A Simple (?) Microphone Question at DVinfo.net

Barry Rivadue · January 24th, 2004, 02:24 PM

Are there handheld wired microphones that have XLR connections? Sometimes when I'm off camera asking questions my voice isn't picked up too well by a shotgun on a boom. I like the idea of having my own "personal mike" that can readily be heard wherever I'm standing. Something inexpensive, preferably, if the overall question is a valid one.

Bryan Beasleigh · January 24th, 2004, 04:16 PM

There are herds of them and they are available mostly as dynamics although there are some condenser handhelds. A very inexpensive model that's tuned for voice is the AKG D230. It's also a little higher output than some due to it's Neodymium Magnet . The ND magnet will give you an extra 5 db which isn't really that much.

I'm sure everyone has their own favorite dynamic. They are available omni , cardoid or hypercardoid. Most people use the omni .

They're fairly inexpensive but they are very low output. It would depend on what camera you were feeding.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=128222&is=REG

ElectroVoice is a popular brand and comes standard for $100 or $120 for a Neodymium model.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?
O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=76669&is=REG

Barry Rivadue · January 24th, 2004, 05:52 PM

Thanks for the info; this would be exclusively for a DVX100. I'm quite curious about which microphone for this purpose people end up preferring!

Douglas Spotted Eagle · January 24th, 2004, 06:15 PM

To use Bryan's word, there are 'herds' of preferred stick-type mics.
On the low end, you can't go wrong with a Shure SM58, simply because it's the hammer of the industry, used by hundreds. It's been around a long, long time, and sounds good.
Then there are higher end, more tight patterns, higher signal level, slimmer, fatter, blacker, greyer, silver-er mics as well. I happen to be an Audio Technica fan, AKG makes good mics, EV does too. Then you can start sailing higher in cost, but without a lot of return for a handheld, and get into BK, Sennheiser, and others.
For inexpensive, look at the Shure 58. About a hundred bucks most places, and you have to work hard to damage one.

Barry Rivadue · January 24th, 2004, 06:35 PM

Thanks! I'm glad some items don't always have to be high end. :)

Dave Largent · January 26th, 2004, 02:36 AM

What will the ambience/background to your voice be?
Silence? Music?

Barry Rivadue · January 26th, 2004, 09:02 AM

Probably silence; mostly interviews in private homes.

Dave Largent · January 26th, 2004, 05:37 PM

Barry,
Read this.

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...ndheld+dynamic

Barry Rivadue · January 26th, 2004, 05:59 PM

Done. :)

Here's a question, though--what wired microphone as this would be more suited for recording instrumental music? I may interview the occasional musician who would play something up close, and I wonder if placing a microphone as this nearby would be an incredibly clever idea.

Dave Largent · January 26th, 2004, 06:59 PM

I don't exactly understand your last question,
but there was a reason why I asked you about
"ambience".
The AKG D230 does not do well around music. It
is specifically tuned for spoken word; music does
not sound very good captured with the AKG.
Like I said, I don't quite understand your
last question. Do you need a dynamic that's
alright with music?

Barry Rivadue · January 26th, 2004, 07:57 PM

What I want to know is--if I want a purely musical recording from a single wired microphone, would a dynamic make sense? What about a condenser? I know very little of the terminology at the moment, but I would assume a music-biased microphone for one or two instruments would have different characteristics than a purely vocal biased one.

Douglas Spotted Eagle · January 26th, 2004, 08:11 PM

The answer to all your questions above are "Yes." or "No."
This is why specific mics are often chosen for specific instruments. Condensers usually are used for extreme dynamics, or for very subtle instruments, where dynamics are used for broader frequency ranged instruments.
Again, if you are looking for a broad-use microphone, avoid the mic's specifically aimed at one sort of use or another. Wide-range mic's are generally cheaper, because of the lack of specifics.
For example, the SM58, while being made for anything in particular with a focus on voice, is used for instruments all the time. In fact, if you pull off the ball windscreen, you then have an SM57, one of the most popular snare and acoustic guitar mics ever made.
the more specific the application, the more mics available, the more the cost (generally) and the more opinions you'll run into. Mic's have very specific personalities. For classical acoustic guitar, I'll use the BK 4011's. For steel strung work for scoring, I'll use the AT4033. For a solo acoustic where I need rich and thick body with cutting treble, I'll use a 4050. There's about 3K in mics for one instrument right there.
For most interview work where a stick mic is called for, I really like the AE 5400. Low cost, dynamite curve, and very, very roadworthy. The AE 6100 is a hypercardiod, so a little tight for much video work, but an AWESOME live stage mic. We've used these all over the world, and love them. But as I say, they're a little tight in the pattern for most vid work.

Barry Rivadue · January 26th, 2004, 08:32 PM

Fascinating stuff.

Now for another thought--would it be complicating my life too much if I find myself wanting to place microphones everywhere if there's a group of varied instruments? Or would one more or less do an acceptable job if necessary, given certain limitations? I also have seen people post here about their experiences recording, say, something specialized--such as a choir. I know it's best to develop a traveling arsenal of mikes etc. for handling a given situation, if one is going to do something with distinction. For the most part though I'm dealing as a solo operator here.

January 24th, 2004, 02:24 PM	#1
Barry Rivadue Major Player Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 508	A Simple (?) Microphone Question Are there handheld wired microphones that have XLR connections? Sometimes when I'm off camera asking questions my voice isn't picked up too well by a shotgun on a boom. I like the idea of having my own "personal mike" that can readily be heard wherever I'm standing. Something inexpensive, preferably, if the overall question is a valid one.

