Which mic to use at a sit-down Press Conference at DVinfo.net

Simon Denny · March 20th, 2014, 11:23 PM

Hey I'm after some info on what mic to use at a sit-down Press Conference.

I'm dealing with a wide table up to 4 guests.

Cheers

Oh I forgot to mention that I have my Zoom H4n as a backup but I need to capture into camera. Also I have a Sennheiser MD46 and a Audio Technica but these are to narrow I think

Les Wilson · March 21st, 2014, 04:14 AM

Ideally 4 dynamic mics like Shure SM58 or SM57 on 4 tabletop stands. If you have to split the difference with only two mics, then a pair of condensers from the Shure Gooseneck series MX12 or MX18 (they need phantom).

Jay Massengill · March 21st, 2014, 05:53 AM

Will these mics also be amplified by a sound system for the audience to hear, or will they only go to the camera and/or H4n recorder?

Which camera are you using?

Do you have an audio mixer and someone to control it?

Rick Reineke · March 21st, 2014, 08:55 AM

I used to do a lot of these type gigs. (audio) Typically 5 mics, a podium and 4 at a table. .
My preferred mic was an SM57 with A55M shock mount and A2WS windscreen . Of course this was integrated with a PA system and adequate set-up time was avaiable. My recommendations would be different in a run & gun scenario. With multiple mics, a mixer w/ linear faders and/or multi-track recorder would be wanted.

Richard Crowley · March 21st, 2014, 09:39 AM

Are YOU actually responsible for providing the primary audio gear?
Or are you just one of many "press" coming to cover the event arranged by others?
Proper news conferences (and the like) frequently have "press boxes" which distribute pre-mixed mic-level signals so you can just plug it in directly to your camera. Some even provide "pool" video feeds as well.

Simon Denny · March 21st, 2014, 02:10 PM

Thanks Guys,

With this gig I'm just hired to shoot the press conference and I assume I can get a line out of a sound box, not sure on that yet.I can only have two mics into my camera due to the setup. There is no PA.
Yeah, maybe a couple of 58s or 57s might do the trick with the HN4 for backup.

Cheers,

Brian P. Reynolds · March 21st, 2014, 04:11 PM

To do a presser well use one more mic than the number of people and place them between the people and each end rather than straight in front, this allows for people to turn their heads either toward others on the panel or the people asking the questions....
So,
1 person = 2 mics
2 persons = 3 mics
3 persons = 4 mics
4 persons = 5 mics
5 persons = 6 mics
etc
etc

The ideal mics would be condenser for 'crispness' and quietly spoken people, do not use shotgun mics as they are just to directional and emphasizes the echo in the room.
And if the questions are important then a boom pole or 2 might be needed or perhaps a roving hand held mic.

And MOST importantly monitor the microphones on a set of headphones.

Greg Miller · March 22nd, 2014, 07:09 AM

Mr. Reynolds,

I don't recall seeing that approach.

Isn't it difficult to ride gain, since a given person would normally be picked up by two mics at the same time? Also, do you have phasing problems (comb filtering, actually) since two mics are live simultaneously for one person?

Maybe it's easier and works better than I imagine... as I say, I've never tried this myself, so I'm just curious.

Rick Reineke · March 22nd, 2014, 07:29 AM

That approach sounds bizarre to me as well. I've frequently used redundant mics but never both open at the same time. Phase nightmare.

Donald McPherson · March 22nd, 2014, 10:32 AM

Why not lapel two to camera and two to Zoom and mix when editing?

Simon Denny · March 22nd, 2014, 01:17 PM

Just to up date, I was able to take a feed from the press box, which I normally do.

This was a low key gig to start with and then the event organisers decided to get a pro audio guy to come in and handle sound, I'm so glad that they did.

Brian P. Reynolds · March 22nd, 2014, 04:18 PM

I've been doing broadcast audio for 30+ years and done hundreds of presses and a lot depends on the 'type' of conference and the subject matter, let me explain...
A motor racing / tennis / swimming presser where the people only interact with the journos then a mic straight in front of them is great but a group of people like a 'Rock' or stage 'Group' where they will interact with each other then the 'between' mic technique works MUCH better.
Mic placement is also dependant of where the journos are in relation to the interviewee/s, many of the weekly football pressers I will do have the journos in an arc spreading 150- 180 deg around the front of the table and the interviewee will turn to the person asking the question.
The 'between' technique is often used in 'chat' type panel (like post football shows) where there is lots of head turning with great success and these show go out live to air with minimal phasing problems.

Mics like this work well press mics on short stands, (and great spot FX mics)

Microphone FOR Panasonic AG MC200G HVX200 DVX100 A B AG DVC30 Digital Camera | eBay

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/4-New-Des...item4ad037c3a6

March 20th, 2014, 11:23 PM	#1
Simon Denny Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 1,409	Which mic to use at a sit-down Press Conference Hey I'm after some info on what mic to use at a sit-down Press Conference. I'm dealing with a wide table up to 4 guests. Cheers Oh I forgot to mention that I have my Zoom H4n as a backup but I need to capture into camera. Also I have a Sennheiser MD46 and a Audio Technica but these are to narrow I think

March 21st, 2014, 04:14 AM	#2
Les Wilson Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 3,014	Re: Which mic to use at a sit-down Press Conference Ideally 4 dynamic mics like Shure SM58 or SM57 on 4 tabletop stands. If you have to split the difference with only two mics, then a pair of condensers from the Shure Gooseneck series MX12 or MX18 (they need phantom).

