need advice for a good indoors mic.

jenningsp

jenningsp

Well-known member
i was convinced the oktava mk012 w/ hyper cap was for me but after hearing the handling and wind noise issues.. i've steered away from it. also the price of it has skyrocketed.

i need a good indoors mic that rejects the reverberation in a normal untreated room, has low noise, great sounding voices and can handle unprofessional booming without too much wind and handling noise.

can anyone recommend a really nice indoors mic similar in quality and price to the oktava but without the handling and wind noise issues?

don't mind spending a little more on an awesome mic or buying a secondhand one off any of you... oleg? :D


have been checking out this one -
AKG se300b/CK93 hyper (just in my price range but don't know much about it.. how's the handling noise?)

thanks
 
Hi Patrick,

Huh, problems with wind noise while filming indoors? Please tell us more... Did you consider or try a BBG and windjammer? How about treating the walls with sound blankets, foam, etc?

As far as reverb (reflections), that's more a function of the polar pattern - one hyper over another won't fix this issue.

What do you mean saying the price of the Oktava has "skyrocketed"? I purchased mine about a year ago and don't recall it's gone up that much from the current $250 price tag. Looking at older posts dating back to 2004, the unit sold in the $200 range.

Sorry if my responses come across as challenging all your assumptions. There are certainly numerous alternative microphones that have plusses and minuses over the Oktava - it's just that I don't follow the assumptions of your concerns. Perhaps others will provide responses more in line with your way of thinking...

Good luck,

Michael
 
ok i might have exaggerated a little with skyrocketed :D though i have read old reviews saying it cost about $80... and i've found sites selling it for $300+ with one cap.

the wind noise i'm worried about is from the boom moving from one actor to another/ following an actor around a room and from the little, if any, outside/near a window filming i might want to use it for.

my main issue with the oktava is the handling noise... as i'm not using professional boom operators. also worried about the sibilance handling...

yeah i looked at the BBG and windjammer but that doubles the price of the setup... making it in the same ballpark as the AKG se300b/CK93 and possibly others (which is my question... what are the other good indoor mics in that ball park??)

as for treating the walls.. i really don't like the idea of running and gunning with a wall of foam in my back pack :D

thanks
 
Patrick,

Okay, most of this sounds reasonable. Certainly the Oktava is a very sensitive microphone which may not be right for you. I am a bit surprised to hear you cite sibilance issues when booming - I can't imagine getting a boom mic that close!

Agreed, treating the walls isn't ideal, but then we should probably be using a lavaliere anyway if the room is full of echos.

I'm sure others here can cite some less sensitive microphones with good audio properties, hopefully in your price range.

Regards, Michael
 
cool. i'm pretty sure now that the AKG se300b/CK93 is the right mic for me now....

two others costing about the same have come up though... the Audix SCX1/HC and the Audio-Technica AT4053a/EL.

i'm researching the hell out of these at the moment. but if anyone could chime in with some personal experience/preference. i would be very grateful


here's a questions though. what would be your max distance away form an actor with a hypercardioid mic?

i know the closer the better and it depends in how loud they're speaking and what mic and all that. but given an average actor speaking averagely loud about average things, what would be your max distance, for good audio, away from them with a hyper?

thanks
 
Oleg and his "Chiniz" mics might have a solution for your problem.
He tested some no-big-brand mics from china and liked them quite a lot...
 
I would say talk to Oleg about the MBHO MBP 604. It is a little more then the oktava mk012 w/ hyper cap that you where looking at. I have the MBP 603 A and love them. To me I like the sound better.


-Brian
 
Hi,

I have been answering some PMs and I put this list together if anyone is interested.

AKG Blueline Hypercardioid mic for interiors you can get this combo with power supply and capsule for about $350-375
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...icrophone.html

I suggest the k-tek KSSM shockmount with soft bands. $120

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...ock_Mount.html

Windscreen is the Rycote BBG $140
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...indshield.html

if you want to shoot outside too, get the furry jammer for $70 more.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...Baby_Ball.html

Here is the boom I suggest, a 12' gitzo carbon fiber.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...on_Carbon.html

Here is a good entry level mixer $665 (you really want the sound devices 302if you can swing it)
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...ortable_2.html

Here are some headphones that are the industry standard $99
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...Headphone.html

For exteriors get an at4073a
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...t_Shotgun.html


In order to use it outside you need wind protection. Rycote S Series $350
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...hield_Kit.html

or the K-Tek K-Zepp
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...sion_Med_.html


A few cables (good)
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc... e_Cable.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc... crophone.html

Your mixer will need a bag )and you may as well get the bag for the 302 now).
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...Mixer_Bag.html


I am not saying you have to buy it from this vendor, but it is nice to have links with pictures and model numbers all from one place.
 
Yeah Sane has good suggestions. As well as the stickies. And the Sound DVD offered on these forums for 60 bucks. You have 500 for a mic, or for SOUND... there's a HUGE difference. Unless you got a boompole and mic shockmount, cables, etc. you need to budget accordingly. Honestly you can do a lot with the mic you mentioned, with the right technique and gear of course helps as well.

And the Oktava was never 80 dollars far as I know that is... not the chinese rip offs. 300 is steep tho I got mine for around 150-180 a few years ago Sound-Room.
And BBG + KSSM SM solves so much of the handling issues... but this has been said more times then vowels are used to make words.
 
I can't speak of those other mics and they may be great. I own the Oktava (as well as Schoeps and Sanken) and don't agree with the premise that it has problems with handling noise or wind indoors and would suggest you not reject it for those reasons. The way you solve the wind problem is to put a little foam windscreen on it. I bought one at Sam Ash for $7 and it works great.

With regard to handling noise, even an inexperience boom op can quickly learn to handle the boom with little or no noise. When he hears handling noise he adjusts his technique. They key is that he hear what he's micing. I don't think you specified whether you're using a duplex cable or not but I'll mention it just in case. The boom op MUST hear what he's booming or the entire discussion of mic choice is useless. This is absolutely critical. Would it matter what camera you shot with if the DP couldn't see the frame?

SFX
 
I ordered a Neumann Kmr81 after listening and reading trough Dan "Puredrifting" thread. I'll be receiving it soon (next week?)

From all posted samples, this one was the best, from what I could hear, performance wise for both interiors and exteriors...
 
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