Shotgun mics

Okay.... I am looking for a shotgun mic.

I am going to invest in a good shotgun mic.... But I need some of your help.

I need suggestions on a good SHotgun microphone that I would put at the end of a boompole. I've been to certain websites that suggest mics that are over 1,000.00.

Is it really neccesary to spend 1,000 dollars?? I can't afford that. DOes anyone know of any really good shotgun mics that are around 200- 300 maybe even a bit more?

I have a Canon GL2.... (I pretty much spent my saving son that ).... I need the shotgun mic to be better than the mic on my GL2...

Thanks

 

Take a look at the Azden SGM-2X on B & H.

It's a great bargain at $220. Its a much higher quality mic than those the $60-160 range and holds its own against those in the $400-600 range.

My favorite feature is that it comes with two different barrels. A short omnidirectional barrel that comes in real handy, and an extension barrel making it a 16" supercardioid shotgun mic.

Plus it comes with windsocks for both barrels, and a shock mount with a shoe on the bottom to mount on your camera (I thought I would never use it off the boom but its such a good mic I use it all the time on my camera).

Some features:

switchable low-cut filter (helps if you shoot someplace noisy)
battery powered for 800 hours of use (no phantom power needed)


You will need a couple other items:

An XLR adapter like the Canon MA-300 ($180, the bnc connection is a cool feature) or the BeachTek DXA-4P ($170, I like this one better because it mounts underneath the camera so the cables aren't in your face).

Also a shock mount for your boom pole (the one that comes with the Azden doesn't tilt so its useless on a boom) like the Audio-Technica AT8415 ($50, good deal).

And in case you haven't found one, a good starter boom pole is the Gitzo G556 ($87).

Hope this helps.

 

I agree with ExFilms. Great mic. XLR is the only way to go when you want truly professional sound. Most people focus on the visuals of a film, but fail to realise how important a good audio track is.

 

Here is a good article on shotgun mikes
shotgun reviews

Skip

 

What do guys have to say about the Audio-technica AT835b? Though both look really good...

On B&H the photo for the Azden looks very weird... it doesn't look like a shotgun mic at all.... I know its just a picture but its throwing me off..

I know the Azden SGM-2x is Supercardioid and the Audio-TEchnica AT835b is Line + Gradient. Whats the difference?

I'm really torn bewteen these two right now... and I can't decide... I looked at that article above and that was posted and it helped somewhat but basically all it said was that they re both good... not which is better.

So if anyone can give me their opinion (or fact) on which one is better, it should help me make up my mind. I hear that the higher the price the better the mic... but the audio-technica is only like 20.00 more.

Also... My built-in microphone on my GL2 is pretty good... How much better is a shotgun mic on a boompole?

So... To sum it up...

1. WHats the difference between the Audio-Technica being Line + Gradient and the AZden being Supercardioid?

2. WHich one is better? In your opinion... or a known fact.

3. How much better is a shotgun mic on a boompole than my mic on my GL2?

 

It all depends on what type of Mic. you need. The GL-1 and 2's, have a very good omi-directional mic but that pics up a lot of background noise when your filming in a loud area. A shotgun mic helps kind of pinpoint it so you don't pic up the background noise. I ran into this problem a lot in the film I just finished. And to think we spent so much on camera equipment and didn't even think about the audio.

 

So the only time I'll ever really need my shotgun mic is when theres a lot of backround noise I don't want?

Makes sense.... but thats not very often.

What if I have two people in the scene talking... would I just move the mic back and forth??

ALso.... Which mic do you think it better?

Thanks.

 

I know theres people with enough knowledge to help me out. This fell off the first page so i"m bumping it...

Bumperroosky

 

"On B&H the photo for the Azden looks very weird... it doesn't look like a shotgun mic at all...."

Here is a better picture. It is the same diameter of the at835b but about an inch and a half longer. The picture on B & H shows both barrel lengths with the included windsocks on.

[image=http://www.avdeals.com/microphone/largeimages/SGM-2X.jpg]




"1. Whats the difference between the Audio-Technica being Line + Gradient and the AZden being Supercardioid?"

