A condenser that sounds similar to the NT3 for boom work?

L1N3ARX

Well-known member
I really enjoy the sound coming out of the NT3, and would love to have a condenser like that I could boom... NT3 is just a tad big for that job. It sounds soooo much better than the AT4053b or the many others I've heard. Anybody have a good suggestion, hopefully for not too much more $ ?
 
If you don't like the 4053b, then you are going to spend quite a lot of money. It is among the best medium priced small condensers. Better from there is probably double the price.

Grant
 
Check out the AKG Blue Line with a 93 cap on it. Love them, also they are used in several TV shows that you may have seen. Ax Men is one that I know uses them for the indoor scenes. I picked mine up because a friend that works on that show turned me on to them.
 
Have a look at the Oktava MK-012 for indoor dialogue if you're really strapped for cash. It's a decent mic and light enough on a boom pole. They're used alot for indoor dialogue on indie films.
 
Great suggestions!

So, I currently have an NTG3, and I use that for everything, even indoors. I know it's not supposed to be used in that way, since the pickup pattern is different and is susceptible to reflections and other things. I have to say though... it's sounded pretty darn good so far, in fact it's often very hard to tell if sound was recorded outdoor or indoor. That said, I'm obviously not a pro, but how much difference can I expect once I start using a condenser mic w/ hypercardioid capsule for indoor dialogue?

I've heard good things about the Audix SCX1/HC. Is this is a fairly decent condenser? I'd really like to hear a good comparison with this and other mics but I haven't found one so far.
 
A shotgun can be used effectively indoors.. it depends on the room. Normally, large 'dead' rooms will not be a problem.
The Oktava 012 can be a great sounding mic.. one should do (a search) research on the pros, cons, mods, and other possible 'issues' beforehand.
The Audix SCX1/HC sounds very good.. according to pro trusted sources. In that price range the AT 4053 as well.
IMO, my (Sound Room) Oktava 012 sounds smoother than the AT, but doesn't have as much 'reach'.
 
Great suggestions!

So, I currently have an NTG3, and I use that for everything, even indoors. I know it's not supposed to be used in that way, since the pickup pattern is different and is susceptible to reflections and other things. I have to say though... it's sounded pretty darn good so far, in fact it's often very hard to tell if sound was recorded outdoor or indoor. That said, I'm obviously not a pro, but how much difference can I expect once I start using a condenser mic w/ hypercardioid capsule for indoor dialogue?

Whoops! In your first post you said NT3, did you mean NTG3? Pretty large difference. Yes the NTG3 is a very good mic for booming and will do double duty indoors much of the time, but not always. If you are using a NTG3, and like it, can't imagine you wouldn't like the 4053b.

Grant
 
Speaking of Oktava microphones, a warning on their website about Made in China knockoffs on eBay:

"Only authorised Oktava sellers on eBay (for example Oktava-online and musikhaus-korn in Germany) can guarantie the authenticity of Oktava microphones.If you are not sure about the authenticity of a mic you are bidding on, just send us a link on the auction.
More information about MK-012 fakes and MKL-2500 fakes"
 
I absolutely love the Neumann KM184. If not that, than the schoeps. I've stayed away from Oktava. I've never liked them, even the hot-rodded ones. Another option is the Sennheiser MKH50
 
I absolutely love the Neumann KM184. If not that, than the schoeps. I've stayed away from Oktava. I've never liked them, even the hot-rodded ones. Another option is the Sennheiser MKH50

The OP was for a short gun - and the new Sennheiser MKE 600 (released a couple of years back) is an excellent and affordable one.

The Neumann KM 184 is a standard cardioid mic. - the KM 185 is the same but hyper-cardioid. Some people like these, others not.

There is also the Gefell M300 (cardioid) and M310 (hyper-cardioid) - these are about the same size as the KM 184/5 but are made in the old Neumann factory that was trapped behind the iron curtain and is now a separate company (you can read the history - "A Brief History of Microtech Gefell" HERE). These microphones have a ceramic capsule that is not so suseptable to temperature changes and also has an optical coupler fro the phantom power that keeps any PSU noise and inetrference out of the audio circuit.

The Sennheiser MKH 50 (super-cardioid) and MKH 40 (cardioid), as well as the smaller MKH 8050 and 8040 are excellent RF condenser mics, but not cheap. The short gun is the new MKH 8060.

I hope this helps.
 
The OP was for a short gun -

and it went into talking about indoor work, which is why I mentioned the 184. I really like cardioids for indoor work. They sound more natural. Most indoor work doesn't use wide shots, so you can get really close. I know some people that even use them for outdoor work, but those are rare. I really like the Neumann KMR81 for a short shotgun, but it isn't cheap. I use a Sanken CS-1 as well for some interior stuff, and I absolutely LOVE that mic.
 
Dave, can you offer any comparison between the cs1 and cs3e?

The CS1e doesn't have as much "reach" as the CS3e. Honestly, I think the CS3e sounds almost exactly like a 416. You have to be pretty spot on with both mics. I use my CS1e for my indoor production office for product videos, and I use it outdoors as well on a boom pole that is on a C-Stand. I usually have it right out of the frame, so it is really close. I just really like the sound of the mic. The CS1e is a little wider and sounds very nice. I've always felt the sound of the CS3e is very nice, but a little thin for my taste. If I didn't have the CS1e, I'd probably have a Neumann KM184 or 185.

But this is all subjective, really. I haven't used the new Sennheiser mics, so I can't compare anything to them.
 
Thanks guys for the suggestions. Well mics certainly aren't cheap. I may play around with an Oktava MK012. I hear the Audix SCX1/HC is a decent condenser for the price, so I may try to find a used one.
 
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