Enhancing the ME66/K6 at DVinfo.net

Rob Wilson · February 13th, 2003, 09:17 PM

I'm working a job that will involve shooting a meeting with about 150 participants. I'm mic'ing the presenter with a wireless but also need to pick up questions from the audience. Planning on using a ME66 with someone pointing it at the individual asking the question since there is really no way to pass a hand mic around. Is there any way to improve the reception (and off axis rejection) of this mic by perhaps using some type of dish reflector that I've seen used in sporting events? Or.... any other ideas.

Ken Tanaka · February 13th, 2003, 11:22 PM

Rob,
Unless you're already exclusively committed to the ME-66 you might want to consider using the ME-67 mic instead. It has a significantly narrower field and also fits onto the same K6 power module as the ME-66.

Other than that, just follow the general mic-ing guidelines that normally apply. Get the mic as close to the subject as possible, perhaps using a boom. Make sure it's pointed downward if possible to eliminate background sounds.

Rik Sanchez · February 14th, 2003, 01:01 AM

Rob,
I own an ME-67, great mike, make sure the person who will hold and point the mike has a pair of headphones so they can monitor the sound. Just pointing the mike at the general direction of the speaker is not enough, I always wear headphones when I use that mike so I can find the best sound. Headphones are especially needed if you have the mike pointing downwards, you don't want to get audio of the speakers feet shuffling.

Ken Tanaka · February 14th, 2003, 01:26 AM

Rik's right-on in his remarks.

To clarify my recommendation, my reasoning for suggesting the ME-67 was to better-enable you to zero-in on a single voice in a closely-packed audience. This level or surgical precision may or may not be desirable in your case. Broadcast news crews generally use shotgun mics wih patterns similar to that of the ME-66 (if not actually using the ME-66) to cover press conference questions. The ME-67's field is much narrower. In fact the mic should probably ship with a crosshair sight <g>. As Rik noted, it will definitely require active monitoring.

Rob Wilson · February 14th, 2003, 06:27 AM

Thanks for the inputs, wish I had a 67 to work with but for the time being, have to use what I've got! Guess best case is to use the 66 on a wireless and have my sound guy move up and down the room to get as close as posssible. Boom is probably more work then value since it would only reach 15% of the room (60ft wide). Previous posts have discussed using the mic amps with headphone jacks between the mic and wireless transmitter. Looks like it's time to spend more money (Does it EVER end).

Rik Sanchez · February 14th, 2003, 08:04 AM

If your sound guy will be running up and down to get the person asking the question, make sure to have the main speaker work with the sound guy, so when the sound guy is in position with the question guy, the speaker can ask the person to repeat the question.

I can picture someone asking a question and by the time the sound guy gets near the questioner, the speaker is already answering the question which you didn't get on tape. Maybe an annoucement by the main speaker telling everyone to wait untill the sound guy is ready before asking their question.

I doubt people will remember so good luck when filming, hope your sound guy is fast on his feet.

Rob Wilson · February 18th, 2003, 11:47 AM

Just finished fabrication of a hand held mount for the ME66 that should work really well for this application. Less than $50 in parts and "Looks" like it'll do everything the $250 Sennheiser mounts do (well, it won't work well as a stand). Plus, it isolates cable noise from the mic. If anyone is curious, glad to send pics/parts

Tustin Larson · February 18th, 2003, 12:33 PM

i am curious.. please send pics...

tlarson@cathedralcity.gov

Thanx,
Tustin

Rob Wilson · February 18th, 2003, 12:51 PM

Tustin, sent directly to your email. Not sure how/where to post.

Christopher Hughes · February 18th, 2003, 03:12 PM

Im curious too...can you send pics and parts to my email: jius@excite.com

Thanks!!!

Joshua Wachs · February 20th, 2003, 08:32 PM

I would also like to see...

please send to joshuaATbusybrainDOTcom

please change AT to @ and DOT to .

(put that way for spam safety)

February 13th, 2003, 09:17 PM	#1
Rob Wilson Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Flagstaff, AZ Posts: 473	Enhancing the ME66/K6 I'm working a job that will involve shooting a meeting with about 150 participants. I'm mic'ing the presenter with a wireless but also need to pick up questions from the audience. Planning on using a ME66 with someone pointing it at the individual asking the question since there is really no way to pass a hand mic around. Is there any way to improve the reception (and off axis rejection) of this mic by perhaps using some type of dish reflector that I've seen used in sporting events? Or.... any other ideas.