Nothing. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that's just Audio-Technica's word for supercardioid.



"2. Which one is better? In your opinion... or a known fact."

The Azden SGM-2X and the Audio-Technica at835b are about the same in my opinion. You'll probably get a different answer from each person you ask. I've used both, haven't noticed any difference. The better mic is the Sennheiser K-6/ME-67 package if you can afford it. The reason I chose the Azden over the Audio-Technica was because of the omni-directional barrel attachment. That meant I only needed to buy one mic instead of two.



3. How much better is a shotgun mic on a boompole than my mic on my GL2?

Here is an excerpt from the article Cyberskip linked to above, it answers this question better than I could:

"Boom Mounted: This is the preferred method of working with a shotgun mic and the method used in 90% of all professional work. The advantage is that the shotgun can be brought much closer to the talent or subject's proximity, thereby resulting in a much better signal to noise ratio, isolating the talent or subject's sound effectively from unwanted ambient sound while still retaining the richness and superior bass response that a shotgun records as compared to most other types of mics."

To paraphrase, using a boom is MUCH, MUCH better than using your in camera mic. Why do you think everybody does it?

 

Thanks for the help... I appreciate it very much.... i was about to bump this thing AGAIN...

Okay... so both of them are pretty much the same?

Now you say that the Sennheiser K-6/ME-67 is the better mic.... Well you must be right because it costs twice as much.... but how much better is it? IS it worth the extra money or do you think I should be just fine with the AZden?

because I'm not sure if you've noticed but I'm putting together a christmas list here and there is a bit of a budget. I can get the Sennheiser K-6/ME-67 over the Azden if I wanted to.... but how necessary do you think it is?

Sorry for all the questions.

Just to double check.... that picture you posted is of the Azden SGM-2x right? because they have the same picture on b&H for the SGM-1x... and its confusing the hell out me.

 

Sorry.... another question.

When filming video with a shotgun mic like this....

When you have more than one person in the shot... and they are both going to be talking... How would you go about this? WOuld you move the mic back and forth between the people? Or would you keep it in one spot? But doesn't a shotgun mic pick up sound in a narrow direction? For those ocasions would I use my GL2's omnidirectional mic?

Your help is appreciated

 

Depending on the situation, 90 % of the time you just slightly aim the mike towards the actor who's speaking. That's the way it's done professionally and gives you the best sound quality.

The boom operator holds the boompole over his or her head and tries to get the mike as close as possible over the actors heads and you just slightly rotate the pole to aim the mike in the direction you want.

Oh, and don't forget to get "room tone" as well.

 

Okay so he does move it back and forth but just rotates it slightly?

also... can you Refesh me on what room tone is?... i think I know but I may be mistaken


Thanks for the help

 

It depends on the distance between the actors. You should keep the movement to a minimum.

Room tone is the ambient sound of the location, generally about 60 seconds worth should do it.

 

Moving the boom pole enough may result in a "popping" noise because the vibration from your grips' hands shifting the pole may be picked up, which causes that sound.

The best thing to do is to go and do some field tests with the microphone before you start shooting for real.

 

Okay.... I think I'm going with the Audio-Technica at835b after reading that review.

If you guys could help me with just a couple of questions I think I'll be ready to finalize this decision.

Also... I know my question could probably be answered just by looking at b&h... but just help me out, cause I wanna make sure.

1. I've got the Microphone adapter for my GL2. Is the XLR plug the only thing I have to worry about? DO I have to worry about power supply? Whats this Phantom power stuff?? I think it takes.

2. DO I have to worry about how I'm going to connect this thing to the boompole? I'm going to get the Gitzo one suggested above. Are there any clamps are stuff I have to worry about?

Thanks for you help... SO to be annoying

 

*Bumperroosky*

help a brother out

 

"Is the (Sennheiser) worth the extra money or do you think I should be just fine with the Azden?"

Both. The Sennheiser is worth the extra money, but at this level you should be just fine with the Azden or the Audio-Technica and you can use the savings to get other equipment you may need. Don't forget to save you boxes and wrapping, when it comes time to upgrade you can usually get 90% or more of your investment back by selling your item on Ebay. In some cases people will buy your used stuff for more than it costs new. (don't ask why, just take advantage of it)



"That picture you posted is of the Azden SGM-2x right? because they have the same picture on B&H for the SGM-1x?"

