Trouble with audio when filming concerts! help!?

Since you are using an unbalanced (3.5mm, non-XLR connector) microphone (the Audio Technica ATR-6550), save your money and don't buy the BeachTek mixer, because it's designed for XLR balanced inputs. You could use the same money for a decent external audio recorder, as discussed in your other Q&As on this subject. (A good one would actually cost less than the BeachTek.) The Zoom H1 retails for less than $100 USD, and has the required 3.5mm input for your ATR-6550 mike.

That gives your boom mike operator the physical freedom you are asking about (get him a good pair of headphones to monitor the H1 recording signal). For differing interior locations you can use the H1's built-in stereo mikes with the whole recorder mounted on the boom pole. Just experiment ahead of time, and be sure to record enough "room tone" for editing into dialogue pauses.

And besides room tone, since you seem to be shooting scripted dialogue sequences, you can use the Zoom H1 to have the actors record their lines during camera & lighting setup time. This will give you backup audio dialogue for "looping" (similar to ADR or dialogue replacement) during the post-production phase. Meanwhile, I'd still recommend getting the audio input connection on your Canon T3i checked out, especially if it's still in-warranty.

Hope this helps --Dennis C.

If has become apparent that you need to learn more about video production. Take a class at your local community college. Take video production, not film.

This will get you shooting more quickly. You have decent equipment but don't know how or what to do with it. Very common since everyone thinks," yeah, I can make a video".

Knowledge is key here. I can take one of today's smart phones and make the same thing you will using superior equipment and get better results, because of my knowledge and skills. You don't need to believe me.

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