Anyone Decided on a Mic for the AF100?

powervideo

Well-known member
Just looking around for quality microphone options for the AF100 besides the AG-MC200G mic. I have a MC700 on the Varicam, but I'm looking for a cheaper yet similar size mic that will fit in the AF100 mic holder and not stick out too far.
 
I have both mics, the MK-012 (available with cardioid, hypercardioid or omni-directional polar patterns) and the AT875 (shotgun). Both are small but very nice, and excellent for the price.
 
I wont even consider an onboard mic.

Will use what ever the Rrecordist has and suggests.

Never been able to achieve useable audio from anything on board.
 
Sometime you don't have a soundo and have to film on your own in the wind.


I wont even consider an onboard mic.

Will use what ever the Rrecordist has and suggests.

Never been able to achieve useable audio from anything on board.
 
Sometime you don't have a soundo and have to film on your own in the wind.
I'm with Shooter. If I can't have a dedicated sound op, then I wire 'em with a lav, or (at gunpoint) wireless lav them if they're moving around or far away. If the talent is less than 3' from the camera, given that there's no moving parts, you might get away with a mic on-camera, but if the audio isn't important enough for a sound op, why shoot it with an AF100? - Tim
 
I'm with Shooter. If I can't have a dedicated sound op, then I wire 'em with a lav, or (at gunpoint) wireless lav them if they're moving around or far away. If the talent is less than 3' from the camera, given that there's no moving parts, you might get away with a mic on-camera, but if the audio isn't important enough for a sound op, why shoot it with an AF100? - Tim

Hmmmm... I agree with everything you are saying, but I may go out sometimes and shoot some pickup shots for our ocean shipping client or shoot some tourist material pickup shots. There often isn't a budget for a soundo on this sort of work. What's the point of coming back with unusuable nat sound when a decent $200 camera-shottie will solve a lot of post issues?
 
Just for reference here. You guys arent talking to some guy who is asking about audio for the first time. This guy shoots national TV commercial campaigns here in Australia among other things and is well respected.

Back OT, if I ever need to pick up some natural sound while grabbing some b roll, probably just throw the sanken cs3.
 
Yep. Will be my on camera mic.

Also the Oktava MK-012 looks pretty nice for on boom.

Read: Choosing the right mic


A pretty good read, but the thing he fails to talk about is matching the output of the microphone with the expected input levels of the camera. That 875 mic as an example is a very sensitive mic at -30. Not many video cameras can handle this level and most certainly not the AF100. Not that you all would know as the ops manual is not on line just yet, the AF100 like many of if brethren is looking for -50 or -60. Now you will be able to plug the 875 in and get a signal but you will notice that you will probably not have to bring the volume up much more than 3 tick over zero. Then when the actress during the scene is supposed to walk across the floor and slam the door on the way out, that door slam will be distorted.

The MC200 has an output of -40. I have been having an discusssion with the brochure designer that it shouldn't be on the brochure. I really hope I win this discussion as it too is too hot for the AF100, just as is the AJ-MC700.

To finish, that 875 would be an excellent boom mic into an audio recorder as those tend to have inputs that can handle this level of input. If you want to use the on board recording capability of the AF100, find something in the -50 category.

Best to all,

Jan
 
I'll give my ME66/K6 a shot.

I should probably know this, but the AF100s on the "Verse" set didn't have mic holders installed - there are two mounting options for shotgun mics, right? On the front of the handle and on the side of the camera? I can imagine keeping a longer shotgun on the side just to keep a lower profile.
 
There are two places to mount a microphone and it comes with a single mic holder.

And BTW the MKE66 is -66dB and would be great. Set your input value at -60dB.

Best,

Jan
 
The MC200 has an output of -40. I have been having an discusssion with the brochure designer that it shouldn't be on the brochure. I really hope I win this discussion as it too is too hot for the AF100, just as is the AJ-MC700.

To finish, that 875 would be an excellent boom mic into an audio recorder as those tend to have inputs that can handle this level of input. If you want to use the on board recording capability of the AF100, find something in the -50 category.

Best to all,

Jan

Just out of curiosity, where can I find these specs? I tried looking on B&H website and found the Output Impedance, in this case on the NTG-2 being 50ohms. How will this mic work on the AF100? This is something I've never really taken in effect.
 
Just out of curiosity, where can I find these specs? I tried looking on B&H website and found the Output Impedance, in this case on the NTG-2 being 50ohms. How will this mic work on the AF100? This is something I've never really taken in effect.

Go to the manufacturer's website, look up the individual microphone. If it is not on that page, look for an ops manual, it is generally there. It is called either sensitivity or output level.

Good luck,

Jan
 
Is there any shotgun you can think of, off the top of your head that is in the proper sensitivity area for around $250?
 
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