Perrenial Shotgun Question

[mazzystar]

More and more of us are ditching MTVs for a more documentry, real time approach with lots of ambient audio...any suggestions for a short shotgun which can be used with the FX1 for better audio acquisition?

Thanks all.

[AndrewMSV]

I use the extremely inexpensive SGM-X. It was only $80 (I got it on sale from the normal $100).

It works well, but like most on-camera mic situations, you'll need some sort of shock-mount. It is a mini connector so you won't need a beachtek type adapter.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/largeimages/257751.jpg

[mazzystar]

thanks Drew. shouldv'e gotten this when i was in HK. taxes from BH purchases are killing me.

[bruceo]

More and more of us are ditching MTVs for a more documentry, real time approach with lots of ambient audio...any suggestions for a short shotgun which can be used with the FX1 for better audio acquisition?

Thanks all.

Best price performance if you don't want to go with an xlr adapter:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=363083&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

[bmitchell]

More and more of us are ditching MTVs for a more documentry, real time approach with lots of ambient audio...any suggestions for a short shotgun which can be used with the FX1 for better audio acquisition?

Thanks all.

For ambient audio, I like my stereo AT825 better than my shotguns.

[bruceo]

For ambient audio, I like my stereo AT825 better than my shotguns.

How the heck do you shoot? Unless you are in the face ENG style the 825 doesn't even pick up vocals unless you are only a few feet away indoors and outdoors fugeddaboudit... The shotguns are more colored indoors, but at least the vocals are hot and you have somthing to eq.

[bmitchell]

How the heck do you shoot? Unless you are in the face ENG style the 825 doesn't even pick up vocals unless you are only a few feet away indoors and outdoors fugeddaboudit... The shotguns are more colored indoors, but at least the vocals are hot and you have somthing to eq.

Maybe I misunderstood the original question. It's mainly for ambient audio (back of the church, crowd noise, live music). For vocals, I use a lav, handheld, or sometimes a shotgun.

[Bill Grant]

I use a Rode Videomic. It works pretty good for me on a VX2100 with a beachtek...

Bill

[bruceo]

Maybe I misunderstood the original question. It's mainly for ambient audio (back of the church, crowd noise, live music). For vocals, I use a lav, handheld, or sometimes a shotgun.


OK that makes better sense. I had a lot of frustration because more "experienced" guys were touting the stereo mics like the 825 to mount on cam over the shotguns, because of their more natural sound.... So I go out and buy $2K in stereo mics and after doing a few weddings and going into the edit I now have only vocals for lavs or shotguns and all the stereo feeds are useless unless they were in a small room and the music or vocals are very strong. IMO so far especially outdoors, stereo mics suck unless they are very close to the sound source. So IMO for run and gun non ENG style (meaning away from the action zoomed in not ENG style meaning full wide and in the face) shooting with shotguns mounted are the only option.

[mazzystar]

ill check out the rode. thanks bruceo.

[bmitchell]

ill check out the rode. thanks bruceo.

I've got one. They're good for the price. Mini-plug, not XLR.

[Mossy]

For anyone who doesn't know the set up of using a shotgun mic here's what I use to get audio that I'm very happy with.

Rycote Softie for wind protection (I always leave it on the mic regardless).
Sennheiser ME66 and K6 Module. The K6 Module operates off an AA battery and screws into the ME66 that is covered with the Softie.
Female XLR connection on a cable to Stereo Jack Female XLR connects to the K6. Order a 0.5m or shorter cable so that it is not to be getting in your way while shooting. Stereo Jack connects to camera's mic jack but FX-1 users can apparently use XLR.
A ShoeMount that locks onto the cam for the mic to sit on.

Whenever possible I shoot with the Sennheiser shotgun mounted to my cam; it's a must! I leave it on Auto and let the camera deal with the levels... I use the Sennheiser G2s for direct feeds from DJs/Bands and use the on-cam mic of my second VX for ambient audio when the music celebrations begin; don't use the shotgun in this situation unless you are going manual!

Hope this helps someone.

M

[Dee Boz]

More and more of us are ditching MTVs for a more documentry, real time approach with lots of ambient audio...any suggestions for a short shotgun which can be used with the FX1 for better audio acquisition?

Thanks all.

Jay..I picked up 2 of these for my FXs and am VERY pleased with them!

http://dvcreators.net/products/videomic2.html

Besides the Spotted One gave them great reviews!

[vegas06]

I use an AT822 (stereo mic) mic that I now use with my Rode R-09 recorder, to record the monitor speakers and also use my Samson handheld mic with built in receiver to record the same speaker to send to my left channel on my main camera (so I can get a consistant audio feed to one track). All of this is mounted on a mic stand for easy setup and removal as well as hastle free mobility.

Then I use my AT835B mic (on camera) fed into my right channel for closeup crowd noise and sometimes interviews.

For more advanded recording, I use a PSC Promix 3 field mixer to take feeds from a matched pair of Rode NT5 and Rode NT3 mics, and mixdown the mics into my Rode R-09 recorder as well as sending out a signal via wireless to my camera. I mainly use this setup for recording recitals, sometimes taking direct feed from the soundboard in place of the NT3 mic.

I have a Samson H4 recorder on order that will be used in addition to the R-09.

The problem with on camera audio (shotgun mic) is that the sound will constantly change as you move throughout the venue. And unless you are close enough to the action (15 feet or so), the audio is useless. So wireless by itself or in conjunction to digital audio recorders is best served in this case.

[Mark Foley]

I've moved away from any audio captured from my on camera mics...other that to use to synch my other recorded sources. I have found that unless the camera is tripod mounted, there is too much handling noise to suit my taste. Indoor use of shotguns have always sounded to hollow....although outdoors I rather like the captured audio.

[sonydude]

a shotgun mic needs to provide on-axis gain. From my limited tests none of the cheapo mics from Azden etc come close to the me66. Its not the best mic in terms of tone but it is one hot mic. Interesteing that the dvcreators demo video for the rode videomic doesn't even go in to the "shotgun" aspect of the mic at all. Sure the rode (like the Azden) may sound equivalent to the me66 from 12-18 inches - but how about from 12-18 feet? The comparison tests of shotgun mics on that site are totally bogus.

[bruceo]

there is too much handling noise to suit my taste.

I agree especially with FX/Z1, but what are you doing during bridal prep, photo shoot, run and gun? Boom operator is best, but that is impractial. Are you hiding an R09 or wireless?

[Mark Foley]

For my style, I very seldom, if ever use nat sound during the bridal prep or photo shoot as I prefer to use VO. Most of the time during those events it is a bunch of conflicting noise that I find distracting...but this is IMO... :-)
However, I just started hiding an iRiver by the cake during the cutting to catch some of the couples more intimate chatter. But there too can be overwhelming background noise that I don't prefer....

[LighthouseMedia]

After using a lot of mics you can verify this by listening to some good test online I have found the AT 4073A to be the best shotgun mic with off axis rejection (FOR THE MONEY) true you can get better mice but this mics came very close to the MKH60 which is more than 2-3X the price. Check it out...

[sonydude]

the 4073a is great value IF your camera(s) can provide phantom power.

[Dave Williams]

Jay..I picked up 2 of these for my FXs and am VERY pleased with them!

http://dvcreators.net/products/videomic2.html

Besides the Spotted One gave them great reviews!

Boz, would you mind dropping that on your Jenny Craig food scale and tell me what it weighs? Thanks!

[chucksav]

For an interesting, if somewhat dated, review of low cost shotgun mics, see

http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/review_shotgun_mics.html

We are currently using AT897s on each of our Z1s.