Thats funny. B&H has the wrong picture up for the SGM-1X (this whole time I thought they were perfect). The SGM-2x is 16" in shotgun mode and the SGM-1x is only 11" inches. They are very different mics with different signal-to-noise ratio and different bandwidth.

Here is the SGM-1x:
[image=http://www.azden.com/sgm1x.gif]



"Do I have to worry about power supply? Whats this Phantom power stuff?? I think it takes."

The at835b is also battery operated. All you'll need is the XLR male-female cable to connect it to your adapter. Some microphones are not self powered and need "phantom power" usually supplied by a mixer. So if you ever upgrade you sound equipment and buy a mixer, take comfort in knowing the at835b accepts phantom power as well. Using a mixer with phantom power will also improve the quality of sound the mic can produce. But you'll do fine just running the mic from its internal battery.



"Do I have to worry about how I'm going to connect this thing to the boompole? I'm going to get the Gitzo one suggested above. Are there any clamps are stuff I have to worry about?"

You will need a shock mount like the Audio-Technica AT8415 ($50) or the Gitzo G11510N ($80). This piece isolates the mic between elastic bands to prevent noise from the boompole. It also allows you to angle the mic for better control. You must have either a microphone mount or a shock mount in order to attach the mic to the boom pole. Also add a set of "over the ear" headphones to your list. Don't use the little "in your ear" walkman style headphones.



"When you have more than one person in the shot... and they are both going to be talking... How would you go about this? Would you move the mic back and forth between the people? Or would you keep it in one spot?"

This totally depends on the shot. You can rest the boom pole on your head and roll it gently so the mic turns from person to person like Cyberskip said, it takes a little finesse and the boom operator has to know the script really well (tough if your just asking friends and family to help you). If you had the Azden SGM-2x you could attach the omnidirectional barrel and boom it right in the middle of the conversation. In long shots when the boom will show up in the frame its possible to hide the omindirectional mic in the frame like by taping it to the backside of a table or behind the centerpiece (if the conversation is taking place seated at a table). Also the camera usually moves in on a conversation and only shows the person talking, then cutting back and forth. In which case you would only be concerned with mic'ing the person in the frame. Then the seperate shots and audio for each person can be edited and blended together in post. This is when that room tone mentioned earlier comes in handy.


It's hard to get good sound. Having the right equipment is the first step. Run lots of tests until you feel comfortable with what your capable of.

 

thanks guys.... you were of much help... I think I'm going with the audio-technica

 

I may as well throw in a question onto the pile:

I know about shotgun mics now, and their uses, but what sort of situation would an an omnidirectional mic be used in?

thanks!

 

*BUMP*

 

I have been looking into this for a long time and I have basically decided on th Sennheiser ME 66 ($379 w/power supply at B&H) I have found many reviews that say it is the best for the price and have found many independent films that have used them.

peace,
floydman

 

Do I really need to get a $200 XLR adapter? I just have a Sony DCR-TRV25 and want to get the Azden mic. Can't I just use a $10 XLR to 1/4" adapter and a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter? Might lose a little quality along the way, but still has to be better than the built in mic, right?
Thanks!

 

I'm no expert, but I think simply putting adapters on the plugs won't work. It has to do with the signal coming from the mic. I think the beachtek adapter transforms/amplifies the signal into something compatible to the camera's input.

Edit: from beachtek'swebsite:

Q: How do the adapters work?

A: Each input signal is sent to a LINE/MIC switch to allow you to set the proper level, then to a volume control to adjust attenuation. The balanced input signal is then converted to an unbalanced output through an impedance matching transformer. Finally, the output signal is sent through an attached shielded cable terminating in a stereo mini-plug that connects to your camcorder's microphone jack.

 

Nicely answered!
I don't like the answer.
It's the more expensive answer.
Oh well, it's only money, right?!
Thanks!
Anyone using an XLR adapter that hasn't been mentioned in this thread already? Your opinion of it? Price comparisons?