On Camera Mic in Churches at DVinfo.net

Denny Kyser · May 23rd, 2010, 05:23 PM

I have been reading that Shotgun Mics inside churches or smaller receptions is not the ideal choice.
Obviously one channel is the lav mic, what are you guys using for the other channel?

Thanks

Philip Howells · May 23rd, 2010, 05:54 PM

Denny, my advice is read less.

Unless you have a specific objective for the second channel, a short gun is, in my opinion, the best source for ambient, background sound - and just the chance of a usable get-out-of-jail soundtrack. Generally, on board mics are useless except for recording inadvertent Foley tracks. We have an AT 897 in each second channel.

Denny Kyser · May 23rd, 2010, 06:09 PM

Was watching a video on BH and it suggests a small diaphragm mic inside, this is what I have been wondering about.

Philip Howells · May 23rd, 2010, 06:27 PM

Denny, an AT 897 is a small diaphragm electret - just a slightly different polar pattern - we're not a million miles apart. What I wouldn't recommend is a long gun, that's true.

Don Bloom · May 23rd, 2010, 09:20 PM

I too use an 897 on my B camera and it picks up the music wonderfully. I don't worry about it getting anything else because in 99% of the cases it won't but for the music, it's great. All my other voice is picked up by 2 lavs running back to my A camera. At the reception I use a Hypercaroid and a drum mic set to my wireless. I think I've posted my setup about 10 times so it's in there somewhere.
Like was said, that articla is pretty general in scope.

Chris Harding · May 23rd, 2010, 10:38 PM

Hi Denny

At Church weddings I have a radio mic on each channel (one for the groom and one for the lectern where they do the readings) The B-Cam uses a Rode VM for ambient.
At outdoor gigs where everyone is in one spot I just use a radio mic on the groom and kick in the other Rode VM on the main camera. It's saved my bacon a couple of times where someone way out of shot has suddently decided to read an impromptu poem and the VM does very well in these conditions. In times of emergency I do like a "hot" mic on the camera and the VM has a robust output!! During the reception I need to switch in the -20db XLR attenuation to avoid it over modulating but with attenuation off it's a very useful tool for doing guest interviews even with high background noise...still amazes me the way it can punch thru all the high ambient noise and still get a decent signal from the guest!!

Chris

May 23rd, 2010, 05:23 PM	#1
Denny Kyser Major Player Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Warren, Pa Posts: 785	On Camera Mic in Churches I have been reading that Shotgun Mics inside churches or smaller receptions is not the ideal choice. Obviously one channel is the lav mic, what are you guys using for the other channel? Thanks __________________ 2 Canon XF305's Kyser Photography www.kyserphoto.com

May 23rd, 2010, 06:09 PM	#3
Denny Kyser Major Player Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Warren, Pa Posts: 785	Was watching a video on BH and it suggests a small diaphragm mic inside, this is what I have been wondering about. __________________ 2 Canon XF305's Kyser Photography www.kyserphoto.com

May 23rd, 2010, 09:20 PM	#5
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	I too use an 897 on my B camera and it picks up the music wonderfully. I don't worry about it getting anything else because in 99% of the cases it won't but for the music, it's great. All my other voice is picked up by 2 lavs running back to my A camera. At the reception I use a Hypercaroid and a drum mic set to my wireless. I think I've posted my setup about 10 times so it's in there somewhere. Like was said, that articla is pretty general in scope. __________________ What do I know? I'm just a video-O-grafer. Don

May 23rd, 2010, 05:54 PM	#2
Philip Howells Trustee Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Manchester UK Posts: 1,212	Denny, my advice is read less. Unless you have a specific objective for the second channel, a short gun is, in my opinion, the best source for ambient, background sound - and just the chance of a usable get-out-of-jail soundtrack. Generally, on board mics are useless except for recording inadvertent Foley tracks. We have an AT 897 in each second channel.

May 23rd, 2010, 06:27 PM	#4
Philip Howells Trustee Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Manchester UK Posts: 1,212	Denny, an AT 897 is a small diaphragm electret - just a slightly different polar pattern - we're not a million miles apart. What I wouldn't recommend is a long gun, that's true.

May 23rd, 2010, 10:38 PM	#6
Chris Harding Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 8,441	Hi Denny At Church weddings I have a radio mic on each channel (one for the groom and one for the lectern where they do the readings) The B-Cam uses a Rode VM for ambient. At outdoor gigs where everyone is in one spot I just use a radio mic on the groom and kick in the other Rode VM on the main camera. It's saved my bacon a couple of times where someone way out of shot has suddently decided to read an impromptu poem and the VM does very well in these conditions. In times of emergency I do like a "hot" mic on the camera and the VM has a robust output!! During the reception I need to switch in the -20db XLR attenuation to avoid it over modulating but with attenuation off it's a very useful tool for doing guest interviews even with high background noise...still amazes me the way it can punch thru all the high ambient noise and still get a decent signal from the guest!! Chris