Handheld mic for interviews? -Sound Forge - PC - MAGIX Community Forums Archive

Subject:Handheld mic for interviews? Posted by: mhbstevens Date:8/3/2004 6:40:37 PM Of late I have recieved a good education in audio here after asking some silly questions and I thank you all. Now I know better what I need like a mic pre going into USB or firewire and not a new soundcard as I once thought, I will ask for microphone recomendations as reading reviews, visiting enless websites I'm still confused. I will list the possibles I have found. I need: A Handheld mic for on-camera interviews up to $175 High-output dynamic would be fine but if condenser battery powered please. Good on-camera looks. Suitable for pluging directly into camera without preamp - but oneday I will have a camer with phantom power! Oneday I will have camera with phantom power. AND I wish to use it also at the computer for voice overs. This is what I have found. Please critisize or add to this list. Shure: VP64A, SM63, SM57 Audio-Technica: AT804 Rode: NT3 Sennheister: Evolution line. Electro Voice RE50N/D-B Thanks
Subject:RE: Handheld mic for interviews? Reply by: Goldenears Date:8/6/2004 2:15:04 AM If you can find a windsock that will stop ALL wind blasting then go for the condensor (good luck - the artic fox fur models manufactured by Seinheisser are brilliant but extremely expensive), otherwise (from the survivor of 35 years of Outside recordings and broadcasts), go for a good omni coil with its simple windsock. No popping and windnoise practically eliminated. Another reason is that condensor mics with their inherently good LF response are very good at picking up car noise+rumble in street interview scenarios - you can try to equalise it out later but you often end up taking much of the timbre of the human voice. Even if the mic is hyper cardioid the noise still occurs as at extreme LF as the pattern reverts to almost omni (though many manufaturers don't mention this). Good luck, Goldenears
Subject:RE: Handheld mic for interviews? Reply by: rraud Date:8/6/2004 10:36:42 AM Suitable for pluging directly into camera without preamp - Even with a high output battery powered mic you still need a mic-pre. Most all cameras have some kind of pre-amp. Some like the Cannon XLs' require an XLR adaptor module. My choice would be the RE-50, VP-64A/ AL or AT-804. All dynamic omnis. Other canidates: Shure SM63, EV 635, Beyer M58. For street use, I recomend dynamics for their reliability in all weather and civil conditions. However these may not work that well for VOs if your PC is noisy and/or there are poor room acoustics. The 57, NT3, & Senn. Evolution series mics are better suited for studio and sound reinforcement work.
Subject:RE: Handheld mic for interviews? Reply by: doctorfish Date:8/6/2004 2:56:26 PM I have a Shure SM63. I've only used it for street interview stuff and always get a good sound to tape. I originally wasn't sure which mic to buy for this kind of recording but then I noticed that I always see a few reporters at press conferences or in interviews and such that have these. So I gave it a try and have been pleased. Dave

Subject:Handheld mic for interviews?

Posted by: mhbstevens

Date:8/3/2004 6:40:37 PM

Of late I have recieved a good education in audio here after asking some silly questions and I thank you all. Now I know better what I need like a mic pre going into USB or firewire and not a new soundcard as I once thought, I will ask for microphone recomendations as reading reviews, visiting enless websites I'm still confused. I will list the possibles I have found.

I need:
A Handheld mic for on-camera interviews up to $175
High-output dynamic would be fine but if condenser battery powered please.
Good on-camera looks.
Suitable for pluging directly into camera without preamp - but oneday I will have a camer with phantom power! Oneday I will have camera with phantom power.
AND I wish to use it also at the computer for voice overs.

This is what I have found. Please critisize or add to this list.
Shure: VP64A, SM63, SM57
Audio-Technica: AT804
Rode: NT3
Sennheister: Evolution line.
Electro Voice RE50N/D-B

Thanks

Subject:RE: Handheld mic for interviews?

Reply by: Goldenears

Date:8/6/2004 2:15:04 AM

If you can find a windsock that will stop ALL wind blasting then go for the condensor (good luck - the artic fox fur models manufactured by Seinheisser are brilliant but extremely expensive), otherwise (from the survivor of 35 years of Outside recordings and broadcasts), go for a good omni coil with its simple windsock. No popping and windnoise practically eliminated.

Another reason is that condensor mics with their inherently good LF response are very good at picking up car noise+rumble in street interview scenarios - you can try to equalise it out later but you often end up taking much of the timbre of the human voice. Even if the mic is hyper cardioid the noise still occurs as at extreme LF as the pattern reverts to almost omni (though many manufaturers don't mention this).

Good luck, Goldenears

Subject:RE: Handheld mic for interviews?

Reply by: rraud

Date:8/6/2004 10:36:42 AM

Suitable for pluging directly into camera without preamp
- Even with a high output battery powered mic you still need a mic-pre. Most all cameras have some kind of pre-amp. Some like the Cannon XLs' require an XLR adaptor module.

My choice would be the RE-50, VP-64A/ AL or AT-804. All dynamic omnis.
Other canidates: Shure SM63, EV 635, Beyer M58.
For street use, I recomend dynamics for their reliability in all weather and civil conditions.
However these may not work that well for VOs if your PC is noisy and/or there are poor room acoustics.

The 57, NT3, & Senn. Evolution series mics are better suited for studio and sound reinforcement work.

Subject:RE: Handheld mic for interviews?

Reply by: doctorfish

Date:8/6/2004 2:56:26 PM

I have a Shure SM63. I've only used it for street interview stuff and always get a good sound to tape. I originally wasn't sure which mic to buy for this kind of recording but then I noticed that I always see a few reporters at press conferences or in interviews and such that have these. So I gave it a try and have been pleased.

Dave