Mics for All Occasions

All mics are NOT created equal; you have do your research to find which mic best suits your needs. Let's take a look at a few needs to mic people, places and things.

Yesterday, I stopped at a local music store to pick up some supplies for my son. Inside, I was treated to a conversation between the hotshot manager and a microphone shopper. Over the next ten minutes, the manager bombarded this poor customer with every microphone myth and piece of misinformation he could muster. Having spent over 25 years in professional recording and sound, I found it hard to keep my mouth shut, but I managed to remain professional and adult through the ordeal. It made me realize how little people understand about microphone choice and application. So this month, we'll investigate mic selection and how to maximize mics in your productions.

Mics for People

There's no getting around it - there will be people in your videos from time to time, and people tend to talk. That means you'll need to mic them. The trick is getting the best sound while still serving the needs of the production. Interviews and other controlled shoots have a couple of options. First is the trusty lapel microphone. Clipped on or under clothing, this workhorse gathers consistent sound by keeping the mic a constant distance from the talent's mouth. There are a few caveats, though. Lapel mics tend to be omni-directional, picking up sound equally from all directions. This makes it difficult to isolate voices from loud background noise. Also, if you're hiding a lapel mic in clothing, you may pick up rubbing sounds. Try to keep the mic as stationary as possible, using gaffer's tape or other creative fastener. (We've recently found some lightweight medical tape that works pretty well, too.) Failing that, try other locations to minimize the noise.

Another popular choice is the shotgun microphone. These beauties are highly directional and perfect for picking a voice out of a crowd or isolating it from other noises. Usually, you attach shotgun mics to a boom pole or microphone stand, although you can hold them too. Due to their increased sensitivity, shotguns can pick up quite a bit of mechanical noise, so you usually want to install them in a shock-absorbing mount. In use, you typically suspend a shotgun directly over and just in front of the subject. Be careful to keep the mic out of your shot framing. More than one movie has made it to screen with telltale mic hardware in the shot. If the overhead option doesn't work for your project, try a lower position, with the mic pointing up at the talent. The sound is almost as good, and the lower position offers some flexibility in certain situations. If you're shooting outdoors, don't forget to use a serious windscreen. Rycote, Windtech and others offer complete solutions for anything from a breeze to a hurr…