Lavalier or shotgun?Both?

B

boke

Active member
So I've just got a new Canon Xh-a1 , yeah!! But I haven't figured out the microphones out yet. I've been trying to research and have gone thru all of the FAQ's which have been a lot of help, but I'm still a bit lost. I'll need them almost exclusively for indoor stuff, really only 3 things.

1- Greenscreened teacher, basically a teacher that we will shoot like he was teaching a class, then later composite it in AfterEffects, his movements will be pretty confined so at the most he'll walk to the left 3-4 feet, to the right 3-4 feet, but more or less he will be stationary. So I was thinking a Lavalier or a shotgun mic up above. Which do you think would be better? If we go lavalier I'm worried about wires showing up on the greenscreen. If we go wireless lavalier I'm worried about the sound quality. If we go shotgun than ...well I really don't know.


2-A internet TV-like program that goes around town at night introducing local bars, clubs, restauraunts . So there will be one or two actors/hosts and occasionally they will be interacting with various people on the street and at the bars, ect.. So in this situation a couple of lavaliers and 1 shotgun on a boom would be good?

3- This one is a bit odd but its serious, I've been asked to do *ahem* soft porn for a couple of redlight distric gentlemans clubs *cough* , here in Japan this is a legal service so all of the brothels have pretty nice websites with pictures of the girls.Well they want me to replace the pictures with a short videos , they think that will attract a lot more customers than your normal picture. This one is tricky as these girrls aren't pro-porn stars so I can't have a sound guy,director,cameraman on set, if it's possible it needs to be just me with a camera. I know that putting a mic on a camera is asking for trouble but in this situation I can't think of any other ways.


Oh and last If I can I'd like to choose from these (admittingly cheap,low end ) mics (basically I have $300 at newegg that I have to spend)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...&name=Camcorder Accessories&SpeTabStoreType=7

Thanks for any help that you can offer, or opinions
 
boke said:
Oh and last If I can I'd like to choose from these (admittingly cheap,low end ) mics (basically I have $300 at newegg that I have to spend)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2070050405&name=Camcorder%20Accessories&SpeTabStoreType=7

Thanks for any help that you can offer, or opinions
Click to expand...

There's nothing in that selection that's going to achieve favorable results. Nady wireless is not trustworthy, and Azden is trash as well.

You have presented three very different scenarios that call, really, for three very different solutions.

For the green screen, a wireless lav isn't going to jeopardize quality if you get the right one. Because lighting is so crucial to effective chroma key/matte, an overhead mic such as a shotgun creates a shadow concern if not positioned properly. But if you are in a small studio, a shotgun is not going to be the best option anyway... you'll be better off with a hypercardioid, small-diaphragm condenser. Often, for single-person situations like that, I prefer to do a split-channel setup with a wireless lav on one channel and a hard-line shotgun or hyper on the other. That way, you're backed up if the wireless goes down. But you need to invest in a reliable wireless system, like the Sennheiser G2 100 series. And the stock lav that comes with it is barely passable, but should be replaced at some point with something like a Countryman EMW or B3 or B6, or a DPA, or a Tram, or a Sanken COS11.

The "news-style" Internet piece requires a bit more rejection. For crowded, noisy nightclubs and restaurants, if you have folks doing a walk-and-talk, you might be better served with a dynamic handheld interview mic (EV-635A, Shure VP64A or SM63, etc.). For freedom of movement, a plug-on transmitter for the wireless system will eliminate cables. If you get a wireless system for the green-screen stuff, get a combo system that has both beltpack and plug-on transmitters. You can only use one at a time, but it gives you options. Of course, you might need a second wireless system. I'd get another combo so that both hosts have the option of being on lav or on hand-held.

The third, and admittedly most awkward, scenario, does pose a challenge if you are the only crew member to speak of. Camera-mounted mics are rarely the best option. Depending on how much "movement" is anticipated, a stand-mounted shotgun (outside) or hyper (indoors) can cover you. Are these girls going to speak at all? You could be creative and shoot it all MOS, then have them record audio-only for voice, and layer that in with music during post.

Audio isn't cheap. Even cheap audio isn't cheap. For the most flexibility on a budget, I'd recommend a setup like this:

Sound Devices MixPre
Rode NTG-2 shotgun kit with fish pole, shock mount and windscreen system
Hypercardioid: AKG Blueline series kit with CK91 capsule, or Audio-Technica 4053a, or Oktava
Sony MDR-7406 headphones
One of the aforementioned hand-held interview mics
Sennheiser G2 combo system
Countryman EMW lav
ENG snake for connection of MixPre to camera
Extra XLR cables (20', 15', 5', 1.5')
And a mic stand with boom arm, if needed

And, if needed, a second Sennheiser combo system, second EMW lav, and second hand-held mic.

Yeah, it's a lot, and not exactly the least expensive venture to make, but preparedness is worth its weight in gold when it comes to audio. There is no single option that's going to do everything you need to do, especially while mounted on the camera. But if you're going to be doing this, and taking it seriously, then make sure your audio kit is ready for most anything.
 
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I agree with C2V. You're asking for that 'one size fits all' mic and it just doesn't exist. However, given your three scenarios, i think if you had to you could pull off items 1 and 2 with a wireless lav system. Granted a handheld dynamic mic would be better for #2, in a pinch a clipped on lav would be ok (and is ideal for #1). #3 well, as with many people in here I can't honestly say i've been crew for any core of porn, but i'd say the cheapest and easiest way to go would be an onboard shotgun mic, like a Sennheiser MKE400, Rode Videomic, or even up to something like an octava or an ntg-1. That way you could point your mic directionally and get some ok audio (maybe?) and still be a safe distance from well, the 'talent' :0)
$300 is a very tight budget, and although you can find microphones for that, you're not going to improve your audio much until you get the right system for each type of shoot, sadly. There's just not one that does it all.
 
Thanks for the replies

The countryman EMW lav looks doable as its only $200. But how about one of the super-cardioids on the newegg.com site? If I was careful and did some post-production work with the sound could I "get by" with those? At least until I have enough money to upgrade my audio.
 
boke said:
Thanks for the replies

The countryman EMW lav looks doable as its only $200. But how about one of the super-cardioids on the newegg.com site? If I was careful and did some post-production work with the sound could I "get by" with those? At least until I have enough money to upgrade my audio.
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Wouldn't touch any of 'em with an 11 foot pole.
 
boke said:
Thanks for the replies

The countryman EMW lav looks doable as its only $200. But how about one of the super-cardioids on the newegg.com site? If I was careful and did some post-production work with the sound could I "get by" with those? At least until I have enough money to upgrade my audio.
Click to expand...

Steve said it best.

You also need to take into account that, while the EMW is only $200, it is not a wireless mic. To use it alone, it will have to run to the camera with an XLR cable, which means that you need to buy it terminated with XLR for phantom power. For wireless use, you need to get a wireless beltpack transmitter/receiver system, and purhcase the EMW terminated with the appropriate connector for that system.
 
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