Buying a New mic, Help?

H

Horrorguy666

New member
Hello everyone, I looked all through this topic and found some really good info. But also i was hoping to get a few personal opinions about how to spend my sound budget..

Anyway, i have around $500 to spend on sound for my next shoot(horror short). I'll be shooting indoors and out, using a DVX100B.

I was looking at the Rode NTG-2, i found a combo HERE, do yall feel like this is a good deal, or should i try and find something else...maybe something better but used?

Thanks.
 
First spend $65 of those dollars on the DVXuser sound DVD. Its worth a good million dollars and is packed with info and shows you good technique.

Since you are shooting in and out of doors, I'd look at the oktava or a similiar hypercardoid and the ntg-1. These two mics will cover you indoors and out of doors. Then go get yourself a nice gitzo carbon fiber pole. And get some good windprotection for both mics as well as shockmounts. Add one pair of sony mdr 7506 headphones (or similar). A few mic cables of various lengths and you are set. This all probably costs over $500. If you cant go over, I'd ditch the shotgun in favor of the hypercardiod. I'd avoid that ntg2 combo. The rode boompole, and shockmount leave a bit to be desired. And you'll still need headphones on top of that kit.
 
http://dvcreators.net/rode-ntg-2

I just got this in the mail and am totally happy. The mic runs off of phantom and one AA. The AA lasts about 500 hours. The boom is badass, I didn't expect it to be so big, 7.5 feet is really big, or atleast I felt that it would be fine for my applications which are short films and little promos for people. This kit give you everything.
 
I tried putting one together on the b&h website and it cost around $800. This kits was $509 @ my door. I always buy things outta state, I live in cali, so I really avoid buying stuff here. Bought my dvx from b&h saved about $500 because there was no tax.
 
Have you considered buying used? I see Rode NTGs and other related items pop up on ebay all the time, not that I would use one of them anymore. A friend who is new to sound owns one, and it is pretty good for the price, but if you do a lot of sound work will probably just get sold on ebay as soon as you realize how many better microphones there are. Of course, for that price point, there aren't very many alternatives.

I definitely second the suggestion of the Oktava mk-012 with hypercardioid capsule. You will definitely need a Rycote Baby Ball Gag to go with it, so be sure to budget for that, as well as a good shockmount. The Ktek KSSM gets a lot of love.

Read the stickies for certain.
 
I asked the same question about a year ago and got reccomended the Audio Technia 4073a (people said it was about the cheapest Mic you could get which would still be considered professional). I found a package for about $600 for it and some accesesories but I'm sure you could probably find something cheaper if you went used.
 
Horrorguy666 said:
Hello everyone, I looked all through this topic and found some really good info. But ...................
Click to expand...
In addition to the DVD mentioned previously, read the stickies and use the search function in this forum. You will find much on your situation, budget, specific mic, etc.
 
Dustin P Wilson-Henry said:
Have you considered buying used? I see Rode NTGs and other related items pop up on ebay all the time, not that I would use one of them anymore. A friend who is new to sound owns one, and it is pretty good for the price, but if you do a lot of sound work will probably just get sold on ebay as soon as you realize how many better microphones there are. Of course, for that price point, there aren't very many alternatives.

I definitely second the suggestion of the Oktava mk-012 with hypercardioid capsule. You will definitely need a Rycote Baby Ball Gag to go with it, so be sure to budget for that, as well as a good shockmount. The Ktek KSSM gets a lot of love.

Read the stickies for certain.
Click to expand...

you can save allot of money and not to buy anything from rycote
baby ball gag could be replaces by dual foam wrom windtech and fur over it
for intriors you can use regullar tear drop foam
 
Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. :)

I've been reading all the stickies and they really have alot of great info.

For right now i think i'm going to get the better accessories, and go with a used NTG1 from a guy i know until i can save up for a better quality mic. I just need something to use until i can get better. Gotta start somewhere i guess. :P
 
The NTG-1 will surprise you in it's quality for the money... it is a great bang for your $... you are sure to be happy.

One thing about it is that it doesn't have a strong signal so if you can try to borrow or think about getting a mixer with good pre-amps... just a thought.
 
That DVD is worth the money for sure. Regardless of experience level. And ESPECIALLY for people NOT in sound =D

You can get some good sound with mics even mics like that rode NTG-1 although once you upgrade sorta never will look back =D But esp if you do corporate stuff or docu's or internet stuff, I've used Oktava and accessories (make sure to budget for those, Oleg has good suggestions but I still like to feel obsolutely confident in my mounts, windgear esp for Oktava)

Oktava in DVX is fine heh, a mixer always help but really I've gotten good sound from DVX Preamp settings. For your film currently it'd do fine if you can get your hands on a mixer of course, get your hands on it. But don't waste a dime on one. Beg for one if a friend has it or school... but you really cant buy one at your budget. Not now.

Just get your mic as close to the source as possible for every shot, if got oktava w/hyper use that inside and rode out, if have both, and have fun!
 
-JunK- said:
That DVD is worth the money for sure. Regardless of experience level. And ESPECIALLY for people NOT in sound =D
Click to expand...

I put in some calls and I got Bush to make it mandatory effective immediately for every DOP and Camera Op to buy it and complete a test on the internet as they are watching it, much like the driving class you have to complete when you get to many speeding tickets. All it really requires from the "it's all in the picture-guys" have to answer a bunch of easy questions, to make them at least watch it once.

Junk made an other good point, the Oktava is especially sensitive to wind noise... But you are getting the NTG which as far as I remember it isn't as bad, but still, always use the foam on it, and for outside you will need at least their little fur that goes over the foam... I think it is Rode that makes it, not sure... and you might still have some issues on very windy days... but you should have a very easy time with it and it will give you surprising results
 
Last edited:
Agree.

Agree.

Oleg 2 said:
you can save allot of money and not to buy anything from rycote..
Click to expand...

Agree, rycote's prices are outrageous along with some of the other windshield companies. We offer a "softie style" called the Micover Puffin a simple integrated cavity windshield with a permanent fur cover for a lot less than other companies. We also have a slip-on windscreen that takes advantage of the original "black foam" windscreen included with your microphone. Most people loose or just don't have the original foam windscreen and end up using a "softie style." Hope this helps you, John
 
Here's a nutty idea. Take your $500 and hire a production mixer for your shoot.



Horrorguy666 said:
Hello everyone, I looked all through this topic and found some really good info. But also i was hoping to get a few personal opinions about how to spend my sound budget..

Anyway, i have around $500 to spend on sound for my next shoot(horror short). I'll be shooting indoors and out, using a DVX100B.

I was looking at the Rode NTG-2, i found a combo HERE, do yall feel like this is a good deal, or should i try and find something else...maybe something better but used?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top