Help with audio settings for a Rode video mic.

[Karac Cano]

So I have the Rode Video Mic not the pro atm, and It has the -20 -10 and 0 db settings, my camera is the Canon Rebel T3i 18-55mm kit lens, and my software is both Final Cut Pro X and Adobe Premiere Pro cs6. I want to know what audio settings for the mic, camera, and editing software I should use in a semi quiet area with the occasional outside noise of airplanes and reckless californian drivers when I'm sitting still and talking to a camera with a normal pitch voice. (Note the microphone is a shotgun so it picks up a little of whats behind and a lot of whats in front) also best ways to reduce the background hiss noise from audio gain.

Thanks in advance helps a lot.

 

[Tarmack]

Test and find out?

You're asking a question that cannot be answered by a third party.

 

[Karac Cano]

Test and find out?

You're asking a question that cannot be answered by a third party.

I know everyones stuff is different but I'm asking people with a common setup if they have a set up that works good or any tips.

 

[Tarmack]

Your voice is different, your background noise is different, your room furniture is different, the echo will be different. I'm not kidding when I say test it out. Mics aren't a fire and forget kind of operation, and any new mic purchase needs care and attention in setup.

I'd start with your limiting factors. You need to pick your recording location/direction. Once you've set up the camera, then you can figure out where the mic needs to go. Is it in the frame, outside of the frame, above you pointing down(common for shotguns), or below you pointing up, etc. Then you hit record. Start playing with the db switches and your input volume and see how it comes out. You want the highest volume you can get, without the audio clipping. So run the sound track through Audition and see if you've got any clipping. Up the input volume until just before you see clipping happen. You've now calibrated your recording setup for your gear.