$250 mic --> $1000 mic, what is benefit?

Randall_Oelerich

Randall_Oelerich

Veteran
I have a RODE NTG-2 $250 mic (shotgun condenser). Finished my first short film. It is a nice mic. But i am wondering for future films, if I upgraded to buying a $1000 Sennheiser/other mic what benefit would I see for the added cost? Would the $1k mic pickup dialog with much lower audio gain settings? Pickup audio without having the mic as close to the actor's mouths? Other? This grasshopper wants to learn.
~Randall
 
If you can, try renting one instead of buying. Since you already have a Rode, its not worth buying the Sennheiser MKH-416 for example if you don't think you need a difference. If you are happy with your Rode sound, then I would simply rent and see that way you don't blow $1000 bucks. Your other option could be to pick up a used MKH-416. They are much cheaper, and if taken cared of properly the quality will be similar.
 
It is difficult to rent film equipment up here where I live, northern Minnesota (Duluth MN). Unless it could be done by mail/UPS? But for a 21 day shoot, how would renting the mic compare to just buying one, I have no idea what renting a mic costs, plus insured shipping both ways.

Heartsbane00 said:
If you can, try renting one instead of buying. Since you already have a Rode, its not worth buying the Sennheiser MKH-416 for example if you don't think you need a difference. If you are happy with your Rode sound, then I would simply rent and see that way you don't blow $1000 bucks. Your other option could be to pick up a used MKH-416. They are much cheaper, and if taken cared of properly the quality will be similar.
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There are huge differences and subtle differences between basic audio gear and professional audio gear. Certain companies like Beringer and Samson produce cheap gear that (IMOP) sounds cheap. Rode blurs the line between basic and professional but there are still big differences between a $250 mic and a $1k+ mic.

You will probably not notice a $1k shotgun picking dialog at lower gain settings, but it will have a much higher signal to noise ratio and will reproduce the audio more faithfully than a cheaper version. You might also notice it rejects audio from the sides and rear better than your Rode.

Heartsbane00 is right. Try it out and see if the aural differences can be justified financially. The kind of conditions you work in might not merit the upgrade. I personally believe that Audio is just a important as Video in causing a production to go from good to great.

Jason
 
I was implying rent it for a 1 or 2 day shoot for a try out. Just experiment with it like you would in normal shooting conditions. Shoot in as many location types you can. The first mic I purchased was the MKH-416t. I didn't rent mine before I bought it because I didn't have a mic in the first place. If I had a Rode, I would have tried to rent one before hand. However, low budget and differing circumstances might force you to buy instead of rent. I'm just saying if your going to be spending $1400 (wind protection with the mic), you might as well make sure you want it first for $100 or so for a short rental.
 
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Just a quick example. I don't know anything about these people because I haven't rented mics.
 
I don't have the experience yet, but I totally believe you on the importance of audio. That is why when I make a leap from short film to making my first indie film I want great audio, at least as good as I can get on a budget, so I am willing to get a $1000-1500 microphone if it really does help dialog audio go from good to great (of course the boom operator is critical in that equation no doubt).

AwakenedFilms said:
... I personally believe that Audio is just a important as Video in causing a production to go from good to great.
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There was an article online a while ago that had some audio clips comparing the Rode NTG1 to a few other mics including the MKH416. Unfortunately I don't recall where, so I can't offer a link. What I do recall was that that Sennheiser had more extended HF response and lower distortion in the HF range. I have an NTG1 and think it's an excellent value, but a well chosen $1K+ mic would definitely be an improvement. Bear in mind though, that like most things, the law of diminishing returns applies here. Smaller and smaller amounts of improvement will cost larger and larger amounts of money. So an MKH416 will not sound "4 times as good" (whatever that might mean).
 
I agree with Mike. I'd look at other components in the audio chain from mic to camera. We recently got two mixers to try out, one being the new 4 channel Azden and the other a Sound Devices 302. When the 302 arrived I was like a little kid, all giddy when I plugged in the 302. I was amazed at the natural and true sound out of different mics. With a good mixer you're able to bring up the gain with no hiss. It's truly beautiful. So, while the RODE NTG-2 is a good mic, the best bang for buck improvement to get to the next level is most likely going to be had with other components/accessories.

And hey Mike, if you're in Seattle, we're just up north about 40 minutes. You should stop by and check out our new studio.
 
Ted Spencer said:
There was an article online a while ago that had some audio clips comparing the Rode NTG1 to a few other mics including the MKH416. Unfortunately I don't recall where, so I can't offer a link. What I do recall was that that Sennheiser had more extended HF response and lower distortion in the HF range. I have an NTG1 and think it's an excellent value, but a well chosen $1K+ mic would definitely be an improvement. Bear in mind though, that like most things, the law of diminishing returns applies here. Smaller and smaller amounts of improvement will cost larger and larger amounts of money. So an MKH416 will not sound "4 times as good" (whatever that might mean).
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I did a shotgun mic test awhile back with the RODE NTG-2 and the MKH-416, not sure if it is the one that you're referring to. The link is here
 
I have one of those fuzzy wind covers for my RODE NTG-2 mic, the kind that looks like a dead squirrel's trail sort of, that slips over the mic; is there a better type of wind dampener to put on a shotgun mic? I have seen some types watching the TV news that looks like giant silver hot dogs about six inches in diameter, not furry at all, would one of those eliminate wind noise more than my furry sock wind cover?
 
Randall_Oelerich said:
I have one of those fuzzy wind covers for my RODE NTG-2 mic, the kind that looks like a dead squirrel's trail sort of, that slips over the mic; is there a better type of wind dampener to put on a shotgun mic? I have seen some types watching the TV news that looks like giant silver hot dogs about six inches in diameter, not furry at all, would one of those eliminate wind noise more than my furry sock wind cover?
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RODE just came out with a blimp package that should be kick ass for the money. We should be getting them in soon and hopefully offering some kind of special for DVXusers if we can swing it.

The wind protection blimp/hairy package by Sennheiser that we normally sell is pretty spendy. You can hear it demonstrated, first with no protection - bare, then with a foam windscreen, then with the blimp, and finally with blimp and hairy. It's in this two minute video we just shot here
 
Some people just don't know how to test a microphone to save their own life. Take a shotgun outside. Test it on axis, on loeb and off axis so you can listen for how effective the off axis rejection is.

I loved the trew audio tests of various mics. People who know what location audio is all about. Unless of course everyone plans to shoot all their movies inside of the live room at a recording studio.
 
Ted Spencer said:
So an MKH416 will not sound "4 times as good" (whatever that might mean).
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this sort of "law" applies to many things and is correct. The difference in quality is not always proportional to the price increase. There is however a difference in durability. A russian octavia mic can sound as good as a Neumann but the quality of the material might not support as much rough handling. If you do want to get something really good IMO get a SCHOEPS :-)
 
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