February 13th, 2003, 11:22 PM	#2
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Rob, Unless you're already exclusively committed to the ME-66 you might want to consider using the ME-67 mic instead. It has a significantly narrower field and also fits onto the same K6 power module as the ME-66. Other than that, just follow the general mic-ing guidelines that normally apply. Get the mic as close to the subject as possible, perhaps using a boom. Make sure it's pointed downward if possible to eliminate background sounds. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

February 14th, 2003, 01:01 AM	#3
Rik Sanchez ChorizoSmells Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Osaka, Japan Posts: 424	Rob, I own an ME-67, great mike, make sure the person who will hold and point the mike has a pair of headphones so they can monitor the sound. Just pointing the mike at the general direction of the speaker is not enough, I always wear headphones when I use that mike so I can find the best sound. Headphones are especially needed if you have the mike pointing downwards, you don't want to get audio of the speakers feet shuffling. __________________ ChorizoSmells Video Barrio Tamatsukuri, Osaka, JAPAN

February 14th, 2003, 01:26 AM	#4
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Postscript & Clarification Rik's right-on in his remarks. To clarify my recommendation, my reasoning for suggesting the ME-67 was to better-enable you to zero-in on a single voice in a closely-packed audience. This level or surgical precision may or may not be desirable in your case. Broadcast news crews generally use shotgun mics wih patterns similar to that of the ME-66 (if not actually using the ME-66) to cover press conference questions. The ME-67's field is much narrower. In fact the mic should probably ship with a crosshair sight <g>. As Rik noted, it will definitely require active monitoring. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

February 14th, 2003, 08:04 AM	#6
Rik Sanchez ChorizoSmells Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Osaka, Japan Posts: 424	If your sound guy will be running up and down to get the person asking the question, make sure to have the main speaker work with the sound guy, so when the sound guy is in position with the question guy, the speaker can ask the person to repeat the question. I can picture someone asking a question and by the time the sound guy gets near the questioner, the speaker is already answering the question which you didn't get on tape. Maybe an annoucement by the main speaker telling everyone to wait untill the sound guy is ready before asking their question. I doubt people will remember so good luck when filming, hope your sound guy is fast on his feet. __________________ ChorizoSmells Video Barrio Tamatsukuri, Osaka, JAPAN

February 14th, 2003, 06:27 AM	#5
Rob Wilson Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Flagstaff, AZ Posts: 473	Thanks for the inputs, wish I had a 67 to work with but for the time being, have to use what I've got! Guess best case is to use the 66 on a wireless and have my sound guy move up and down the room to get as close as posssible. Boom is probably more work then value since it would only reach 15% of the room (60ft wide). Previous posts have discussed using the mic amps with headphone jacks between the mic and wireless transmitter. Looks like it's time to spend more money (Does it EVER end).

February 18th, 2003, 11:47 AM	#7
Rob Wilson Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Flagstaff, AZ Posts: 473	Just finished fabrication of a hand held mount for the ME66 that should work really well for this application. Less than $50 in parts and "Looks" like it'll do everything the $250 Sennheiser mounts do (well, it won't work well as a stand). Plus, it isolates cable noise from the mic. If anyone is curious, glad to send pics/parts

February 18th, 2003, 12:33 PM	#8
Tustin Larson Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Palm Springs, CA Posts: 86	i am curious.. please send pics... tlarson@cathedralcity.gov Thanx, Tustin

February 18th, 2003, 12:51 PM	#9
Rob Wilson Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Flagstaff, AZ Posts: 473	Tustin, sent directly to your email. Not sure how/where to post.

February 18th, 2003, 03:12 PM	#10
Christopher Hughes Major Player Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Sunderland, England (y Merida, Mexico) Posts: 269	Im curious too...can you send pics and parts to my email: jius@excite.com Thanks!!!

February 20th, 2003, 08:32 PM	#11
Joshua Wachs Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 95	I would also like to see... please send to joshuaATbusybrainDOTcom please change AT to @ and DOT to . (put that way for spam safety) __________________ http://busybrain.com