Interview Microphone

Carl Jakobsson · March 11th, 2006, 10:24 AM

I've used the Shure SM58 A LOT doing interviews at nightclubs, right on the dancefloor. During the interview you can't hardly hear yourself talking, but on tape, the dialouge is very clear and separated from the backgrund. But you have to know how to handle a mic, otherwise you're risking to miss some of the dialog.

I've also used a Sennheiser mic, which also worked good, but not as good as the SM58. Can't remember the model though.

A general tip for doing these kind of filming is to always have a handheld mic on one channel, and the built in mic on the other channel.

Daniel Wang · March 19th, 2006, 01:41 AM

I've used many a different mic...some good. some bad. some amazing. some disgusting.

If YOU are holding the mic for the person:
- Use a shotgun. The K6/ME66 works well, because it's shotgun, you can frame it out of shot, and it'll be good for crowded places, AS LONG as it's properly directed.

If you arent holding the mic:
-See the mics below. I used to have a t-shirt with a line above the chest and an arrow reading "Mic does not go below this line".... but it's got worn out.

If you arent in a rush
- Use a clip on lav, since it's dressy, you can hide the wire through the coat, but not the best for loud crowded places, or for those who rustle or move alot.

Handheld Mics (ENG)
-Electro Voice RE50 : This is the undenied standard for audio. News crews everywhere use this mic, I've owned mine since it was passed down to me from a very seasoned retiring photog. It had been to Nam' and run over by tanks and Humvees, dropped from moving vehicles, through fire and in 3 Cat. 4+ hurrianes, ...the list goes on. This is the standby everywhere. And truthfully (shamefully), it doubles as a hammer and bludgeon. The older models are silver, the newer ones are black. I own 2, one silver thats over 30 years old (and still working, dented, paint mostly gone), one black that sounds the same as the older, but looks better on camera.

-Electro Voice 635 : The same mic in a different pakage as aboce (RE50), cheaper but less pretty.

-Sennheiser MD46 : This is a newer mic, introduced within the past 2 or so years. At first, news crews were cautionary of letting go of their RE50s' but the longer handle allows for a station flag. It also looks a little better on camera, and it's being used by higher-class crews.

-Shure SM63 : This is my backup, it sounds a little thin, but looks good on camera. I dont see it used as often, but it is used professionally.

-Shure VP64 : A nice mic but not as pretty as the SM63 or MD46. It has a nice bassy, natural for the male voice but bad for wind-issues.

-Shure SM58 : I used this early in the day, but if you ever choose to show your video to any pros, you might get flack for not using a true ENG mic (like the ones above). The cardioid pattern, is too wide for my liking... pics up too much noise, but if the holder doesnt know how to hold a mic, it works.

-SM57 : Much like the 58', the 57 is roughly the same mic, except a little longer without the spherical grill. I only used this when I had to, it has it's place in the performance audio field, on stage and in the studio and even though it's one of the most durable mics' out there, the cardioid pattern of the 57' and 58' is too wide to be used in a crowded room.

The Shure SM57 and SM58 are great mics, but they are too open for a crowded room or anywhere with alot of background noise. I would recommend the use of a handheld shotgun, but manytimes unless you are the one holding the mic in a proper placement for handheld use (upwards towards the speaker at mid chest / stomach level), it can be mis-directed. The RE50 at around $150 is a great mic, and if you stay in the buisness, will be a performer until you get out of the buisness. If you are really restricted, go with the 635A, which also holds the same indestructability of the RE50 in a less-pretty package. I stand by the Electro Voice mics, only seviced twice, once on each mic to replace the internal wiring, a precaution every 2 years, not nessecary.

Note: I'm not bashing the SM57 or SM58, when I do live sound they are my stand-by's, but they arent as good in the ENG field. Only in the right conditions is the 57/58 good. But in a crowded room with alot of background noise the pickup pattern is just too wide. For voiceovers, they are great starters, but for the best audio for the buck? For what I think you want audio wise, the 58/57 just might not be the best tool available in the price range.

Jimmy McKenzie · March 19th, 2006, 09:48 AM

What a complete review Daniel. Page 1 of the special event shooters audio buying guide.

I use a near pattern mike on the sennheiser transmitter. Nice and close, cancels out the deejay with all the range of the talent.

I also have the ME66/K6. Have you ever used this in a noisy hall environment? If so, how have the results been? I have not ever experimented with this due to it's long range.

