AT875r or rode lavalier for dialogs
- Thread starter deleuze3
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That would depend. Firstly, I would ask why you are limiting yourself to these choices. Indoors, the ideal choice for boomed micing is usually regarded as being of the cardiod/supercardioid/hypercardioid type, as shotguns (due to their design featuring an interference tube) can pick up all sorts of reflections and distortions, including a high-end "fizzing" sound.
That said, the AT875r is said to be better than most shotguns in this regard. I have tested one indoors, and it's pretty good. I also have a Rode Lav, and it's also pretty good. Of course, given the two mics' different designs, they sound different. The shotgun will pick up a little more room ambience and echo, whilst the lav will be more voice-focused and possibly "chesty".
All this is undoubtedly fascinating, but perhaps the most important question is: what you do WANT or think? What kind of sound do you (or your client) like/want? More isolated voice (lav) or a more natural perspective (boomed mic)? How do YOU like the sounds of the AT875R or the Rode lav? If you can't decide, and have both, why not record two tracks, with one mic on each, and then mix to your own personal taste in post?
That said, the AT875r is said to be better than most shotguns in this regard. I have tested one indoors, and it's pretty good. I also have a Rode Lav, and it's also pretty good. Of course, given the two mics' different designs, they sound different. The shotgun will pick up a little more room ambience and echo, whilst the lav will be more voice-focused and possibly "chesty".
All this is undoubtedly fascinating, but perhaps the most important question is: what you do WANT or think? What kind of sound do you (or your client) like/want? More isolated voice (lav) or a more natural perspective (boomed mic)? How do YOU like the sounds of the AT875R or the Rode lav? If you can't decide, and have both, why not record two tracks, with one mic on each, and then mix to your own personal taste in post?
You're comparing apples to pomegranate. Let's take away for a moment the differences in overall sound between the AT875r and the RØDE lav and look at the larger, underlying issue.
The lav can create one of two challenging scenarios. Is it being used with a wireless transmitter? Well, wireless can fail, and it probably will at some point. Plus, depending on the quality of the transmitter/receiver system the compander can have some less-than-desirable artifacts on the quality of sound. The old adage is, "Whenever able, use a cable." Or are you planning to use the lav hardwired straight to camera/recorder? Well, now your actor's mobility is limited, as is framing to avoid the cable sticking out of the bottom of wardrobe and running across the floor. This can be perfectly fine for a seated interview, but add any movement and you'll have issues.
Whether wired to camera/recorder or feeding a wireless transmitter, you're probably looking at burying the lav in wardrobe, yes? This opens up another host of potential issues if you've never tried burying a lav before.
A boomed mic is (hopefully) always out of frame, so you don't have to worry about wardrobe rubbing on the mic. It's never attached to an actor and in the hands of a skilled boom op can move freely with the actor. It can be wired straight to camera/recorder without restricting actor movements, and won't suffer from RF interference or dropouts (unless it is fed through a wireless system).
A boomed mic should be your first choice. So why would a lav be appropriate?
Is the shot too wide to get he boom in close enough? Or, is it in a space that is too tight to get the boom in without being in the shot? Then the lav is your backup.
Different tools for different applications. Use them each as needed.
The lav can create one of two challenging scenarios. Is it being used with a wireless transmitter? Well, wireless can fail, and it probably will at some point. Plus, depending on the quality of the transmitter/receiver system the compander can have some less-than-desirable artifacts on the quality of sound. The old adage is, "Whenever able, use a cable." Or are you planning to use the lav hardwired straight to camera/recorder? Well, now your actor's mobility is limited, as is framing to avoid the cable sticking out of the bottom of wardrobe and running across the floor. This can be perfectly fine for a seated interview, but add any movement and you'll have issues.
Whether wired to camera/recorder or feeding a wireless transmitter, you're probably looking at burying the lav in wardrobe, yes? This opens up another host of potential issues if you've never tried burying a lav before.
A boomed mic is (hopefully) always out of frame, so you don't have to worry about wardrobe rubbing on the mic. It's never attached to an actor and in the hands of a skilled boom op can move freely with the actor. It can be wired straight to camera/recorder without restricting actor movements, and won't suffer from RF interference or dropouts (unless it is fed through a wireless system).
A boomed mic should be your first choice. So why would a lav be appropriate?
Is the shot too wide to get he boom in close enough? Or, is it in a space that is too tight to get the boom in without being in the shot? Then the lav is your backup.
Different tools for different applications. Use them each as needed.
Yes. it depends of the situation.
What about pure audio fidelity quality sound ? does the lavalier is on par with a hypercardioid indoor ?
I mean, for example, will i see a noticeable difference between rode lavalier and oktava mk-012 ? Oktava will fill the room more, but the lavalier will be more focused on voice.
Its a question of preference i assume ?
What about pure audio fidelity quality sound ? does the lavalier is on par with a hypercardioid indoor ?
I mean, for example, will i see a noticeable difference between rode lavalier and oktava mk-012 ? Oktava will fill the room more, but the lavalier will be more focused on voice.
Its a question of preference i assume ?
On par how?
If you're asking about being able to intercut a RØDE Lav with an MK012 without much difference, then I really cannot answer that except to say that it is difficult to find pairings of lavs and boomed mics (shotgun or hypercardioid) that will match each other in post as far as frequency response.
This is less about the makes and models of the mics as it is about how each mic is used, or rather, where each one is placed. The lav is omnidirectional, but its placement means that it will have more chest resonance and less of the "room" in the recording. That's a very different sound from the more open hypercardioid placed overhead that will have more of the "room" in the recording and will be susceptible to the proximity effect (meaning the farther it is from the voice the less low end it will pick up).
And one could argue it is a matter of preference, but I would argue more that it is a matter of using a lav only when absolutely necessary. For a seated interview, ENG style, the lav is perfectly appropriate, but I'm talking more in terms of narrative.
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