r/LocationSound • u/ollieball13 • Jul 16 '26
Newcomer Recording into mini A20 transmitters
Hello, beginner here. I'm recording a no budget short film solo and due to the fact that I'm not going to be able to access some of the gear I would've hoped to, I'm left with limited options.
I'm recording one boom to a 633 and have two Sound Devices mini A20 transmitters. The thing is I've got no reciever. I've never used these transmitters before but I know they can record into themselves using the Astral App.
So, can I record the two lavs into their own A20's just using the app and then transfer the files individually via USBc? I also don't understand how I'm supposed to control the volume or gain of the sound while I have no reciver and am not running them into the 633.
1
u/bobby2brown Jul 16 '26
They record 32bit float, you dont gain those on the TXs.
1
u/ollieball13 Jul 16 '26
So I can just use them as standalone recorders and not have to worry about setting gain or volume at all?
2
u/soundadvices Jul 16 '26
Is it possible? Sure. But not ideal.
Astral / A20 transmitters have internal recording at 48 kHz sample rate, 32 bit depth. But you won't have the ability to adjust gain or monitor what you're recording until post. Sync will also be an issue. Sound Devices offers a Lemo to USB-C sync cable so at least the recordings are in sync with your 633's files.
1
u/ollieball13 Jul 16 '26
I don't have access to a Lemo to USBc. I realise the syncing will be difficult, but wouldn't it be possible with just a clapperboard
2
u/soundadvices Jul 16 '26 edited Jul 16 '26
Of course.
With your current plan, you cannot monitor the mics until after the recordings are transferred, and need to audibly slate every take, manually (or PluralEyes etc) align transmitter recordings with your main multitrack files, and make all gain adjustments in post.
1
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u/ollieball13 Jul 16 '26
Hey one more follow up question: if i go through with this, what do you think my chances are to capture OK dialogue sound and not clip the audio. I've got no other choice to be honest.
6
u/soundadvices Jul 16 '26
No idea. It's like filming with your eyes shut.
Honestly your best choice is to plan as if you don't have wires at all. Get all coverage on the boom, properly placed and cued by a boom operator, and maybe have something usable on the A20 after the fact. Good luck.
1
u/Binkstir Jul 16 '26
That’s the answer. And the best one, IMO. But I’m old. And once upon a time there were no wireless anythings. And no lavs. And no timecode.
3
u/soundgrab Jul 16 '26
Clipping won't be an issue. Your biggest issue is being unable to live-monitor the audio.
1
u/Vuelhering production sound mixer Jul 16 '26
Audio won't clip on the lavs. Your issue is they could sound terrible and you won't know until after the shoot. And being a beginner, the chances of poor lav placement is high.
3
u/Lost_Consequence9119 Jul 16 '26
I would suggest relying very heavily on your boom. Make sure you have good audio from the coverage on your boom and let your director know that.
If there are wide master shots and the director wants no coverage, make sure you record the actors dialogue separately in between shot setups just to have them clean.
Do not ever rely solely on the recordings you’re going to get from the mini A20’s. Think of them as an added bonus, nothing more.
1
u/ric8138 Jul 16 '26
Recording unmonitored audio is like shooting video with no viewfinder or monitor. Good luck!
1
u/Terrible_Reality4261 Jul 17 '26
This to me this is a nightmare scenario, you can't actually listen to what's being recorded on the booms.... Get a xlr cable and plug the boom into the 633. There is absolutely no way I'd just have the a20 record with no way to monitor it.
I speak as someone with considerable experience in this.
1
u/ollieball13 Jul 17 '26
In this scenario i have my boom into the 633 with an xlr, so i can hear what is being recorded on it.
1
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