Which mic to use?
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- This topic has 1 reply, 6 voices, and was last updated 3 years, 5 months ago by
klh121560.
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April 12, 2012 at 1:25 PM #41949
klh121560
ParticipantI am asking advice on which type and/or specific mics are best for capturing audio inside an auditorium/hall for a musical or play or dance recital? There is a small non-profit doing a concert in a concert hall/auditorium (I think it is more modern music), and I am not sure what to buy for this. I have a canon vixia hf r21 camcorder, a AT899 lav mic, but that is for individuals, not an open surround sound of a indoor play/musical performance. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.
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April 12, 2012 at 1:42 PM #177261
gldnears
MemberYer screwed. There is no single mic which would do well in an auditorium full of loud music. Your best bet would be to get a feed off the house PA . . . with the usual disclaimers.
Rick Crampton
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April 12, 2012 at 2:34 PM #177262
harlockr
ParticipantAny digital audio recorder, like those from Zoom, Tascam, Sony (in the $200-300 range) would do a way better job, than getting anything into the cam itself. And sync in post.
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April 12, 2012 at 5:29 PM #177263
EarlC
MemberI setup four Zoom H2 (the model I have is discontinued but there are new models to pick from and all are great) on light stands and up high at the sides of the stage area. Two are set for 120 degrees, two at 90 degrees.
I DO NOT use direct feed from house boards to my cameras as having to replace blown circuits resulting from people who don’t know their boards put an end to thta (and MOST of them don’t, or don’t care, or think they’re doing you enough of a favor by allowing you to hookup, so when they’re lost in their REAL responsibilities they might overload, mess with the levels or cut you out altogether). But I do use an H2 with necessary adapters, connected there to gain THAT option in post editing.
Between the on-camera mics, the stage access H2’s and the board (sometimes) sourced H2, I have the audio I need to make the adjustments I want in post editing. A LOT of trouble, I’ll tell you, but usually worth it in the overall improvement in audio quality.
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April 14, 2012 at 12:23 AM #177264
videosilva
ParticipantAlways plug in to the sound board when possible. You are recording / pickup what the speakers , sound system is providing. You are pickup sound from a system that works through vibration. those vibration are what you are picking up. direct line is ALWAYS the BEST option.
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April 14, 2012 at 12:57 AM #177265
Shaun
ParticipantI hear great things about the DR-40… i’m saving for the DR-100mkii myself.
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April 14, 2012 at 2:42 AM #177266
EarlC
MemberSorry, by serious personal experience, I HAVE to say that “always” is simply NOT the definitive term for decisions regarding plugging into the sound board. Use your judgement. Inexperienced audio people can and will disappoint more often than you’d think. Again, even when dealing with supposedly and/or self-professed professionals you’re going to sometimes get somebody who couldn’t care less what happens to your connection, the levels (even when you’ve done a check prior to showtime) and will be focused on what they’ve been paid to do, not make sure everything is GO for your audio plugin.
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April 14, 2012 at 2:54 PM #177267
gldnears
Member” Always . . . “, well maybe ” never ” is also a rather broad generalisation? How about, ” It depends “? I would be highly skeptical of depending on an ” AUX ” mix from the PA guy who does indeed have better things to do than to make the video guy happy . . . . . but if the PA console has a duplicate main mix out jack ( an output which is identical to the jack driving the speakers, and does NOT have a separate level control ) then that’s the safest route.
In one instance, I took a PA console feed directly into my Sennheiser wireless transmitter ( with the modulation gain set to minimum ) and plugged the receiver into CH 1 of the camcorder and I had a short shotgun mounted on the camcorderwhich was plugged into CH 2. That worked out very well.
Rick Crampton
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April 14, 2012 at 3:01 PM #177268
EarlC
MemberGood points, Rick. In my case “NEVER” is an actuality since … well, you know, twice or thrice burned and all that 😉
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