Need a good mic

directorik said:
I never became an audio pro but I did start out with cheap equipment and
still managed to make movies and learn. I wasn't screwed at all. Not top of the line professional, but not screwed either.
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Then you were lucky, maybe even extremely lucky. The systems you have recommended are cheap VHF wireless systems. Us "professionals" avoid VHF wireless systems because they are less reliable and far more prone to RF interference. Depending on where the OP films and possibly also when, s/he might find that a cheap VHF system meets his requirements/expectations. Alternatively, in a moderately high RF environment s/he might find a cheap VHF system gives no better sound quality than their existing built-in camcorder mic or even worse, that it's completely unusable. If the latter turns out to be the case, there's obviously not much to learn beyond the fact that they've completely wasted $200. I personally don't feel comfortable recommending a system to someone if I've no idea if it will even work, let alone how well.

OP: You're not going to get "good quality mics"/wireless system for $200. However, you might get a system which is good enough for your current expectations. If you're considering something like one of directorik's suggestions, I would strongly recommend you hire or borrow one first and test it as thoroughly as you can (in your filming locations), to make sure that it will actually work and provide you with the level of improvement you're looking for.

G
 
Velociraptor451-

Capturing solid production sound is a difficult job. The sound sources are always moving. The location will most probably have noise issues. There are many "restrictions" placed on those capturing production sound so the equipment used for capturing the production sound does not appear in the frame.

To overcome these obstacles requires knowledge and skills/techniques. I would suggest that you get "The Location Sound Bible" by Ric Viers; it's sort of a Production Sound For Dummies. This will at least give you some idea of what you are getting yourself into.

My personal position is that you should retain someone to handle the production sound for you, be it a professional or an ambitious up-and-comer. They will have the knowledge, skills, techniques and the gear to capture production sound far superior to what you could capture yourself.

If you are dead set on doing the production sound yourself lavs may be the solution for you. However, the expense may become prohibitive. The Sennheiser G3 wireless systems start at about $650, Audio Technica ATW systems at about $550, the RodeLink about $500, Audio Technica Pro-88 about $150. You will need a wireless set (lav, transmitter & receiver) for each actor with a speaking line. So if you have four (4) actors speaking lines in a scene you will need four (4) wireless lav systems PLUS a mixer. So four (4) Audio Technica Pro-88 systems will set you back $600 and a "budget" mixer like the Rolls MX422 will cost another $400, so your total cost is $1,000, and you don't even have an audio recorder as of yet. And there's cables, cases and a bunch of other accessories. Now, let's add in properly "wiring up" the talent with the lavs and transmitters, selecting wireless frequencies.... You get the idea.

"Swinging" a boom is also a tough job, but the equipage requirements are a bit less - the proper mic(s), a boom-pole, mic suspension, wind protection and an audio recorder. Here's my $1,200 buying guide.


Shotgun mic kits will have the shotgun mic, boom-pole, shock-mount and simple wind protection (softie).

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/551607-REG/Audio_Technica_AT_875_Shotgun_Microphone.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/461493-REG/Rode_NTG_1_Shotgun_Condenser.html


Hypercardioid mic:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/867157-REG/Avantone_Pro_CK1_CK_1_Small_Capsule_FET_Pencil.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/359043-REG/sE_Electronics_SE1A_SE1A_Small_Diaphragm.html



Audio recorders:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/832911-REG/Tascam_DR100MKII_DR_100mkII_Portable_Linear.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/821259-REG/Tascam_DR_40_DR_40_4_Track_Handheld_Digital.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/821260-REG/Roland_R_26_R_26_6_Channel_Digital_Field.html



Headphones:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/49510-REG/Sony_MDR_7506_MDR_7506_Headphone.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/507447-REG/Sennheiser_HD_25_1_II_HD_25_1_II.html



You'll also need cables, cases, battery packs and other miscellaneous items - about $200+.




As of right now your best option might be a Rode VideoMic kit, around $200. At least the mic will be better if you stay camera mounted, and if you have some audio assistance they can boom for you.
 
There are actually a lot of video reviews of cheap mics on YouTube. Some of them are very helpful in also teaching you what you are sacrificing in quality, range, etc.

I'm not an audio guy, so I can't speak to the results of these video comparisons.

Here is one example

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPFwmizF3YA
 
directorik said:
Looking forward to hearing from soundslikejoe.
Click to expand...

Sorry to keep you waiting... worked a reality show today... setup was one lav and one boom for sit-down interview. My lav of choice is the Sanken COS11 and my boom is the Sennheiser MKH416.

Total cost? I have two Sanken lavs that I paid $400 for.... that's $200 per mic. I bought my MKH416 for $550. New these mics are nearly double that.... and that's my recommendation for buying audio gear. Get good stuff. If you can't buy it new, it's better to buy used good stuff, than new cheap stuff. If you can't afford it right now.... just save your money for a few weeks. Can't do that? Question yourself and your film making.

What other lavs could you get? These are kick ass mics... you can find many of them from $150 to $300 on eBay.

Sennheiser MKE2 - I've seen many sell for $150 on eBay
Tram TR50 - Available for as low as $75 on eBay
Sanken COS11
Countryman B6 (getting a bit pricey, even used)

Budget Shotgun mics?
Rode NTG2 - used by MANY professional video companies.... less than $200... ALL DAY!

Now... if you buy gear, you need to use it well. Many times buying a microphone will require more gear.... cables, boom poles, recorders. Any of the above mics can sound "meh" in the wrong hands. Granted, just buying a decent mic and using a cable to plug it into a camera will help A LOT compared to on-board solutions.

How much is a "good" audio person? You can find young guys with GREAT equipment for relatively little money. So.... hiring a sound guy ONCE is cheaper than buying good gear... and you can learn from them, have them available for the jobs that you couldn't do well solo, and still buy your own mics later.

Or you could just buy mics and learn on the job. That's a real possibility... but it's not something a client would appreciate when you get to post and the audio isn't good. And no one can afford a bad reputation.

Hope this helps!
 
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