Mic suggestions?

[Locke]

Well, I will be purchasing a XH-A1 very soon (would have gone with the HVX200, but sadly I can't afford the solid state memory). I'm planning on shooting some 90 minute features once I'm all organized. What would you suggest as a good shotgun and/or boom mic?

Thanks!

 

[Bob Kessler]

You didn't mention your budget so here's some favorites in their price ranges.


Schoeps CMIT5U - about $1900

Sennheiser MKH-70 - about $1500

Sennheiser MKH-416 - about $1100

Audio-Technica AT4071A - about $650

Sennheiser ME66/K6P - about $475

Audio-Technica AT897 - about $250



Remember that there are long shotguns and short shotguns. NEITHER is your best choice for interiors. For interiors a super-cardiod condensor mic is a pretty good choice, something like the Sennheiser MKH-50, about $1350.

Also keep in mind that you will need a boompole, shockmount, windjammer, cables, headphones and a bunch of other accessories.

Check out my blog on production sound here:

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.ListAll&friendID=111888913

Then PM me with questions.

 

[Locke]

Thanks for the info. I'm looking for a good mic to learn on. The best way to learn is simply by doing. I'm looking for something roughly under $300 that I could use in most situations (interior and exterior shoots). Any more suggestions on what and where to look would be appreciated. I am definately investing in a wind jammer. I've worked on a few projects and one of the most annoying things I've dealt with is excess wind and background noise from traffic. Any ideas on where to find one cheap?

 

[Bob Kessler]

Figure about $600 to $700 by the time you are done.

You can get a "complete" kit for about $500, you'll spend another $100 to $200 on the windjammer, cables and headphones.

You can make your own boompole with a painters pole or a light bulb changer. That will save you some money.

Instructions for making your own boompole can be found here:

http://www.number28.com/backlot.html

 

[Locke]

What do you think of the Azden SGM-1X and the SGM-2X? Nice prices, but do they perform?

 

[Bob Kessler]

What do you think of the Azden SGM-1X and the SGM-2X? Nice prices, but do they perform?

The SGM-1X is a short shotgun, the SGM-2X is a long shotgun. They sound okay.

Personally I would go with the Rode NTG1 (about $250) or the Audio-Technica AT897 (about $275). Both short shotguns, they sound good and they're built fairly ruggedly.

 

[ralck]

You could also look at the NTG-2 from Rode. It's just like the NTG-1 but can be battery powered as well, so you won't need a mixer and phantom power source (which can really bring up the cost). Unclebob actually recomended that one to me and I ordered it. It will be arriving at my house sometime today.

Just so you know, buying that microphone (and shock mount and 1.5' cable in a kit from B&H), getting long XLR cables (20' and 50'), a boompole (DIY from the link Unclebob suggested), monitoring headphones (Sennheiser HD-280 Pros, 60 bucks from ebay), a Beachtek DXA-4 XLR adapter (because my camera doesn't have XLR input, yours may) all cost me around $500ish. I originally thought I would be able to do all that for around $150-200, but Unclebob explained to me why I shouldn't skimp on sound and once my microphone gets here and I can start playing, I'm sure I won't be dissapointed. I haven't got an omni-directional mic yet, as my next 2 projects are 95% outdoors, so I'm waiting a little longer before buying that, but I will be buying that at some point.
One thing to keep in mind, is that sound is often considered about 70% of a film, with the editing/acting/film/etc being the other 30%. So basically, make sure your sound is good quality because that could make or break a film.

Unclebob sure knows what he is talking about and gives some great advice.

 

[Eilam Hoffman]

As Bob said get an MKH-416 if you can.

A second hand Sennheiser MKH-416T will cost you about
$350-$400. This mic was used in many Hollywood features. You'll also need to get a 48v phantom power convertor ($50-$30).

 

[Carlos E. Martínez]

As Bob said get an MKH-416 if you can.

A second hand Sennheiser MKH-416T will cost you about
$350-$400. This mic was used in many Hollywood features. You'll also need to get a 48v phantom power convertor ($50-$30).

If I am not wrong, the 416T version is for T power, not phantom. They are incompatible.

You need a P48 version.

But there's a PSC tube that will convert 48v phantom onto T power. It's around $50.

 

[Eilam Hoffman]

Carlos E. Martínez, you are absolutely right and you also repeated exactly what I wrote in your quote :wink:

Look above the Sennheiser MKH-416 (P48 - new version) will cost you around $1100

The MKH-416T and the MKH-416 P48 are the same mic and will sound identical to each other if you add the power adapter.

BTW, the T version is 12V

 

[Carlos E. Martínez]

Carlos E. Martínez, you are absolutely right and you also repeated exactly what I wrote in your quote :wink:

Well, not exactly. You were not too clear on your explanation on what was what, and I tried to put things right without getting too technical.

The MKH-416T and the MKH-416 P48 are the same mic and will sound identical to each other if you add the power adapter.

Once again, this is not quite right. When the P48 version was released, we made some tests comparing T/AB version with P version, and the former sounded a bit better. Don't ask me to explain this, but it was so. Of course it was a subjective test, but you could identify the mics even if you changed cables and all that.

BTW, the T version is 12V

T/AB power is not only 12v, but a different way to power mics, and it's incompatible with phantom, even if the latter is also 12v.

 

[Eilam Hoffman]

AFAIK these 2 versions use the same internal components. They sound identical to my ears, it could have been an issue with your converter.

 

[Carlos E. Martínez]

AFAIK these 2 versions use the same internal components. They sound identical to my ears, it could have been an issue with your converter.

No, there were no converters involved. They were connected into the Nagra IVS recorder, which could power T or phantom mics.

And they do not use the same internal components, as polarizing is done in a different way.

I haven't done the test with the P48 and T + converter yet.

 

[Eilam Hoffman]

Thank you for your input Carlos E. Martínez :wink:

Back to my point now. Get the 416T if the budget is low, it's the same mic with a converter for a lot less.

 

[tothemetal]

a Beachtek DXA-4 XLR adapter (because my camera doesn't have XLR input, yours may)

I've actually been looking into these XLR camcorder adapters. Here's a summary of what I've found:

www.beachtek.com - Mounts to camera. Various passive adapters. Some with phantom and audio meter. New unit with preamp (DXA6HD).

www.juicedlink.com - Mounts to camera. All include preamplifier. Options include phantom, 2-4 XLR inputs, audio meter.

www.studio1productions.com - Doesn't mount to camera, and no phantom or preamp option. Option for 3 XLR input. Plastic case.

www.signvideo.com - Mounts to camera. No phantom or preamp option. 1 and 2 XLR input options.


The juicedLink website has an interesting demo video, showing how a preamp can reduce camcorder hiss while recording fine audio detail:
http://www.juicedlink.com/index_fil...ter_audio_mixers_Beachtek_demo_comparison.htm