Audio help...new DVX100B user

T

ToTheBack

Active member
I'll say right off the bat that I don't know a lot of the lighting terminology bandied about here in threads like these. So a question and hopefully in layman's terms since I'm still getting used to my new camera:

I'm in need of a good microphone for my audio. General, I know. I used to film with a guy in my area who, before I had a falling out with him, would film with a boom mic with the pole and everything. I think it was an XLR and connected directly into the 100B and got good sound from what I remember. I checked out the sticky thread up top but wasn't sure where to get all that equipment since there weren't any main links available and wasn't sure if they were what I was thinking of. So if anyone could recommend or figure out what mic it might've been, it would be helping me out, or push me in the right direction
 
I found out the type he used, it was an

Azden SGM-1X - Super-Cardioid Shotgun Condenser Microphone

I've found it on B&H Photo, but needed a boom pole and wasn't sure what type of XLR cable is needed to connect to the camera. I'm sure it's easy to answer here, I'm just a child in the woods sometimes
 
ToTheBack said:
I found out the type he used, it was an

Azden SGM-1X - Super-Cardioid Shotgun Condenser Microphone

I've found it on B&H Photo, but needed a boom pole and wasn't sure what type of XLR cable is needed to connect to the camera. I'm sure it's easy to answer here, I'm just a child in the woods sometimes
Click to expand...

As for the 'type' of cable to connect it, the wise-a** answer is "one long enough to reach from the mic to the camera, having an XLR-F on one end and an XLR-M on the other." Seriously, that part of the equation isn't much more complicated than that. For the greatest immunity to pickup of electrical noise in a long cable run, you might want to spend the few extra bucks it takes to get what are known as 'star-quad' or just plain 'quad' mic cables (a cable type, not a brand) but aside from that it ain't complicated. And you DO NOT need super expensive 'boutique' cables, they're no better than mainstream brands like Mogami or Canare.

You might want to research the mic options a bit - Azden isn't a particularly well-reputed brand. And you do need to weigh your options for a boom pole and shock mount as well, they're not trivial parts of the package.
 
I agree with Steve!

Best:
Sennheiser 416 ($1100.00ish)

Better:
I've heard nothing but good things about the Rode shotguns (street-$269.00)

...I believe they make a NTG-3 too (to be released soon)

Boom pole, shock mount, windscreens, blimps...all very important.
 
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Well, surprising that no one else has said this first:

Please read the stickies at the top of the forum. They contain a wealth of information, definitions, sound package suggestions, etc. There are a ton of variables when it comes to determining what the right microphone you should purchase is.

But, I will say this, I'm going to be less diplomatic than Steve - Azden mics suck.

Phil
 
Being primarily a DP for twenty years you might find it hard to believe, but I find that good sound is as important, if not more important to low budget productions than lighting. If you can make the ear believe it the eye will most often follow. Shoot good pictures but NEVER cut corners buy buying the cheapest XLR shotgun available (AZDEN). Now, this doesn't mean you have to pay more for your mic than all your other gear put together, just find a good usable solution like Rode or AKG etc...
 
I decided against getting the Azden mic since I watched more videos by my former editor and really focused on the audio. They ended up sucking. The article in the first response was very helpful and I think I'm gonna go with the Oktava listed in it. However, because they mentioned some handling sound issues, the next question might be: what would be a recommended boom pole to get with it? And where online can I get the Oktava at a good price? It seems to be the only type here not listed on B&H
 
I'd like to start by recommending you start with the stickies here and the links within them. There's just an incredible amount of info buried there and it literally saved me THOUSANDS starting out. (thanks again all btw)

Octava's come from the sound room. K-Tek mounts and poles are great, don't forget wind treatment. You haven't mentioned budget or what type shooting you're doing. Octava's got a great sound for the buck but you really need to think about how you're going to handle it - the noise problem is very real. Need more info as to what type shooting you're doing. . . .
 
no need to buy new , you can find nice used stuff ( even from me:-)
i will not recomend octava for someone who dont have amixer and super druper suspention .
check any mic that at least has low fq cut off .
about boom poles , even i am glad to be manfred friend ( long life m) i found much nicer one for less nose changing the lenght on the fly and better cabling noise ( to clear i became also disterbutor of that firm in israel, so iam not 100% cosher to say you what to buy)
but check them out
loonaudio.com
best
 
this is **** also in tems of shotguns :_)
if you need shotgun at least me-80 from sennheiser , 20 yers old ,sounds better .
at 4073 is much much better you have aused one in lsc
 
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