Hello,

I will be shooting a sit down interview by myself and for audio I have a shotgun mic (ME-66) and I'm planning on using a mic stand to support it. The room is 10 x12, and I plan on framing the subject in a close up, so I can get the mic as close to them as possible without being in frame.

With this setup what is the best way to mic, from overhead or slightly off camera axis pointing directly at their mouth?

Thank you

Without seeing/hearing the room and your camera angles, there is no way to predict this. It is easy enough to move the microphone to all the alternate positions during setup to hear the results for yourself. Of course, you are using good headphones to monitor the audio at all times (including during setup).

I tend to favor the overhead mic position. Sometimes a low and close mic will get accidentally knocked about by the talent when they gesture. That being said, I also take into account the surfaces towards which the mic is pointing. If there is an A/C vent in the ceiling, I don't want to point the mic upwards. When you have a carpeted surface, overhead mics should pic up less echo. If I have a very 'live' sounding room, I'll toss a moving blanket on the ground and maybe another one off-camera on a boom stand to absorb some of the reflected sound.

Hello Joe,

If the 10 x 12 is mostly hard walls, ceiling and floor, you have your work cut out for yourself.

Bring some sound blankets and hand them just out of frame. Put one or two on the floor.

Shotguns are not indicated for indoor use, the above will reduce the off-axis mess and slappiness.

Regards,

Ty Ford

A shotgun mic might not be ideal in that situation. Plenty of good advice has already been given so I won't add much to it, ecxcept to say that having a hypercardioid condenser mic, a handheld dynamic mic (RE50 or similar),and a lav in a kit to cover all secenarios would be ideal.