Cheap, effective way of recording dialogue in a moving car

[Matt]

Hi,

A friend of mine is planning to shoot a short film project (to be shot on digital video), and she wants to shoot a scene in a moving car. She wants to get a decent recording of the dialogue, but without getting overwhelmed by the engine noise. She can't dub in the sound later, either (actors can't do any ADR; scheduling reasons).

The sound is probably going to be fed into the DV camera (though she may rent a DAT recorder and tapes, etc. if she has the extra money).

Any suggestions? Basically, it's got to be cheap and somehow capture the dialogue through the usual car noises.

Thanks!

[John Oteri]

In American Grafitti, the actors in the car had little lapel mics. You can see them in one scene I think.

You need a little wireless mic system with a built in limiter.

[Matt]

You mean lavaliers? I've never done any sound recording with them before, but would they work with a DV camera? I'm thinking that she should get a DAT recorder.

[Claviusb]

She shouldn't have any problems plugging in wireless lavaliers if she's got just half-way decent DV equipment from either Sony or Canon.

My question is, if she rents a DAT, what good is that going to do? The DAT audio won't be synced to anything! I believe the sound on most DV camcorders is recorded in stereo PCM, but I could be wrong...

[Matt]

Thanks for the info, Claviusb.

As for the DAT, yes, any synching would be done in post-production, but 1) it's really not that difficult to do, 2) recording sound on a DAT or analog tape recorder is pretty standard in the industry, 3) she may end up doing extensive post-production work anyway, and may do something like (if it isn't noticeable) using sound from different takes.

[Claviusb]

Originally posted by Matt
Thanks for the info, Claviusb.

As for the DAT, yes, any synching would be done in post-production, but 1) it's really not that difficult to do, 2) recording sound on a DAT or analog tape recorder is pretty standard in the industry, 3) she may end up doing extensive post-production work anyway, and may do something like (if it isn't noticeable) using sound from different takes.

I understand, as wild sound, but I'm imagining having to sync a whole scene that way... Whatever works!