External shotgun mic AT ATR55 at DVinfo.net

Josh Martin · July 15th, 2003, 02:42 PM

Hey guys,
I just purchased an Audio Technica ATR55 to help with my sound, I'm afraid it's not gonna be what I want. What mics do you all recommend. I'm on a budget fellows. Thanks,
Josh M.

Alex Dunn · July 15th, 2003, 03:09 PM

Call Brian at Zot Digital, he'll help you with a mic selection. He talked me into the new NRG as opposed to the Senn or the AT. It works pretty well, though if I had the $280, I'd go get the AT 835b in a heartbeat. If I had $430, I'd upgrade to the SennM66. If I had a million, well, let's not go there.

Don Palomaki · July 15th, 2003, 06:30 PM

What kind of budget? That is , how much can you spend?

Josh Martin · July 15th, 2003, 08:01 PM

100.00 maybe 200.00 if it was a substancial difference.

Don Palomaki · July 16th, 2003, 04:38 AM

For low cost shotgun mics, check the Sennheisr MKE300, the Azden SGM-1X or 2X, or perhaps the recently appearing NRG Research SA-568. Keep in mind that in mics you generally get what you pay for.

Graham Bernard · July 16th, 2003, 08:14 AM

I believe the MKE300 doesn't come with the XLR option. If you have the MA300 - which I do - you will be stuck with the standard plug end looking for a place to go! Senni MKE66 here, with the XLR, straight into the MA300.

Grazie

Don Palomaki · July 16th, 2003, 04:21 PM

The low cost mics often come with a shoe mount and mini-phone plug connector so the MA300 may not be required to use them.

The ME66 is substantally above the $200 upper limit specified.

Graham Bernard · July 17th, 2003, 12:01 AM

Ouch! Got it Don!

Grazie

David Ziegelheim · July 17th, 2003, 06:09 PM

Its going to be hard to find a new mike that a sound guy will like for under $200. You may be able to get the stock mike from a guy with a PDX10 or PD150 who put on an ME66 or above.

If you post on pro audio you will get some good answers.

Bob Benkosky · July 19th, 2003, 10:56 PM

If you don't need the MA-300 device can you just use XLR to mini plug??? I heard of such a device at Radio Shack I think. Beachtek makes it too right?

I was looking at the Audio-Technica AT835b mic and it only has XLR though.

Alan Craven · July 20th, 2003, 04:14 AM

There are a variety of low/medium cost made up XLR to 3.5mm Mini-jack adaptors available in the UK. Canford Audio (www.canford.co.uk) have range of high quality adaptors - type XFB is OK. Depending on mic output and cam input impedances you may need one which incorporates a matching transformer. All the Sennheiser mics are 5/600 0hm impedance which is OK for the GL2.

Provided the lead is short, there is no need to go to the expense of a balanced-unbalanced transformer. You need an XLR-3F and a 3.5mm stereo mini-jack and a length of double screen audio cable. Wire:

XLR pin 1 to mini-jack sleeve
XLR pin 2 to mini-jack tip and ring
XLR pin 3 to mini-jack sleeve (or to XLR pin 1)

I use a 20cm lead to connect my ME67 to my XM1. I find that a right angle XLR connector is more convenient than a straight one - the mic is too long already!

Graham Bernard · July 20th, 2003, 04:26 AM

Alan, how does one locate the "direction" or identify the Pins 1 thru 3? Is that looking at the pins head on? In a clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation? I'm sure there must is an XLR convention I could look up. Are the pins numbered internally, within the plug housing?

Is it like this - looking onto a male XLR head on at the pins?

_________ 1

_____ 3 _______ 2

Grazie

Alan Craven · July 20th, 2003, 08:00 AM

I find it easier to describe the female of the species. This is a view looking at the outside end of the female socket. The order is 1,3,2 round the arc, with a locating rib next to pin 2.

O represents the hole for the pin.

...............3
...............O

........1.............2
........O............O
...........Flat here.....Rib Key here

..........Lock catch
.............here

Sorry, this is not very clear. I have had to use the dots to position the representations of the pins. Spaces don't seem to show up when I post.

Every XLR I have seen has its pins labelled, usually both internally and externally. I usually buy Neutrik brand

Graham Bernard · July 20th, 2003, 02:34 PM

Alan - well clear - thank you! G

Bob Benkosky · July 22nd, 2003, 12:50 AM

Which mic is better.

The Audio-Technica AT835b or Canon's Zoom mic, or that NRG mic??? How can u tell how far it will pick up sound from anyhow?

It's obviously not as good as that ME66 but better than the MKE300???

I might buy that Audio Technica soon so let me know.

July 15th, 2003, 02:42 PM	#1
Josh Martin Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 29	External shotgun mic AT ATR55 Hey guys, I just purchased an Audio Technica ATR55 to help with my sound, I'm afraid it's not gonna be what I want. What mics do you all recommend. I'm on a budget fellows. Thanks, Josh M.

