Building basic audio package -- $1,000-$1,500

Duff

Duff

Well-known member
Cross-posting from DVinfo for more input, so sorry to those of you who see this twice.

I'm looking to purchase an audio setup to cover most situations, and was looking for some input. This is for narrative work, and I'm mainly capturing dialogue both indoors and outdoors (but want something versatile enough to do a decent job capturing sound effects and voice overs as well). I'm looking to buy with upgradability in mind -- i.e. get a decent shockmount, boompole, windscreen, etc so I can in the future worry about upgrading just the microphones and not have to repurchase everything. I can spend around $1500, but if I'd strongly prefer to save money if possible so I can purchase some other equipment for camera stabilization and lighting -- I don't do professional work, so I don't care about having the best equipment, just keeping production values acceptable. If anyone could help me throw together a kit, it would be much appreciated. Some questions:

-I'll be recording to the camera (Canon XH-A1), so I don't have to deal with syncing -- is it advisable to invest in a mixer at this point?
-Should I upgrade the shotgun now, or is the AT897 decent enough to hold me over until my next upgrade?
-I've heard good things about the Oktava MK012 from sound-room, aside from the fact that it picks up handling noise. Would this be a good choice, since with the savings I could buy a better boom pole/shockmount/BBG to cut the handling noise, or should I invest in something better from the get-go like the AT4053?
-Technical question -- For boom micing two people on screen having a conversation, should I be using a cardioid, or a hyper with the sound guy moving the mic back and forth between people as the conversation shifts? What if they're arguing or talking at the same time?
-Is there some sort of boom mic stand I can purchase for instances where I'm filming myself and don't have someone to hold the boom pole?
-Lastly, since I just make movies with my friends under my direction and have no official sound guy, would it be a better idea to scrap the boom micing altogether and invest in a wireless lav setup?

Thanks.
 
If acceptable is all your after.. the AT 897 is perfectly fine. And i wouldnt be so sure that the AT4053 is much better than the mk12!
 
Luckily we have a stickie that covers packages in all different budget price ranges.

Deciding to rely just on wireless is an expensive and dangerous option. A "decent" wireless package will cost you close to $700 a mic (G2 & EMW) and clothing noise, drops, and hits will constantly hound you.

Good luck
 
Ok, here's what I've thrown together:

-Oktava MK012A -- $165 (sound-room)
-Boom Pole (Gitzo 7680c? KTek KE110cc?) -- $225
-K-Tek KSSM with soft bands -- $109
-Rycote 19/20mm BBG -- $125 trew audio
-SONY 7506 headphones -- $99
-2 x 25' Canare StarQuad XLR -- $70
-Rycote Softie (for the AT897 -- which size? 12cm?): $110 b&h

That puts me at just over $900, leaving me money for shopping in other areas. Am I missing anything integral in the above list? Concerning the boom pole, I've never held a proper boom pole before (just a lightbulb replacement pole). Gitzo 7680c or KTek KE110cc? What's more important, the internal cabling and the lightness, or the length? Someone was posting in an old thread that they don't recommend the Gitzos to anyone, because they don't last. Thoughts?

Anyway, with that list, my next purchase could be the AT4073, and after that I could start worrying about a mixer, lavs, and wireless. Will the softie for the AT897 be the same for the AT4073 so I don't have to buy a second one when I upgrade the mic?

Thanks.
 
First of all, don't get a softie, get a blimp and windsock. The K-Zepp from K-Tek is well thought of and reasonably priced. And yes, the one you get for the 897 will work for the 4073a.

Phil
 
saneproductions said:
Looks good, but you want the gitzo gb3650 pole for $265
Click to expand...

Thanks -- that's the one I meant, I somehow got lost in the model numbers.

ptalsky said:
First of all, don't get a softie, get a blimp and windsock. The K-Zepp from K-Tek is well thought of and reasonably priced. And yes, the one you get for the 897 will work for the 4073a.

Phil
Click to expand...

The "short" k-zepp (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/458957-REG/K_Tek_K_ZEPP_S_Zeppelin_Wind_Protection_System.html) comes with the K-SSM shockmount, but the "medium" (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/458958-REG/K_Tek_K_ZEPP_M_Zeppelin_with_Suspension_Med_.html), which says it fits the AT4073, comes with a "K-GPS" shockmount. Will the short model work fine on the 4073, or will the K-GPS work with the oktava? Or can I buy the pieces separately at some other site?



I'm considering getting a pair of wireless packages in addition to the boom setup and micing with both, keeping the wireless lavs as backup since I'll just have a friend holding the boom, which is liable to result in problems. Would I have to buy a mixer to do this, or is there a cheaper way to get both wireless systems on one channel? I'm looking at the G2 systems.

sounddguy said:
What are you going to carry it all in?
Click to expand...

I ran out of budget -- a backpack will have to do.


Another thing, is it advisable to invest in a high pass filter like this one? http://www.shure.com/ProAudio/Products/Accessories/us_pro_A15HP_content
 
Last edited:
topcat said:
I have the K-Tek zepp and it's great. They make a good product.
Click to expand...

Any idea what I should do concerning the short/medium versions? Everyone here recommends the KSSM shockmount, but will the short version fit a 4073? Or do I need to buy the medium version and an additional KSSM shockmount for the oktava?
 
I don't have that much things but I got a pretty good headphones ,the Audio Technica ATH-ES7 BK Closed-Back portable headphones , it works pretty well ,if you need one headphones you should take it into consideration .
 
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