Advice for mic setup for simple interview

M

Mark-P

Well-known member
I am going to do a simple interview with the HVX focussed on the subject and she will be responding to questions asked of her by an interviewer offscreen. The subject will use a wireless lavailer and I would like the interviewer to use a mic plugged into the HVX.

1. Should I be using a mixer to connect these mics to the camera? Is this necessary for what I am trying to accomplish?

2. Anything I should be aware of concerning the HVX based on what I am trying to do?

Thanks.
 
I wouldnt call the mixer necessary but if I had one or had the budget for a good one (sd302 perhaps) I would use/buy one. Better preamps/limiters/meters and getting the controls off the back of the camera. In an ideal situation you'd also have a dedicated soundman monitor the mic levels and relieving the camera man of that burden. But yeah if its low budget, just plug both mics in the hvx set the levels during testing and go for it. At the least I would recommend a good set of headphones to monitor with so you know what you are actually recording. The sony 7506s work great for me and they arent that expensive for what you are getting - $100 or so.

I cant think of anything really specific to the hvx. just set your mic/line, phantom, and channel switches accordingly and dial in the levels.

What kind of handheld are you using - if looking the electrovoice (is that right? doesnt sound right...) re50 is a highly regarded handheld for news use.
 
I've done many interview using the camera audio direct. It works fine but as jdajda says, you very need good headphones to monitor.
 
Are you going to use the audio of the interviewer? If not, I'd let the camera's internal microphones record the interviewer, and feed the audio of the interview subject into the two XLR inputs at different levels.
 
Being very new to all of this, how would the better preamps/limiters/meters really affect the quality of the spoken word vs. just plugging directly into the HVX?
In what ways might it be noticeable?

I'm not sure of the specific model of the mic that I will have access to though it was a model that a friend purchased based on recommendations from this board :)

Thanks!!!!!


jdajda said:
I wouldnt call the mixer necessary but if I had one or had the budget for a good one (sd302 perhaps) I would use/buy one. Better preamps/limiters/meters and getting the controls off the back of the camera. In an ideal situation you'd also have a dedicated soundman monitor the mic levels and relieving the camera man of that burden. But yeah if its low budget, just plug both mics in the hvx set the levels during testing and go for it. At the least I would recommend a good set of headphones to monitor with so you know what you are actually recording. The sony 7506s work great for me and they arent that expensive for what you are getting - $100 or so.

I cant think of anything really specific to the hvx. just set your mic/line, phantom, and channel switches accordingly and dial in the levels.

What kind of handheld are you using - if looking the electrovoice (is that right? doesnt sound right...) re50 is a highly regarded handheld for news use.
Click to expand...
 
We will be using the voice of the interviewer.

Thanks!


THoff said:
Are you going to use the audio of the interviewer? If not, I'd let the camera's internal microphones record the interviewer, and feed the audio of the interview subject into the two XLR inputs at different levels.
Click to expand...
 
Why on earth would you ever use a wireless mic for a sitdown interview?????

NEVER use a wireless unless you must because the talent is moving. Any $20.00 XLR cable sounds better than the most expensive wireless mic. This is not acceptable, you vill be punished severely!! ;-0 The nearest sound mixer will beat you with a bar of soap in a sock, it leaves no bruises.

Dan
 
I didn't realize there was that much of difference in quality between a wired and wireless lavalier. The only reason I wanted to use wireless is becuase I have access to one and I didn't want to have wires running from the camera to the subject and be seen.

puredrifting said:
Why on earth would you ever use a wireless mic for a sitdown interview?????

NEVER use a wireless unless you must because the talent is moving. Any $20.00 XLR cable sounds better than the most expensive wireless mic. This is not acceptable, you vill be punished severely!! ;-0 The nearest sound mixer will beat you with a bar of soap in a sock, it leaves no bruises.

Dan
Click to expand...
 
You'll never see the XLRs - run them through a shirt and out the back and tape it to lots of things. Camera will never see it. Not only does it sound better, you dont have to set up wireless which can add headaches sometimes.

Although I must admit we have a client that insists we use wireless mics on their sitdown interviews. Its an odd case where we show up and use their equipment though. Still havent figured out why. Last time we went I asked them if I could test some new mics out for my own benefit free of charge, so I mic'd off stationary booms so I could get some decent audio (wireless is g2 with stock mics...) Anyways - use wires :) Also note that a pillow case with a bunch of oranges does a nice job too.
 
I do not have access to a wired lav, what about using a boom for this vs. wired lavs?

jdajda said:
You'll never see the XLRs - run them through a shirt and out the back and tape it to lots of things. Camera will never see it. Not only does it sound better, you dont have to set up wireless which can add headaches sometimes.

Although I must admit we have a client that insists we use wireless mics on their sitdown interviews. Its an odd case where we show up and use their equipment though. Still havent figured out why. Last time we went I asked them if I could test some new mics out for my own benefit free of charge, so I mic'd off stationary booms so I could get some decent audio (wireless is g2 with stock mics...) Anyways - use wires :) Also note that a pillow case with a bunch of oranges does a nice job too.
Click to expand...
 
What if the boom picks up too much HVAC or ambient noise from outside the room? Pros always use a boom and a lav wherever possible. It gives your editor and sound mixer that most wonderful of gifts, choice.

Booms usually sound better than lavs but if all you have is the boom and there is an issue with the sound, you've got no place to go to. If all you have access to is a wireless and a boom, by all means, use them both.

Most wireless mics terminate in a connector called a TA-5F. It is easy to buy a power supply for a TA-5F connection from a variety of manufacturers, it would probably be pretty easy to convert your wireless mic system so that it can be used with the wireless transmitter as well as with a hard wired connection.

Wireless usually equals bad sound unless you have a sound mixer who has checked the frequency allocation in the area and can monitor the sound carefully. It is possible to get good sound with wireless, most features and reality tv are shot with a ton of wireless but you have to have the good stuff and have a sound mixer that knows what they are doing.

Most non-sound mixers end up screwing up with wireless, myself included. That's why we preach the gospel of wired lavs, they are almost foolproof, they just sound better, are cheaper and more reliable.

Best,

Dan
 
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