Celebrated Photographer And Video Director Puts Yamaha Pocketrak In The Frame

International celebrity music photographer and video director James Cumpsty puts Yamaha’s new Pocketrak CX Portable Digital Recorder in focus. James has enjoyed an illustrious career in music and media spanning 20 years and not only understands the importance technology plays in achieving the best visual and audio quality for his clients, but also how embracing new technology has helped him reach and remain at the pinnacle of his profession.

James explains, “My work comprises 50/50 stills to video and with more and more expected on web-sites and emerging playout systems, I am producing an increasing amount of content as well as standard portraiture. Interviews and talking about techniques are just some of the things that touring and studio based musicians can offer their endorsers and the public, through sites dedicated to specific products or brands such as magazines.

I really enjoy working with companies like Yamaha who are keen to promote their endorsees like Dave Weckl (Drums) & Antonio Forcione (Acoustic Guitar) who was demonstrating the new NX Nylon strung guitars recently). These companies have respect for the artist and great insight into the instruments themselves, which makes shooting on the day a pleasure.

Quite often when recording where you need vocals/ambient/DI's from instruments it is nice to get a simple mix, and this is where the Pocktrak CX comes in. The Pocketrak CX comes with 2Gb memory and can record in a multitude of MP3 flavours, and WAV format. It can record stereo Line-In signals from desks; you can plug a simple lavalier or shotgun microphone in, or you can use its built-in mics to record wild sound.

I have also found it ideal to record interviews that I am filming and it’s perfect for putting in the hands of journalists. Sometimes there isn't time to mic someone properly - or it is done whilst on the move.
The editing software allows you to match up sound sources on the timeline exactly, using their waveforms within fractions of a second. It is a great way of getting right in the action without trailing wires or Radio mic interference/drop-outs. Also when used close to the subject you manage to lose an awful lot of the background audio (which can be considerable at soundchecks!). So for example if I am filming on stage at a soundcheck and I want the DI/mics from an instrument or what is going to the FOH, getting a feed from the desk to the camera would be very hard - especially in the O2 Arena (very long lead), so being able to ask for the performance/demonstration to be recorded remotely gives you more options, it’s ideal.

And again if there are lots of different sources (soundwise) line level/mics, you can record the output of a mixer (even if it's going to your camera, it's great to have the backup).
Basically I would consider putting the Yamaha Pocketrak close to anything I am working on and just letting it run.