March 11th, 2006, 10:24 AM	#16
Carl Jakobsson Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Lund, Sweden Posts: 122	I've used the Shure SM58 A LOT doing interviews at nightclubs, right on the dancefloor. During the interview you can't hardly hear yourself talking, but on tape, the dialouge is very clear and separated from the backgrund. But you have to know how to handle a mic, otherwise you're risking to miss some of the dialog. I've also used a Sennheiser mic, which also worked good, but not as good as the SM58. Can't remember the model though. A general tip for doing these kind of filming is to always have a handheld mic on one channel, and the built in mic on the other channel. __________________ http://www.nattvard.com

March 19th, 2006, 01:41 AM	#17
Daniel Wang Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 113	Mic...mi...ehih mic.... I've used many a different mic...some good. some bad. some amazing. some disgusting. If YOU are holding the mic for the person: - Use a shotgun. The K6/ME66 works well, because it's shotgun, you can frame it out of shot, and it'll be good for crowded places, AS LONG as it's properly directed. If you arent holding the mic: -See the mics below. I used to have a t-shirt with a line above the chest and an arrow reading "Mic does not go below this line".... but it's got worn out. If you arent in a rush - Use a clip on lav, since it's dressy, you can hide the wire through the coat, but not the best for loud crowded places, or for those who rustle or move alot. Handheld Mics (ENG) -Electro Voice RE50 : This is the undenied standard for audio. News crews everywhere use this mic, I've owned mine since it was passed down to me from a very seasoned retiring photog. It had been to Nam' and run over by tanks and Humvees, dropped from moving vehicles, through fire and in 3 Cat. 4+ hurrianes, ...the list goes on. This is the standby everywhere. And truthfully (shamefully), it doubles as a hammer and bludgeon. The older models are silver, the newer ones are black. I own 2, one silver thats over 30 years old (and still working, dented, paint mostly gone), one black that sounds the same as the older, but looks better on camera. -Electro Voice 635 : The same mic in a different pakage as aboce (RE50), cheaper but less pretty. -Sennheiser MD46 : This is a newer mic, introduced within the past 2 or so years. At first, news crews were cautionary of letting go of their RE50s' but the longer handle allows for a station flag. It also looks a little better on camera, and it's being used by higher-class crews. -Shure SM63 : This is my backup, it sounds a little thin, but looks good on camera. I dont see it used as often, but it is used professionally. -Shure VP64 : A nice mic but not as pretty as the SM63 or MD46. It has a nice bassy, natural for the male voice but bad for wind-issues. -Shure SM58 : I used this early in the day, but if you ever choose to show your video to any pros, you might get flack for not using a true ENG mic (like the ones above). The cardioid pattern, is too wide for my liking... pics up too much noise, but if the holder doesnt know how to hold a mic, it works. -SM57 : Much like the 58', the 57 is roughly the same mic, except a little longer without the spherical grill. I only used this when I had to, it has it's place in the performance audio field, on stage and in the studio and even though it's one of the most durable mics' out there, the cardioid pattern of the 57' and 58' is too wide to be used in a crowded room. The Shure SM57 and SM58 are great mics, but they are too open for a crowded room or anywhere with alot of background noise. I would recommend the use of a handheld shotgun, but manytimes unless you are the one holding the mic in a proper placement for handheld use (upwards towards the speaker at mid chest / stomach level), it can be mis-directed. The RE50 at around $150 is a great mic, and if you stay in the buisness, will be a performer until you get out of the buisness. If you are really restricted, go with the 635A, which also holds the same indestructability of the RE50 in a less-pretty package. I stand by the Electro Voice mics, only seviced twice, once on each mic to replace the internal wiring, a precaution every 2 years, not nessecary. Note: I'm not bashing the SM57 or SM58, when I do live sound they are my stand-by's, but they arent as good in the ENG field. Only in the right conditions is the 57/58 good. But in a crowded room with alot of background noise the pickup pattern is just too wide. For voiceovers, they are great starters, but for the best audio for the buck? For what I think you want audio wise, the 58/57 just might not be the best tool available in the price range.

March 19th, 2006, 09:48 AM	#18
Jimmy McKenzie Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Waterloo Ontario Posts: 721	What a complete review Daniel. Page 1 of the special event shooters audio buying guide. I use a near pattern mike on the sennheiser transmitter. Nice and close, cancels out the deejay with all the range of the talent. I also have the ME66/K6. Have you ever used this in a noisy hall environment? If so, how have the results been? I have not ever experimented with this due to it's long range.