January 24th, 2004, 06:15 PM	#4
Douglas Spotted Eagle VASST Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stockton, UT Posts: 5,648	To use Bryan's word, there are 'herds' of preferred stick-type mics. On the low end, you can't go wrong with a Shure SM58, simply because it's the hammer of the industry, used by hundreds. It's been around a long, long time, and sounds good. Then there are higher end, more tight patterns, higher signal level, slimmer, fatter, blacker, greyer, silver-er mics as well. I happen to be an Audio Technica fan, AKG makes good mics, EV does too. Then you can start sailing higher in cost, but without a lot of return for a handheld, and get into BK, Sennheiser, and others. For inexpensive, look at the Shure 58. About a hundred bucks most places, and you have to work hard to damage one. __________________ Douglas Spotted Eagle/Spot Author, producer, composer Certified Sony Vegas Trainer http://www.vasst.com

January 26th, 2004, 08:11 PM	#12
Douglas Spotted Eagle VASST Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stockton, UT Posts: 5,648	The answer to all your questions above are "Yes." or "No." This is why specific mics are often chosen for specific instruments. Condensers usually are used for extreme dynamics, or for very subtle instruments, where dynamics are used for broader frequency ranged instruments. Again, if you are looking for a broad-use microphone, avoid the mic's specifically aimed at one sort of use or another. Wide-range mic's are generally cheaper, because of the lack of specifics. For example, the SM58, while being made for anything in particular with a focus on voice, is used for instruments all the time. In fact, if you pull off the ball windscreen, you then have an SM57, one of the most popular snare and acoustic guitar mics ever made. the more specific the application, the more mics available, the more the cost (generally) and the more opinions you'll run into. Mic's have very specific personalities. For classical acoustic guitar, I'll use the BK 4011's. For steel strung work for scoring, I'll use the AT4033. For a solo acoustic where I need rich and thick body with cutting treble, I'll use a 4050. There's about 3K in mics for one instrument right there. For most interview work where a stick mic is called for, I really like the AE 5400. Low cost, dynamite curve, and very, very roadworthy. The AE 6100 is a hypercardiod, so a little tight for much video work, but an AWESOME live stage mic. We've used these all over the world, and love them. But as I say, they're a little tight in the pattern for most vid work. __________________ Douglas Spotted Eagle/Spot Author, producer, composer Certified Sony Vegas Trainer http://www.vasst.com

January 24th, 2004, 04:16 PM	#2
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	There are herds of them and they are available mostly as dynamics although there are some condenser handhelds. A very inexpensive model that's tuned for voice is the AKG D230. It's also a little higher output than some due to it's Neodymium Magnet . The ND magnet will give you an extra 5 db which isn't really that much. I'm sure everyone has their own favorite dynamic. They are available omni , cardoid or hypercardoid. Most people use the omni . They're fairly inexpensive but they are very low output. It would depend on what camera you were feeding. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=128222&is=REG ElectroVoice is a popular brand and comes standard for $100 or $120 for a Neodymium model. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home? O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=76669&is=REG

January 24th, 2004, 05:52 PM	#3
Barry Rivadue Major Player Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 508	Thanks for the info; this would be exclusively for a DVX100. I'm quite curious about which microphone for this purpose people end up preferring!

January 24th, 2004, 06:35 PM	#5
Barry Rivadue Major Player Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 508	Thanks! I'm glad some items don't always have to be high end. :)

January 26th, 2004, 02:36 AM	#6
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	What will the ambience/background to your voice be? Silence? Music?

January 26th, 2004, 09:02 AM	#7
Barry Rivadue Major Player Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 508	Probably silence; mostly interviews in private homes.

January 26th, 2004, 05:37 PM	#8
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	Barry, Read this. http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...ndheld+dynamic

January 26th, 2004, 05:59 PM	#9
Barry Rivadue Major Player Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 508	Done. :) Here's a question, though--what wired microphone as this would be more suited for recording instrumental music? I may interview the occasional musician who would play something up close, and I wonder if placing a microphone as this nearby would be an incredibly clever idea.

January 26th, 2004, 06:59 PM	#10
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	I don't exactly understand your last question, but there was a reason why I asked you about "ambience". The AKG D230 does not do well around music. It is specifically tuned for spoken word; music does not sound very good captured with the AKG. Like I said, I don't quite understand your last question. Do you need a dynamic that's alright with music?

January 26th, 2004, 07:57 PM	#11
Barry Rivadue Major Player Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 508	What I want to know is--if I want a purely musical recording from a single wired microphone, would a dynamic make sense? What about a condenser? I know very little of the terminology at the moment, but I would assume a music-biased microphone for one or two instruments would have different characteristics than a purely vocal biased one.

January 26th, 2004, 08:32 PM	#13
Barry Rivadue Major Player Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 508	Fascinating stuff. Now for another thought--would it be complicating my life too much if I find myself wanting to place microphones everywhere if there's a group of varied instruments? Or would one more or less do an acceptable job if necessary, given certain limitations? I also have seen people post here about their experiences recording, say, something specialized--such as a choir. I know it's best to develop a traveling arsenal of mikes etc. for handling a given situation, if one is going to do something with distinction. For the most part though I'm dealing as a solo operator here.