Digital Video - February 2008 - (Page 21) HOLOPHONE H4 SUPERMINI IN REVIEW WALL OF SOUND HOLOPHONE’S H4 SUPERMINI RECORDS THE WORLD IN 5.1 SURROUND. BY CARL MROZEK F or those who haven’t done one yet, creating a 5.1 soundtrack seems daunting, including recording all the raw audio needed to do so. Any sound recordist can attest to the challenge of juggling multiple mikes, a mixer and multitrack recorder on location. While surround-sound mikes have been around for years, most require a well-trained technician/operator for optimum results. The notion of a cameraman being able to record surround-sound audio, while also shooting, has been an impossible dream until recently, thanks to the H4 SuperMINI. Developed by Holophone of Toronto, Canada, the SuperMINI has suddenly AWARD OF mikes range from 20Hz to made the impossible plausible 20kHz, while the LFE element by combining the surroundspans 20-100Hz. EXCELLENCE sound mike elements with The magic of the SuperMINI Dolby Pro Logic II encoding in a comis that it uses Dolby Pro Logic II encoding pact, mobile package. to create two stereo tracks from six discrete audio channels. These can output to cameras and stereo recorders with FEATURES XLR, RCA or miniplug inputs via separate Unlike its H4 predecessor, the H4 adapter cables. The twin tracks can then SuperMINI, is so portable that it can readbe connected to the stereo audio inputs ily be mounted on most pro video camon any professional video camera, audio eras — even 1/3” camcorders. Its unique recorder, mixer, or other gear. In addition design blends the egg-shape of its larger to the stereo surround sound outputs, cousins (the H4 and H2) with a pre-amp audio can also be taken separately from and Dolby Pro Logic II encoder into a the L/R, LS/ RS, and LFE/C channels. Each package the size of a thick paperback, channel, as well as the external center and weighs merely a pound. mike, the zoom feature and 12dB pad The SuperMINI’s record head has six light up LEDs on the back control panel microphone elements that mimic a stanwhen initializing or when in operation. A dard surround-sound speaker configurasingle dial adjusts gain for all six channels, tion: L, R, C, LS, RS and the LFE compoand there’s a separate dial for the externent, which collects low-frequency signal center mike. There’s also an on/off nals for the subwoofer. These six separate switch for the latter, for the Zoom funcchannels feed into a Dolby Pro-Logic II tion and for the -12dB pad. A second encoder, housed within the SuperMINI Zoom switch on the left side panel probase. The frequency response of the five DV vides easy access during shoots. Both trigger the same enhanced forward bias in the center mike, whether the built-in element or an external shotgun (or handheld) mike is plugged into the center mike XLR. The H4 SuperMINI is powered by four AA batteries. Lead acid, rechargeable NiCads, nickel metal hydride and lithium batteries may be used, and can power the unit for more than five hours. An AC adapter is also supplied. Off-the-shelf headphones can be used via a stereo mini-jack to monitor the surround-sound recordings, thanks to Holophone’s Virtual Surround Monitoring. This enables real-time on-camera 3-D audio monitoring of the surroundsound field. Encoded signals can be recorded to any of a range of media and formats utilized by the camera or recorder. From there they can be imported into desktop editing programs capable of creating 5.1 sound tracks, such as Final Cut Pro, iMovie, or Vegas. The surround recordings can be imported as stereo tracks or may be decoded and edited in the original six channels using a Dolby Pro-Logic II decoder. The stereo recording can also be played through a home theatre system equipped with a Dolby ProLogic II, or compatible decoder. There, the six channels are separated and can be heard in their original state. IN USE I received the SuperMINI without a user’s guide, but getting started wasn’t a problem. After loading two sets of batteries in their respective compartments I slid the unit into the coldshoe on the handle of a JVC GY-HD250 camera. The hard part was snugging down the thumbscrew SCORE H4 SUPERMINI 5.1 PROS: Compact size, rugged, lightweight, provision for use with external mikes. CONS: Changes balance of camera, partially blocks view. BOTTOM LINE: Of considerable value to pros of many stripes. MSRP: $2,495 (Includes case, windscreen, AC adapter and cables.) CONTACT: www.holophone.com www.dv.com dv february 2008 21 http://www.holophone.com http://www.dv.com
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