Hello,

I'm pretty much a beginner at everything video, and would like some help with a bad purchase.

I bought the Sennheiser MKE 300 Video mic and the problem I'm having with it is that it is picking up the camera noises (panasonic GS-400).

I've already taken it back to be replaced once because the original was broken (though I had to spend a week and a half fiddling before I finally realised it wasn't my fault), and it's been a couple of months since then and the shop won't help me out even though I haven't really used the new one and kept it in its box and everything (had delays sorting out the sound capture on my computer and didn't hear the problem for a while).

I have gleaned that in terms of what I wanted out of a mic, the sennheiser I bought was about right (I am doing an instructional video of me with a bird so basically want to capture me talking and the quiet sounds the bird makes. Mostly the bird will be pretty close to me - thus I considered buying a wireless lapel mic (sorry if I'm using the wrong terms) - but occassionally far away (for instance when I want to show it flying to me on command- but always in a room no bigger than 6x6 metres and 14foot high.

I thought maybe I could put the mic on a tripod of its own, except the mic cord won't reach the camera.

Can you get an extension cord for mics? Or mini-boompole-thingys that attach to the camera? Or do all these things ruin the sound?

I'll have money eventually to buy a new mic if needed, but the subject of my video arrives next week - been waiting a year, so i'm very excited.

Caroline, welcome to the forum.

This is an easy problem to solve. Along the lines of the little boom pole thingy you have in mind to attach to the camera is a device called a shockmount. By suspending the mic with rubber bands it isloates it from vibration noise from the camera.

But your cheapest option is the extension cable. Although the one in the link below is 25 feet long, it is not recommended to place a mic that far from the camera because the wire can pick up electrical noise in the room like an antenna. Up to ten or even 15 feet will be fine. Just gather the extra cable in back and forth pattern (not in a circlular coil) and put a rubber band around it. The performance of the mic won't be affected.

Enjoy your project!

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=160694&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

Much appreciated Fred. It just goes to show that sometimes the fasted way to get an answer is to ask (as opposed to internet searching). I'm off to purchase some extension!

thanks.