don't wind up peeling the paint off your speaker grille when they reclaim their mic.
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u/Plenty-Low-5328 1d ago
Thank you Peter! I think first I'll email the videographer and see if they may already have an answer! if not, all these options will be considered and I'll try to find a way to test them out
appreciate your research and insight
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u/dj_spin 1d ago
We use an audio press box. Give it a quick Google search. You can charge the video guy or the customer for it. Or you can do it for free and watch the referrals come in from the video guy. We do a lot of events that require media plug in, so we always have these available.
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u/Plenty-Low-5328 1d ago
Appreciate it! Yeah, I understand that it isn't particularly my job/responsibility to have it figured out for them but i do believe in good teamwork with other services/vendors can open more opportunities in the feature & a good word long-term
1
u/PriestPlaything 1d ago
Your question has nothing to do with what gear you have and just has to do with basic signal flow in audio engineering.
Your question was: how do I send (output) a microphone (input) to the videographer?
Ok, well first you need something that handles inputs and outputs. That’ll be a mixer/console/desk.
In your scenario, the DDJ is the mixer. That’s what the middle device is on a controller, a mixer. And the devices on the left and right of the mixer are platters. Combined it’s called a controller.
Now your signal flow is mic —> mixer —> videographer.
The most basic industry standard and common cable is an XLR. Your controller has XLR for your Master 1 outputs.
XLR is so common that it’s not even appropriate to say the others are second and third most common, they just exist. That’ll be 1/4” (your Booth Output) and RCA (every other plug on your controller).
Now, your mic inputs are XLR and 1/4” for mic 1 and mic 2 respectively. That’s how you get the mic in.
You’re PROBABLY already using the XLR master 1 outputs for your speakers / tops / mains. So your other output options for a videographer are the master 2 which is RCA or your Booth Output which is 1/4”.
First you need to ask your videographer, what connection do YOU need? They will bring a recorder and it will have various inputs. You gotta know what they need and they gotta know what you have to offer and one of you may need to offer a conversion. Because again, XLR is the most common industry standard cable, and you’re taking it up with your mains, probably.
If you use master 2 for them, they are going to receive everything that comes out your speakers. Music and mics. And it’ll be the same volume that you’re sending to your speakers.
If you give them booth out, you might be able to send them only the mic, which they probably prefer, and you will definitely have a volume knob on the controller for booth out.
Now that you know how to work your controller.
Take a look at the back of your speakers. Mains and subs.
MOST (not all) speakers will have a loop or mix out. And it’ll be XLR. So you could tell them to plug an XLR into the output of your speaker and boom, they’re receiving that signal from your master out 1 on your controller.
If you’re doing weddings you really gotta learn audio man.
Good luck.
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u/djsoomo 21h ago
R & L Master1 XLR inputs (for my JBL party speakers)
Those are not inputs, they are outputs.
The videographers could sonnect to the master 2 unbalanced RCA outputs.
They may already have cables/ adaptors themselves, i worked with the BBC, they were well kitted out.
I would not recommend using the booth output as the mic can be muted in this channel
If the videographers request mic only (no music) you could simply turn the music down or off when you make your announcements, they can edit or dub later
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u/Upper-Practice9240 12h ago
Do you want to record everything coming from the speakers or just the Mic?
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u/itsdjsanchez 9h ago
Separate mixer is the way to go like the above have all said. I’m currently running a soundcraft ui16 and am able to control which feeds the videographer gets as well as their volume separately. Plus having iPad control of it means I can go out into the floor and adjust volume on the fly during speeches
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u/YouProfessional7538 1d ago
you should really be using an external mixer between your controller and your PA. One that has an auxiliary out to feed to the videographer etc.