July 15th, 2003, 06:30 PM	#3
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,488	What kind of budget? That is , how much can you spend? __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

July 15th, 2003, 08:01 PM	#4
Josh Martin Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 29	shotgun mic 100.00 maybe 200.00 if it was a substancial difference.

July 16th, 2003, 04:38 AM	#5
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,488	For low cost shotgun mics, check the Sennheisr MKE300, the Azden SGM-1X or 2X, or perhaps the recently appearing NRG Research SA-568. Keep in mind that in mics you generally get what you pay for. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

July 16th, 2003, 04:21 PM	#7
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,488	The low cost mics often come with a shoe mount and mini-phone plug connector so the MA300 may not be required to use them. The ME66 is substantally above the $200 upper limit specified. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

July 15th, 2003, 03:09 PM	#2
Alex Dunn Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 202	Call Brian at Zot Digital, he'll help you with a mic selection. He talked me into the new NRG as opposed to the Senn or the AT. It works pretty well, though if I had the $280, I'd go get the AT 835b in a heartbeat. If I had $430, I'd upgrade to the SennM66. If I had a million, well, let's not go there.

July 16th, 2003, 08:14 AM	#6
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	I believe the MKE300 doesn't come with the XLR option. If you have the MA300 - which I do - you will be stuck with the standard plug end looking for a place to go! Senni MKE66 here, with the XLR, straight into the MA300. Grazie

July 17th, 2003, 12:01 AM	#8
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	Ouch! Got it Don! Grazie

July 17th, 2003, 06:09 PM	#9
David Ziegelheim Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Warren, NJ Posts: 398	Its going to be hard to find a new mike that a sound guy will like for under $200. You may be able to get the stock mike from a guy with a PDX10 or PD150 who put on an ME66 or above. If you post on pro audio you will get some good answers.

July 19th, 2003, 10:56 PM	#10
Bob Benkosky Major Player Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Lake Park, Florida Posts: 202	If you don't need the MA-300 device can you just use XLR to mini plug??? I heard of such a device at Radio Shack I think. Beachtek makes it too right? I was looking at the Audio-Technica AT835b mic and it only has XLR though. __________________ http://www.veoh.com/channels/filmmaker My clips and films.

July 20th, 2003, 04:14 AM	#11
Alan Craven Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: York, England Posts: 518	There are a variety of low/medium cost made up XLR to 3.5mm Mini-jack adaptors available in the UK. Canford Audio (www.canford.co.uk) have range of high quality adaptors - type XFB is OK. Depending on mic output and cam input impedances you may need one which incorporates a matching transformer. All the Sennheiser mics are 5/600 0hm impedance which is OK for the GL2. Provided the lead is short, there is no need to go to the expense of a balanced-unbalanced transformer. You need an XLR-3F and a 3.5mm stereo mini-jack and a length of double screen audio cable. Wire: XLR pin 1 to mini-jack sleeve XLR pin 2 to mini-jack tip and ring XLR pin 3 to mini-jack sleeve (or to XLR pin 1) I use a 20cm lead to connect my ME67 to my XM1. I find that a right angle XLR connector is more convenient than a straight one - the mic is too long already!

July 20th, 2003, 04:26 AM	#12
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	Alan, how does one locate the "direction" or identify the Pins 1 thru 3? Is that looking at the pins head on? In a clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation? I'm sure there must is an XLR convention I could look up. Are the pins numbered internally, within the plug housing? Is it like this - looking onto a male XLR head on at the pins? _________ 1 _____ 3 _______ 2 Grazie

July 20th, 2003, 08:00 AM	#13
Alan Craven Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: York, England Posts: 518	I find it easier to describe the female of the species. This is a view looking at the outside end of the female socket. The order is 1,3,2 round the arc, with a locating rib next to pin 2. O represents the hole for the pin. ...............3 ...............O ........1.............2 ........O............O ...........Flat here.....Rib Key here ..........Lock catch .............here Sorry, this is not very clear. I have had to use the dots to position the representations of the pins. Spaces don't seem to show up when I post. Every XLR I have seen has its pins labelled, usually both internally and externally. I usually buy Neutrik brand

July 20th, 2003, 02:34 PM	#14
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	Alan - well clear - thank you! G

July 22nd, 2003, 12:50 AM	#15
Bob Benkosky Major Player Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Lake Park, Florida Posts: 202	Which mic is better. The Audio-Technica AT835b or Canon's Zoom mic, or that NRG mic??? How can u tell how far it will pick up sound from anyhow? It's obviously not as good as that ME66 but better than the MKE300??? I might buy that Audio Technica soon so let me know. __________________ http://www.veoh.com/channels/filmmaker My clips and films.