Amateur's setup

jaredgiese

jaredgiese

Active member
Hey guys, I am going to be getting my first low budget paid gig and have decided to purchase my first boom kit. It will be an ntg-2 kit from DVeStore as well as a couple pieces from B&H. I will be upgrading to the ntg-3 further down the road. I am not looking for advice on why I should spend more money on a different microphone, because this is my current price range, I am looking for feedback on if you think this is a good setup for the money, and if you see anything you think I should replace with a different brand or anything else I should add to my kit let me know. :) thanks!

Kit itself:

http://www.dvcreators.net/rode-ntg-2/

Misc. Stuff:

(for headphones going into the camera or for going into the mixer)

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...sive_MPS_MJS_25ST_Stereo_Mini_3_5mm_Male.html

(to replace the stock bands on the shock mount)

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/292948-REG/K_Tek_K_SUS_K_SUS_Microphone_Suspenders_Pair_.html

Total price: ~$530
 
The kit should be fine, the Rode poles aren't spectacular, but they do get the job done. I'm assuming you already have good headphones, if not, add them to the above list.

The only thing I'd suggest you double check is the replacement bands, just to make sure that the sizing all works out, you wouldn't want to get the bands and then find out that they dont properly stretch to fit the shockmount that comes in the kit.
 
jaredgiese said:
I am not looking for advice on why I should spend more money on a different microphone, because this is my current price range,
Click to expand...

Don't worry. The NTG-2 kit is one of the most recommended budget-minded kits around here. It's a great mic, even for the money.

Instead of getting the band upgrades, have you thought about asking Guy to reconfigure the kit for you? Ask him what the price will be if you drop the mounting and windscreen and replace them with the Rode blimp. Don't forget to tell him you're a DVXUser member.

And echoing previous advice... get headphones - good ones - if you don't have them already. Sony MDR-7506 is a good place to start. I believe DVCreators carries those, and they might even have the headphone extension cable as well.
 
Thanks for the comments so far guys, I will look into asking about replacing the shock/windscreen with the blimp.

As far as headphones I do have that pair of Sony's already :) I used to do alot of live sound
 
The Ktek Zep is a pretty good product. Blimps are better according to most posters here, but I have used the Ktek in some pretty stiff breeze and done just fine with it. I suspect it is a little quicker and smaller than a blimp.

Is the difference between the NTG-1 the NTG-2 a battery for phantom? That can be handy for future wireless with a G2 buttplug if you should need it.

Grant
 
ggrantly said:
The Ktek Zep is a pretty good product. Blimps are better according to most posters here, but I have used the Ktek in some pretty stiff breeze and done just fine with it. I suspect it is a little quicker and smaller than a blimp.
Click to expand...

Quicker and smaller, perhaps. But a blimp is going to provide much better protection in a wider variety of locations and conditions.

ggrantly said:
Is the difference between the NTG-1 the NTG-2 a battery for phantom? That can be handy for future wireless with a G2 buttplug if you should need it.
Click to expand...

Yes... the NTG-2, which the OP is planning to purchase, can run on external phantom or internal battery. The NTG-1 is phantom-only.
 
Is there anything else you guys think I need to buy? I only have one or two days left to order stuff online because my first gig is on the 21st.
 
jaredgiese said:
Is there anything else you guys think I need to buy? I only have one or two days left to order stuff online because my first gig is on the 21st.
Click to expand...

You haven't mentioned the camera that you're feeding. If it has XLR mic inputs you're ready to roll but if not, you need a strategy to properly connect the XLR cable from the mic to the 1/8 mono or stereo input on the camera. Note that a simple "music store" XLR to TRS adapter will NOT do this properly .
 
The first film will be on a RED camera, the second film I am not sure, what is the best approach to properly convert xlr to 1/8 inch?
 
Beachtek makes a cheap adapter - but for the RED you will need xlr to mini-xlr adapters.

BTW, the general convention with the RED is double system - the in-camera audio is not well thought of. Make sure they upgrade to the latest firmware, it is supposedly better, though still not great.

Phil
 
jaredgiese said:
The first film will be on a RED camera, the second film I am not sure, what is the best approach to properly convert xlr to 1/8 inch?
Click to expand...

The best way to convert to 1/8" is through an XLR converter box from Beachtek or Juicedlink. But you'll only need that for smaller, consumer cams with no XLR.

As has been mentioned, RED has mini-XLR inputs (adapter cables easily found through production audio dealers... try Full Compass). And it's first-generation audio board was pretty sketchy. So check to make sure that, not only does the camera have the latest firmware, they aren't sporting the first generation audio board. Double-system sound is usually better with RED.

The one thing that's missing from your kit, really - and this is not a cheap item - is an external mixer. If you're going to be working with RED, you'll have no easy control over your audio signal. A lot of it is software based, and there are not external controls for input level. Plus, unless they've fixed this, the audio meters on the camera are only available when output to an external monitor, and there are no markings on the meter scale. So you'll want to have metering and control that are remote from the camera.

If you can afford it, at the very least start with a Sound Devices MixPre. This will be fine if you are using the shotgun as your one and only mic (though the shotgun won't do you much good indoors, where a hypercardioid is desired). The next step up would be a Sound Devices 302. Whatever you get, make sure to get an ENG snake with it (2 XLR sends to camera, 1 headphone 1/8" return).

If you cannot afford to buy a mixer at this point, rent as needed until you can buy.
 
The two sets I will be working on are using a sound mixer so for now I dont urgently need one.

I am having trouble finding that xlr to mini-xlr adapter, C2V would you mind finding me the appropriate adapter and a link? I would really appreciate it.

I just got done ordering my rode kit :)
 
jaredgiese said:
The two sets I will be working on are using a sound mixer so for now I dont urgently need one.
Click to expand...

Then. theoretically, the sound mixer should have the needed cables to connect to the RED. Your only concern will be connecting to the mixer.

And since you'll be working with an on-set mixer, you may want to look at something like the Sound Devices MM1. It's a single-channel mic pre-amp. It gives you level control, XLR out, and a headphone return for monitoring.

jaredgiese said:
I am having trouble finding that xlr to mini-xlr adapter, C2V would you mind finding me the appropriate adapter and a link? I would really appreciate it.
Click to expand...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/293002-REG/Sound_Devices_XL2_XL2_TA3_F_to_XLR.html
 
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Great, I will check with them and see which RED camera they have and when they got it to get the appropriate adapter. I will end up buying one anyway for future sets. I think thats about it guys, thanks so much!
 
I'm surprised you need to get a mic if there is a mixer. Normally I would expect him to have one, and probably a better one than the NTG-2 (not that I don't love my NTG-2). Did the production ask you to bring your own mic, or are you doing this on your own?

Also, I would have to recommend you get another XLR cable. That 30' cable might seem far now, but when you get on set you'll find that it isn't as long as you think. I would recommend another 25'. A headphone extender (1/8" male to 1/8" female) is really useful as well. If you don't have this cable you're either stuck within the reach of the cable on your headphones or stuck booming without a monitor.
 
Well I was on a set a few months ago and the 30' cable the mixer guy had seemed to do fine, eventually I will get a 50' as well probably. The mixer is not bringing his shotgun because the company is paying to rent mine since I am bringing it. And I already have the headphone cable, thanks!
 
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