AC90: Audio: Lav vs Shotgun

denzlite

denzlite

Active member
The last time I did video work back in 08/09 we had a nice Sennheiser wireless system. So even though it's wicked expensive I put it in my budget. After doing a couple interviews I'm wondering: would a nice shotgun on a good stand postitioned correctly provide better results than this wireless lav for a controlled, lighted interview situation?

I do like the fact that the combo below comes with a wireless adapter for a microphone - so I could just pop that on a shotgun mic.

Sennheiser ew 100 ENG G3 Wireless Microphone System Combo

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ..._EW_100_ENG_G3_A_Evolution_G3_100_Series.html
 
Unless you have an accoustically neutral room I would go for lav every time. Shotgun mikes are great for broad sound but lavs make sure you are not sounding as though it were shot in a bathroom.
Cheers!
Rod
 
A mic on a fixed stand can work ok as long as your talent doesn't move much. A good lav can sound very decent, and given the close proximity to the talent, can help eliminate background noise. If your shooting indoors, a small condenser mic will probably work better than a shotgun. Cardioid or hyper-cardioid being the preferred pattern.

Remember that the standard G3 plug on does not supply phantom power, so dynamic mics and or lavs are usually used. Senn does make a higher end plug on that does supply phantom power, or you can add a remote power supply.

There are a couple of battery powered shotguns which supply the mics power: the AT897 and the Rode NTG2.

Hope that helps, Grant
 
I have the same wireless unit. Do you know if they make a rugged covering for the bodypack?
I am nervous sometimes when a client has the wireless mic on, and afraid he will somehow break the antenna or damage the unit.

I never did this, butI would love sometime to put 2 wireless mics on certain people, because when the speaker is holding papers, the papers or books will hit the mic. I try over and over to tell them to watch out for that, but when they are in full swing of their speech, they forget. Takes forever to get those nasty pops edited in audio.
It is funny sometimes when your client forgets you can hear them, and they might be in a private conversation, or go to the bathroom.

Do you think it is overkill to use a lav and shotgun, that way you are positive you will get a great sound.
 
denzlite said:
I do like the fact that the combo below comes with a wireless adapter for a microphone - so I could just pop that on a shotgun mic.
Click to expand...

You can, but all you'll get is silence. The SKP-100 plug on transmitter does not supply phantom power. It works fine with with dynamic reporter mics, like the EV RE50N/D-B. If you want phantom power, you need at least the SKP 300 which is considerably more money.

Back to the topic at hand. When you say "controlled, lighted interview situation" I interpret that as interior work. That usually means interesting reflections, which often means odd responses from an interference tube mic (shotgun). Interference tube mics do not handle reflections well, and an interior is usually loaded with reflections. For that reason I'd suggest a hypercardioid pattern mic.

I've done a number of interviews booming an AT4053B from a C-stand. It works fine, and sounds great. As long as the talent stays inside the pattern. Which is why I try to use a chair without wheels, or a recline function, or a swivel. Just a dumb old upholstered club chair works fine though.
 
+1 on the AT4053b for sit down interviews - I use it on a stand boomed above the person. When possible I use a lav as backup, but the 4053b almost always sounds better, and in a live room actually has less background reverb.
 
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