Buying a complete audio package! Help! Sennheiser/Oktava

[borax]

Hi,

My goal is to buy a nice audio package that takes into account indoor, outdoor and wireless usage. I will be using the gear to shoot a horror film with the HVX200.

Mainly I am thinking of going with Sennheiser because they are considered industry standard. If you think I am missing out on buying some better mic/mics. Please let me know.

It seems the Sennheiser Evolution G2 is considered one of the best wireless systems and seems like an obvious choice. (Should I get 2 of these or just use one and a shotgun on a boom for the 2nd mic?)

Maybe a Sennheiser MKH 416 for a nice exterior shotgun?? (My thinking is that it will match the wireless stuff because its the same brand, but I am not sure.)


The real question comes with getting a indoor mic. I have read great things about the Okatava MK12 mics on this site. So I am thinking about purchasing a stereo matched set, but have a few questions.

Is it worth getting the 6 capsule set (cardioid, hypercardioid, or omni) right off the bat considering I will have those other mics?

Do you find yourself normally using only one of the capsules more than the others for indoor? (Which one?)

Which company should I buy them from? (OktavaUSA or Red Audio)

Also will the Oktava mics match Senneheiser mics within reason?

Any help would be great,
Thanks

 

[wabbit]

Most of this has been covered but some quick corrections to your post.

Sennheiser boom mics are ONE of the industry standards. I like them, so do others but there are other "industry standard" choices like Nuemann, Sankan and now the Schopes CMIT. You might want to explore the qualities of your different choices before settling on one.

Sennheiser wireless are not considered the best but a distant third to Zaxcom and Lectrosonics, both digital hybrid and analog. They are popular because they are cheap and satisfactory. Either way you will also need lavs mics to replace the stock mics that come with the wireless.

One wireless is mostly useless. When you need one wireless, especially for movies, you will need at least two, probably more. There was just a recent thread here about Matthew getting screwed by not having enough wireless.

Matching brand name of your wireless and shotgun does not matter.

You will only need the hyper cap for the Oktava and a match set is also not necessary. Get the Oktava's from the very popular Sound Room. Put "DV" in the discount code for a DVXUser's discount.

Your shotgun mic and hyper don't need to "match" since they will never be used within the same scene.

The Oktava requires extra wind protection, do a search for that. Your shotgun will require some sort of zeppelin. Ktek makes an affordable one.

In addition to the mics you will need a mixer, cables, and a boom pole or two.

Having said all that, the question is, why are you looking to blow several thousand dollars on gear you know little about using? Despite renting being consider a four letter word by most freshman filmmakers, it is often the wiser choice when you are just getting started.

Do you know who is going to operate all that equipment? You? A buddy? Maybe your buddy should be looking at purchasing the gear then. Find who you are going to get to record sound before buying gear. Most people interested in mixing your audio will already have most or all of the gear you need.

Read through the stickies and use the search function for more opinions on the gear you are curious about.

Good luck

 

[Dean Wuhl]

Sennheiser wireless are not considered the best but a distant third to Zaxcom and Lectrosonics, both digital hybrid and analog. They are popular because they are cheap and satisfactory. Either way you will also need lavs mics to replace the stock mics that come with the wireless.

One wireless is mostly useless. When you need one wireless, especially for movies, you will need at least two, probably more. There was just a recent thread here about Matthew getting screwed by not having enough wireless.

Good luck

Sennheiser G2 distant third? What happened to Audio Limited and Vega? The G2s are junk, near the very bottom in my opinion. Noisy and RF prone even if you think you have a clear frequency. If RF hits are acceptable in your line of work, then it is definitely affordable. I'd rather rent or hire someone.

3 wireless I would say is the minimum with one boom mic for low budget. Yes, Matthew did not have enough wireless.

 

[Jeremy Ordan]

G2 is generally considered the bottom of the barrel for acceptable audio from a wireless source. Wabbit knows this but it just didn't come out clear in his post. That being said, what's any of it matter?

The logic is to rent or hire but no one wants to listen to logic or reason because you don't get to keep stuff with that solution.

 

[borax]

The reason I want to buy instead of rent is so that I can own my own kit for doing freelance videography.

I have noticed that there job postings that are looking for videographers who can show up with their own gear and shoot an event for 1 or 2 days. Right now I can't apply for these jobs. I know they aren't usually the most interesting gigs but I would rather be shooting then working an office job.

Also I do a bit of experimental music and would love to have my own equipment to make some nice stereo field recordings. Do you consider the use of mutiple mics a key factor in getting that film quality sound? Would 2 shotguns mics on a T stand usually sound better than just one?

I see what you are saying about the wireless and the Sennheiser shotgun. If it was up to you and you had $2,500 to $3000 spend on a wireless, shotgun, and room mic what would you buy?

Right now I only own the dreaded ME-66 and want some better options!!

Thanks

 

[shawnmaddock]

Also I do a bit of experimental music and would love to have my own equipment to make some nice stereo field recordings.

The mics discussed here are good mics... for dialog. Recording music, even vocals, is a different ballgame. You've got two expensive hobbies. I'd pick which one is more likely to make you money, and use that to fund the other one. And in the mean time, I'd still say rent... you could still do the one or two day gigs with most rented equipment.

 

[wabbit]

Sennheiser G2 distant third? What happened to Audio Limited and Vega? The G2s are junk, near the very bottom in my opinion. Noisy and RF prone even if you think you have a clear frequency. If RF hits are acceptable in your line of work, then it is definitely affordable. I'd rather rent or hire someone.

3 wireless I would say is the minimum with one boom mic for low budget. Yes, Matthew did not have enough wireless.

"I did not come here to praise G2 but to bury them"

Well, without being quite as blunt as you, this was the intent of calling them a DISTANT 3rd. Was also not including Micron or Sennheiser 5000 but more of a general comparison amoung popular choices in the USA.

But since the subject is broken, yes the G2 are actually quite a mess compared to what else is available today. But they will adequately work for ENG type work so for those on a budget, they are probably the best choice. The DVX is hardly the best camera available either but does a good job for it's price. Same thing.

I see what you are saying about the wireless and the Sennheiser shotgun. If it was up to you and you had $2,500 to $3000 spend on a wireless, shotgun, and room mic what would you buy?

Jeremy's stickie does a good job of discussing this budget range: http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=51526

Add a mixer and a couple of G2 wireless to his Kit 8 and your budget is maxed out.

But again renting your audio kit for the first couple of gigs will help you to understand what you want for your particular situations. Someone who is a one man band shooting ENG stuff will spend their money differently then someone building a kit to shoot movies.

For example, most of the good cameramen in town have a couple of Lectros, a handheld dynamic, a 416 with a softie, a mic stand, and nothing else. Allows them to get decent audio for very basic sit down interviews when there is no sound guy. You won't find a hyper, mixer, serious wind gear, or a boom pole anywhere on them....well one I know had a Mixpre but never found a good way to use it while filming.

Cheers