I'm currently on the look out for a good "cheap" microphone that I can use for movies. I'm not looking for the best of the best, I've had a look at the ME66 as that seems to be a good choice but after finding out i'll need an XLR adapter it's gone out of my budget range. Are shotgun mics very sensitive? If I were to record a conversation between two people at a table, would I need to aim the mic at each person in turn whenever they speak? I would rather have a mic that can record the sound in a close proximity without having to aim it.

Any recommendations?

Thanks

I think that in your case the Sennheiser MKE300 (http://www.sennheiser.com/sennheiser/icm.nsf/root/produkte_mikrofone_sprache_03171) is to be considered.

It uses a 3,5 mm plug and is a shotgun whith a good off-axis polardiagram. It sounds better/warmer as the ME66; regarding its special favourable frequencyresponse more towards the E865

I find this article interesting to read: http://www.dv.com/columns/columns_item.jhtml?LookupId=/xml/feature/2003/rose1103&category=Audio+Solutions&_requestid=438869


If XLR where not the problem most of us here will agree with Bryan roberts: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&postid=152108#post152108

Thanks for your reply. If i wanted to attach the mke300 to a boompole, would I need an xlr adapter?

Is an xlr adapter essentially an amp?

Thanks

An XLR adapter is a device that changes an unbalanced line to a balanced configuration. For short runs (a meter or so) an unbalanced line is generally OK. For anything longer, the line will tend to pick up unwanted interference, hum, etc. A balanced line will eliminate much of that. XLR refers only to the connector type -- 2 pins for signal and a common pin, as opposed to a tip-ring type of connector used in unbalanced runs.