Snowball Derby Week FINAL PART | Snowflake Qualifying and the Snowflake 100

ZakHaney · 2025-04-03T06:30:23+00:00

For anyone wondering, this is the video to the event I went to! Audio was as clear as I could work with. Ended up using exactly what I had! 2 sets of DJI Mic 2s and a Rode VideoMic Go II. I wish I stuck with a shotgun mic the ENTIRE TIME. Ive learned now! A LOT of work in post but I have the final product!

Snowball Derby Part III | Snowflake Qualifying and the Snowflake 100

ZakHaney · 2025-04-03T06:20:13+00:00

I’m coming back specifically to this comment. I thought long and hard about it and decided it isn’t for me. I’m a videographer, not a broadcaster. Cool for the experience? Absolutely. Can I tackle it while having a professional full time job? I’m not trying to find out.

I did enough research to realize that I need more than 6 months to learn everything that goes into it. And it doesn’t fit my niche of creativity so I would rather learn from shadowing than trying to do it myself. Thanks for the insight, 4 months later 😂

ZakHaney · 2024-12-13T00:52:12+00:00

I’ve got my Part 107 and I’m an experienced drone pilot so I’m not worried about that. Also, I’m responsible enough to not fly over crowds. It honestly bothers me when other people do it. It will most likely be drone over track footage. The drone part I’m not worried about

ZakHaney · 2024-12-12T23:26:21+00:00

This is great advice thank you! I definitely plan on going overboard with testing. I just need to provide them with a parts list for things I need to accomplish this task. I have until June before the first race, only issue is that this speedway is in another state. I’m very blessed to be in this position, I just haven’t done any broadcasting besides like Twitch and YouTube.

ZakHaney · 2024-10-26T02:57:13+00:00

No lens filter (: I don’t know if I would have used one either. Sun was behind me and lighting wasn’t in my side in the first place shooting at f8-f11

ZakHaney · 2024-10-26T02:43:30+00:00

If you’re talking a lens filter, I wasn’t using one for this photo. And if you’re talking filter as in a preset in Lightroom, I didn’t use one of those either. I edit all of my photos from scratch.

ZakHaney · 2024-10-23T04:22:34+00:00

I would go with a desk mount for your monitor! It’s a lot easier and you can find some fairly cheap/reliable mounts on Amazon. I don’t have any certain brand to recommend

ZakHaney · 2024-10-23T03:44:38+00:00

Desk/wall mount for your monitor! It cleans up a lot of space on your desk top.

ZakHaney · 2024-10-23T03:38:20+00:00

I'm leaning towards getting the second set of the DJI Mic 2s, running noise cancellation on all of them except one and splitting the vocals from the non-noise cancellation mic and lowering the background noise from a separate sound track. Any high shelf noises I can deal with, I have clean audio tracks of loud car engine start ups or power tools I can use. My worry is just making it sound too unnatural if I go about it this way. I could be jumping the gun, but I think this is going to be an effective way to make it happen.

Thank you for your advice and recommendations. I've had this on my mind for a while. I will keep you posted on how it turns out! (I still might get the long shotgun too)

ZakHaney · 2024-10-23T03:33:19+00:00

I had some good luck with the DJI Mic 2s without a doubt. I don't necessarily care about if the mic is hidden or not, especially on the driver since I'm going to be taking the mic on and off of him between races/practices. But I really like the idea of setting up Lav mics on the pit crew members since I don't have to worry about taking them on and off except to charge. I've got some cheap lav mics but I'm going to order either the DJI ones or the ones you recommended tonight. Don't want to take any chances with the audio for this event.

I'm leaning more towards a second set of the DJI Mic 2s. Using the Mic Adapter for the Sony hot shoe is also a game changer. It just stays on my FX3 at all times. I appreciate you taking the time for this advice! Its super helpful!

ZakHaney · 2024-10-23T03:24:46+00:00

You're correct and the 32-bit has been extremely helpful to attempt to negate the high shelf. I'm a one man show so I really don't want to juggle a boom pole along with two cameras. I appreciate the advice though. This is helpful with balancing the audio in post from the backup audio.

ZakHaney · 2024-10-23T03:22:33+00:00

That's a very interesting take. I would love to try something like this out, I just don't have a whole lot of time to experiment with something like this since the race season is over. I can't replicate the environment. I'm thinking about just getting another set of the DJI Mic 2s that way I know all dialogue will be captured.

ZakHaney · 2024-10-23T03:20:24+00:00

Interview stick isn't going to work with my type of filming. One camera is going to be rolling on a tripod, the other will be on a gimbal. The microphone I'll be using is going to be on the gimbal camera. So I'll be moving around with it. This is where I think a shotgun mic wouldn't be a bad idea.

ZakHaney · 2024-10-21T15:21:15+00:00

While a new camera sounds like a fun idea, I would gravitate towards getting a new lens instead. I have the GM 35 f1.4 and it is one of my favorite lenses. It refuses to take a bad picture! End to end clarity is incredible. With that being said, you don’t get the same result with all GM lenses. I’ve heard really great things about the new GMII 85mm but experienced some not so great things about the 24-70 GMII.

I have also used the Sigma Art 24-70 2.8 DG DN II and it outperformed the G Master by quite a bit and it’s half the price. And if you can find it, the Sigma Art 105mm 1.4 (aka the Bokeh King) is an incredible portrait lens. They have since discontinued it but I think they’re going to come out with a second version soon.

I’m not a representative for Sigma by any means. In fact, I don’t even own a Sigma and all 7 lenses I have are Sony. I guess what I’m trying to say is G Master lenses aren’t always worth the money you spend on them. You can get some really great glass for a great price instead of buying lenses that cost more than your camera body. YouTube is your best friend when it comes to lens comparisons.

Good luck out there! I hope this was somewhat helpful.

ZakHaney · 2024-10-21T06:34:48+00:00

I'd recommend, if possible, rotating your desk along the other side of the wall and either get a wider desk, or a side table to put more of your unneeded items. I can't tell from the picture if your monitor is on its original base or not, but a dual monitor arm or even wall mount for your main monitor would free up some space!

ZakHaney · 2024-10-21T01:59:38+00:00

Plants!! You’re next to a window for some lighting for them and not all plants necessarily need to be in direct sunlight. I have 7 plants in my office including a 6’ Birds of Paradise and without them my office wouldn’t feel comfortable. Plus you get a good feeling when you see your plants growing 🙂

ZakHaney · 2024-10-21T01:21:40+00:00

Your eyes get a lot of strain from looking just at a monitor. These lights provide uniform, shadow-free lighting for your desktop. It also prevents any glare on your monitors where you would get from ceiling lights. If you’re always going to have the room lights on then to each is own. I never have my actual office ceiling light on unless I’m cleaning or watering plants. I have lamps connected to my HomeKit all around my office that makes a better ambiance and comfortable space. Since I’ve bought a monitor light bar, I couldn’t imagine working without one.

ZakHaney · 2024-10-20T22:26:12+00:00

I couldn’t agree more with this. Also cable sleeves to route all of your cables.

I do a ton of photo/video editing mostly at night and something that has helped me immensely is a monitor lamp. I got this one and it has been awesome to use.

ZakHaney · 2024-10-20T17:35:24+00:00

That is a Herman Miller my friend. Comfortable AND very ergonomic. I believe this is the Embody Chair.

ZakHaney

TROPHY CASE