EmperorHai
02-14-2004, 04:48 PM
Alrighty, I will have some money (finally) to buy some audio equipment. I'm planning on doing many different things (Docs, Films, Weddings, Events), what would you guys suggest I buy first?
Shotgun, Lav, etc.?
Elvis
02-14-2004, 06:47 PM
What type of project are you doing first? Then you have to know there is no one mic that does it all. 8)
EmperorHai
02-14-2004, 08:24 PM
Hmmm..
Well, I'll be doing them all, but I suppose the wedding and events are the most important considering that that will be bringing in the money.
Elvis
02-14-2004, 08:47 PM
Well then a wireless is a must for wedding put it on the groom ! Then a good shotgun as close as you can get it to *the couple. Keep it off your camera just in case you have to pan somewhere. You don't want to miss any dialog. An a good wireless hand held mic for interviews. 8)
Barry_Green
02-14-2004, 09:31 PM
If you're going to be doing weddings, you should ask the people who do the most, the best: www.weva.org. I'm sure you'll get very specific recommendations.
I mean, in wireless alone, you have VHF, UHF, UHF Diversity, plus you should have an idea of what frequencies are in use in your area so you can buy a system that lies outside that range. Then you have manufacturers like Azden, Samson, Audio-Technica, Sennheiser, Lectrosonics... and price ranges from a couple hundred up to maybe $3000 per.
Each of your proposed uses (docs, films, weddings, and events) require different equipment. It'll be difficult to cover it all. Docs would need a couple of high-quality wired lavalieres for interviews and a camera-mountable shotgun, probably an electret condenser. For films you'll want maybe the same lavs, plus a high-quality overhead boom mic. For weddings, wireless can be very handy (provided it doesn't conflict with the church A/V system!) Or you may be looking at minidisc recorders in the groom's pocket and the minister's pocket. Plus an on-camera mic. And for events, well, heck -- what type of events? Football games? Conventions?
It's all different. But if you're going after weddings first, I'd recommend going over to weva.org, signing up, and checking out their forums. They have a convention here every year and it's a huge event, about 20 times the size of DV Expo, and all the equipment manufacturers show up and demo gear (it's basically like a second CES but without all the unrelated businesses).