Mic Recommendation needed

1. gglover
   Member

   
   I would very much appreciate some input on microphone usage.
   
   The application is the making of a short (as in 15-30 seconds) video clip for the web.
   
   It will consist of a guy standing and giving essentially a short "welcome" message kind of thing.
   
   I am an amateur at videos, but don't want to be stuck with the sound I'll get from the built in mic.
   
   So I'm thinking maybe a lavaliere or shotgun of some sort, recorded separately onto my DAT machine.
   
   If possible, he'd like to keep the mic cost under $150.
   
   Appreciate any advice with regard to class (lavaliere, shotgun, other?), specific brands/models, vendors...anything!
   
   -G

   Posted 5 years ago #

2. Ken
   Member

   
   Well, I'll assume your DAT machine has a mini-plug mic input (as opposed to an XLR mic input).
   
   I've been using a Rode Videomic, which is a shotgun mic costing about $150. It works very well. If used outdoors in any sort of breeze, a shotgun mic should be used with a fur "wind muff". Rode sells an affordable one called a "DeadCat" for its mic. If your subject is some distance from the camcorder, then a mic extension cable and a mic boom (and maybe a boom operator) would be needed. BTW, a mic boom coud be just a $4 bamboo pole with a 1/4" bolt through it.
   
   If your subject is going to be some distance from the camera, and moving around, then a wireless lav makes more sense. Azden has some reasonably priced mic/xmtr/rcvr kits.
   
   Hope this helped, :)
   Ken Hull

   Posted 5 years ago #

3. gglover
   Member

   
   Great to know - thanks!
   
   My DAT is an older Sony that has RCA's for analog and optical and coax for digital. I have a small mixer I was planning to use for the mic.
   
   I like the bamboo idea! Creative functional ingenuity at its finest (or thereabouts...!)
   
   -G

   Posted 5 years ago #

4. Andrew Burke
   Member

   
   Great info, guys!
   
   I've found that telescoping tree pruners also work well as boom poles. I actually spray painted over a bright green model to use on a pro shoot. It was functional and didn't look like I was trimming a tree:)
   
   There are many advantages to a commercial boom pole though: less weight and more reliability are two.
   
   -andrew

   Posted 5 years ago #

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