Senn 416 questions

[Guest]

Hi, for my new DVX100A I want a mic for my dramatic project. It needs to be(or must be accompanied by other mics that do):
1)exteriors(NYC streets)
2)dialogue
3)narration
4)ambient noise(unless on cam mic is decent enuff for this)
Should I go with the ME66 and mayb the ME64, or just the 416? Is the 416 more multipurpose or suited to my needs? Is it worth the extra money?
Also, it requires a large $400 battery pack or phantom power(48v i think), does the camera provide enuff power for this? IF not is there a solution? What windscreens(not zeppelins, more like softies)? What mounts, that will provide shock absorption AND keep the mic outta the way(btw im using an ana adapter)? I know thats a lot of questions, but audio is one area where im a lil fuzzy. Thanks guys.

[oleg]

START HERE :-)
http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/location_sound.html#link%20four

[xopoe]

there's nothing like listening to them side by side (me66 & mkh416):

http://www.dvinfo.net/articles/audio/tanaka2.php

btw,
brian lehrer.... nyc.... you're not that brian lehrer are you?

[Barry_S]

If you can afford the MKH-416, it's a significant step up from the ME-66 and it will work for all your intended uses. The DVX100 supplies 48V phantom power for the mic. I recommend a Lightwave Equalizer furry,

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=292339&is=REG

an AT8415 shock mount,

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=300643&is=REG

or a Lightwave Minimount shockmount

http://lightwavesystems.com/products/minimount/default.htm

and a Gitzo G-557 boom pole,

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=282821&is=REG

[Guest]

Haha, no i'm not THE brian lehrer nor his relative.
But thanks a lot for the advice. I was gonna buy the 416 as long as I didnt need to buy an extra phantom power battery, so thats good news.

[xopoe]

yeah, i figured if you were that brian lehrer, you would have plenty of access to sound equipment advice. it would have been cool if brian lehrer was making a film on the side though.
btw, shooting on the streets here is a pain. i'm sure you already know this, but get that mic as close as possible to the talent and figure you may have to adr (long shots, so you can't really see the talent's mouths, and short snippets of dialogue are best for this). i shot in chinatown on a narrow winding side street - you could imagine all the background noise we picked up (i was using the mkh416). but almost no matter where you shoot here (exterior and sometimes interior), the low rumble of this city will sneak into any mic, no matter how good or 'directional'.
and if you don't have permits, and therefore can't block off a street, don't forget how many people like to mill around a group of people with a camera. i've had a guy stand over me and tell me the shot i had lined up looked good. at least he liked it. otherwise, i've never had problems shooting sans permit.

[LaFinDuMonde]

Thanks. I'm gonna do my best to get good sound. However, I sorta like the low ambient rumble of NYC, of couse as long as the dialogue remains pretty clear.

[LaFinDuMonde]

O and does the Lightwave minimount 25mm one fit fine into the DVX100A's mic clip? Or do I need to get the hot shoe one?

[Barry_S]

It fits right into the accessory shoe if you get the universal shoe carriage.

http://lightwavesystems.com/products/minimount/shoe_carriage.htm

[xopoe]

Thanks. I'm gonna do my best to get good sound. However, I sorta like the low ambient rumble of NYC, of couse as long as the dialogue remains pretty clear.

that's the problem, the low rumble can get in the way of clear dialogue. better to add in post.

[evil_edison]

I was dead set on getting an ME66 until I heard the online test putting it up agains the MKH416. Wow! What a difference. I'm going to have to deliver a lot of extra newspapers to buy that puppy. :)

[LaFinDuMonde]

ya moneys a bitch to come buy...

[LaFinDuMonde]

Thanks Barry, but thats not what I meant. I meant is the 25mm circular mounted one fine? (its a lil cheaper) Do I just fit it into the mic adapter/holder on the dvx and itll fit? Caz thats wat it looks like. Or is that totally wrong nad I need to go wit the shoe mount?

[Barry_S]

Do you mean the MM-XL designed for the XL-1s? You'd like to slip it into the stock DVX mic mount? It would probably work from the looks of it, but I think it's a much better idea ti get the mic mount away from the camera a bit so as not to pick up zoom and handling noise.

[taubkin]

Are you going to mount a 1000 dolar mic on camera? Isn't it a bit of a waste?

[LaFinDuMonde]

No, not the Canon minimount. There are three kinds of minimount: the shoe, the canon, and the similar 25mm. I was just wondering if the 25mm will fit cause its a lil cheaper than the shoe version. If not, no biggy.

Taubkin, well sometimes. I'm going to have a very small crew so at time that may be the only solution. Other than that, no, I will at least have a cheap-ass/d.i.y. boom or handheld-pistoling use of the mic

[LaFinDuMonde]

o also, i needed a mic that was capable of good narration on its own(without buying another mic or capsule). People seem to say that the 416 is pretty good all around.

[oleg]

Are you going to mount a 1000 dolar mic on camera? Isn't it a bit of a waste?

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why not, i put 1400$ mike on camera ( cmc541 with cut-1, if i need camera mounted mike).
and rest of the time it works on the boom
waste is- me 66

[LaFinDuMonde]

exactly wat i was thinkin. If i bought the ME66, not only would it mayb be below par, especially on NYC streets, I would need to put down more money for the ME64, etc.

BUT PLEASE, SOMEBODY tell me if the included microphone holder is the correct size to hold the Lightwave 25mm minimount(NOT THE CANON ONE!)

[Barry_S]

Yes, you can use the 25mm minimount carriage in the stock DVX100 mic clamp. I don't recommend it, but you can do it.

[LaFinDuMonde]

so the shoe mount is a better/steadier choice?
If it is that's fine, just a tad bit more expensive.
Btw, I really recommend the lightwave minimount: I mean you can buy the minimount for mic support and shock-proofing, and then add a shoe mount, a 25mm mount, a boom mount and a pistol grip just by scewing on and off bases. Of course these cost money, but still. $75 for a boom mount is cheaper than another mount.

[Barry_S]

The shoe mount gets the mic up and farther from the camera--so you have less of a problem with camera handling and zooming noises.