Best mics for graduations...? at DVinfo.net

Scott Delish · August 15th, 2007, 08:51 AM

What would be the best microphone for graduation?

Jonathan Kirsch · August 15th, 2007, 10:58 AM

Seriously, you have to give us more information if you want a good response: Where are you going to be? How many people are speaking? Is there a podium where the speaker is going to be? Inside or outside? What do you want to capture? Is there a mult box you can plug into?

Jonathan

Scott Delish · August 15th, 2007, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonathan Kirsch

Seriously, you have to give us more information if you want a good response: Where are you going to be? How many people are speaking? Is there a podium where the speaker is going to be? Inside or outside? What do you want to capture? Is there a mult box you can plug into?

Jonathan

There will be from 2-10 people speaking
There will be a podium
It depends if it's inside or outside (weather)
I want it to capture from long distances (at least 50 ft)
Not sure what a mult box is... =\

Steven Davis · August 15th, 2007, 01:44 PM

The best mic you are going to have is one you can get up close. Inside + distance = echo, typically. Outside + Distance = low volume, high wind noise, high car noise etc. If it were a graduation I was doing, I would think wireless/wired mic or both.

Jonathan Kirsch · August 16th, 2007, 09:09 AM

Scott,

A mult box is a piece of hardware (usually permanently built-in somewhere) that allows multiple inputs (hence the name) of XLR cables for one source (usually a microphone). So instead of 30 mics on a podium, there's just one and the rest of the photogs (usually in press conference situation) plug into the mult box and get the same audio. See link: http://www.mattszabo.com/archives/20...alled_a_m.html (just a funny example)

I agree with Steven that a wireless mic would be best...probably a lav mic attached somehow (gaffer's tape?) to the mic on the podium. Make sure you get it somewhere close to the end of the mic (where the person will be talking), and attach it underneath so you can't see it. Make sure to tape the wire out of the way so no one knocks it.

Jonathan

Zach Stewart · August 16th, 2007, 09:34 AM

I myself have jumped off the wireless boat. It's too risky with drop out and you can never forsee something else coming into your clean frequency space until it does, and then its too late. I use harddisk recorders/iRivers to record audio and then sync it in post. The audio quality is the same if not better, and i no longer risk any kind of interferance. The only thing that can go wrong is user error, so as long as i do my job and properly set everything up before hand it works fine.

One the other hand, If there is a podium already mic'd up I would patch into the board and get a direct feed. If the school/venue has a mult box available this is ideal as well.

August 15th, 2007, 08:51 AM	#1
Scott Delish Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Trenton, NE Posts: 93	Best mics for graduations...? What would be the best microphone for graduation?

August 15th, 2007, 01:44 PM	#4
Steven Davis Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,065	The best mic you are going to have is one you can get up close. Inside + distance = echo, typically. Outside + Distance = low volume, high wind noise, high car noise etc. If it were a graduation I was doing, I would think wireless/wired mic or both. __________________ What happens if I push the 'Red' button?

August 16th, 2007, 09:09 AM	#5
Jonathan Kirsch Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 204	Scott, A mult box is a piece of hardware (usually permanently built-in somewhere) that allows multiple inputs (hence the name) of XLR cables for one source (usually a microphone). So instead of 30 mics on a podium, there's just one and the rest of the photogs (usually in press conference situation) plug into the mult box and get the same audio. See link: http://www.mattszabo.com/archives/20...alled_a_m.html (just a funny example) I agree with Steven that a wireless mic would be best...probably a lav mic attached somehow (gaffer's tape?) to the mic on the podium. Make sure you get it somewhere close to the end of the mic (where the person will be talking), and attach it underneath so you can't see it. Make sure to tape the wire out of the way so no one knocks it. Jonathan Last edited by Jonathan Kirsch; August 16th, 2007 at 12:20 PM.

August 15th, 2007, 10:58 AM	#2
Jonathan Kirsch Major Player Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 204	Seriously, you have to give us more information if you want a good response: Where are you going to be? How many people are speaking? Is there a podium where the speaker is going to be? Inside or outside? What do you want to capture? Is there a mult box you can plug into? Jonathan

August 16th, 2007, 09:34 AM	#6
Zach Stewart Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 176	I myself have jumped off the wireless boat. It's too risky with drop out and you can never forsee something else coming into your clean frequency space until it does, and then its too late. I use harddisk recorders/iRivers to record audio and then sync it in post. The audio quality is the same if not better, and i no longer risk any kind of interferance. The only thing that can go wrong is user error, so as long as i do my job and properly set everything up before hand it works fine. One the other hand, If there is a podium already mic'd up I would patch into the board and get a direct feed. If the school/venue has a mult box available this is ideal as well.