March 21st, 2014, 05:53 AM	#3
Jay Massengill Trustee Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Burlington Posts: 1,976	Re: Which mic to use at a sit-down Press Conference Will these mics also be amplified by a sound system for the audience to hear, or will they only go to the camera and/or H4n recorder? Which camera are you using? Do you have an audio mixer and someone to control it?

March 21st, 2014, 08:55 AM	#4
Rick Reineke Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New York Posts: 2,039	Re: Which mic to use at a sit-down Press Conference I used to do a lot of these type gigs. (audio) Typically 5 mics, a podium and 4 at a table. . My preferred mic was an SM57 with A55M shock mount and A2WS windscreen . Of course this was integrated with a PA system and adequate set-up time was avaiable. My recommendations would be different in a run & gun scenario. With multiple mics, a mixer w/ linear faders and/or multi-track recorder would be wanted.

March 21st, 2014, 09:39 AM	#5
Richard Crowley Trustee Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 1,238	Re: Which mic to use at a sit-down Press Conference Are YOU actually responsible for providing the primary audio gear? Or are you just one of many "press" coming to cover the event arranged by others? Proper news conferences (and the like) frequently have "press boxes" which distribute pre-mixed mic-level signals so you can just plug it in directly to your camera. Some even provide "pool" video feeds as well. Attached Images

March 21st, 2014, 02:10 PM	#6
Simon Denny Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 1,409	Re: Which mic to use at a sit-down Press Conference Thanks Guys, With this gig I'm just hired to shoot the press conference and I assume I can get a line out of a sound box, not sure on that yet.I can only have two mics into my camera due to the setup. There is no PA. Yeah, maybe a couple of 58s or 57s might do the trick with the HN4 for backup. Cheers,

March 21st, 2014, 04:11 PM	#7
Brian P. Reynolds Major Player Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 466	Re: Which mic to use at a sit-down Press Conference To do a presser well use one more mic than the number of people and place them between the people and each end rather than straight in front, this allows for people to turn their heads either toward others on the panel or the people asking the questions.... So, 1 person = 2 mics 2 persons = 3 mics 3 persons = 4 mics 4 persons = 5 mics 5 persons = 6 mics etc etc The ideal mics would be condenser for 'crispness' and quietly spoken people, do not use shotgun mics as they are just to directional and emphasizes the echo in the room. And if the questions are important then a boom pole or 2 might be needed or perhaps a roving hand held mic. And MOST importantly monitor the microphones on a set of headphones.

March 22nd, 2014, 07:09 AM	#8
Greg Miller Trustee Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,791	Re: Which mic to use at a sit-down Press Conference Mr. Reynolds, I don't recall seeing that approach. Isn't it difficult to ride gain, since a given person would normally be picked up by two mics at the same time? Also, do you have phasing problems (comb filtering, actually) since two mics are live simultaneously for one person? Maybe it's easier and works better than I imagine... as I say, I've never tried this myself, so I'm just curious.

March 22nd, 2014, 07:29 AM	#9
Rick Reineke Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New York Posts: 2,039	Re: Which mic to use at a sit-down Press Conference That approach sounds bizarre to me as well. I've frequently used redundant mics but never both open at the same time. Phase nightmare.

March 22nd, 2014, 10:32 AM	#10
Donald McPherson Major Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Aberdeen Scotland Posts: 815	Re: Which mic to use at a sit-down Press Conference Why not lapel two to camera and two to Zoom and mix when editing?

March 22nd, 2014, 01:17 PM	#11
Simon Denny Trustee Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 1,409	Re: Which mic to use at a sit-down Press Conference Just to up date, I was able to take a feed from the press box, which I normally do. This was a low key gig to start with and then the event organisers decided to get a pro audio guy to come in and handle sound, I'm so glad that they did.

March 22nd, 2014, 04:18 PM	#12
Brian P. Reynolds Major Player Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 466	Re: Which mic to use at a sit-down Press Conference I've been doing broadcast audio for 30+ years and done hundreds of presses and a lot depends on the 'type' of conference and the subject matter, let me explain... A motor racing / tennis / swimming presser where the people only interact with the journos then a mic straight in front of them is great but a group of people like a 'Rock' or stage 'Group' where they will interact with each other then the 'between' mic technique works MUCH better. Mic placement is also dependant of where the journos are in relation to the interviewee/s, many of the weekly football pressers I will do have the journos in an arc spreading 150- 180 deg around the front of the table and the interviewee will turn to the person asking the question. The 'between' technique is often used in 'chat' type panel (like post football shows) where there is lots of head turning with great success and these show go out live to air with minimal phasing problems. Mics like this work well press mics on short stands, (and great spot FX mics) Microphone FOR Panasonic AG MC200G HVX200 DVX100 A B AG DVC30 Digital Camera \| eBay http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/4-New-Des...item4ad037c3a6