Advice needed for basic kit purcase

H

HansSteinert

Well-known member
Ok, my boss is giving me some money to play with for audio equipment for web content. What would be your recommendations for the following pieces given the price limitations:

Boom pole: $250
Rode blimp (or alternative): $300
deadcat: $50
Shock absorber: $100
film clapper: $50ish (if necessary, I can go a bit higher)
extra cables, if necessary: ???

This is going to be recorded straight into a Zoom H4n (yes, I know you guys will beg me to buy a legitimate sound recorder that has a good amp, but I simply don't have the budget) and the microphone used will be a NTG-3.

So, any product recommendations given the price for each item? Is there anything essential that I'm missing?
 
HansSteinert said:
Ok, my boss is giving me some money to play with for audio equipment for web content. What would be your recommendations for the following pieces given the price limitations:

Boom pole: $250
Rode blimp (or alternative): $300
deadcat: $50
Shock absorber: $100
film clapper: $50ish (if necessary, I can go a bit higher)
extra cables, if necessary: ???

This is going to be recorded straight into a Zoom H4n (yes, I know you guys will beg me to buy a legitimate sound recorder that has a good amp, but I simply don't have the budget) and the microphone used will be a NTG-3.

So, any product recommendations given the price for each item? Is there anything essential that I'm missing?
Click to expand...

1. Try to find a used K-Tek. 250 will put you there. Get an internally wired one.
2. Blimp: http://www.trewaudio.com/store/product.php?productid=963
3. See above. It comes with it.
4. Same as 3
5. http://www.filmtools.com/sb-eng-bw.html
6. Always have extra cables. Various lengths.

Don't sweat the H4n. Sure, it's a lower end recorder, but for the price, it's not bad. You are missing headphones, mixer, and a way to carry it all.

You estimates are pretty realistic, BTW.
 
Hans, since you mention you want to get a clapboard this is for video correct?

What camera are you shooting with? Is it a dslr? or a legit prosumer or above video camera?
 
Wait, the Blimp comes with a deadcat and a shock absorber? Rock on. And I can use the shock absorber all the time, even if I'm indoor and don't need the blimp?

Speaking of which, do you guys always use the blimp, or only outside?

How necessary is a mixer, and how much does a budget one cost?

Rippie said:
Hans, since you mention you want to get a clapboard this is for video correct?

What camera are you shooting with? Is it a dslr? or a legit prosumer or above video camera?
Click to expand...
Canon 60D DSLR, although I might upgrade to a 5D mark 2 (still debating in my mind)... but that shouldn't make a difference.

My plan is to use a rode videomic pro that I have on top of my camera and record audio just as a reference for syncing the good external audio in post. That combined with a clapper, and I think it should work.
 
Just making sure you needed an external recorder since I didn't know what camera you are planning on using, but yes any dslr is going be
much better if you use an external recorder.
 
HansSteinert said:
Speaking of which, do you guys always use the blimp, or only outside?
Click to expand...

When I have the blimp mounted, I just continue using it indoors. The minor variation in tonality is not worth the trouble of tearing it down, IMO. Now if I was totally indoors, with no possibility of an outdoor scene, I would fly with just a Jammer on it.
 
What's a jammer? Will the deadcat/shock absorber that comes with the blimp kit work even if I'm not using the Blimp cover?
 
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