Best way to handhold a mic?

A

andrew00

Well-known member
Hey,

So, I've decided to get a Zoom h4n, to compliment my zoom h4, for when I film bands playing whilst walking about. I'm going to be playing the h4n on my 5d mark 2, using the 4 track record - w/the two mics on the top for an ambient/on-camera feed, and the into the two inputs I'll plug my G2's - using an extension cable as I'll leave the receivers in my bag.

This leaves my H4 free to record additional audio sources.

I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on the following

1 - I play on putting my Rode NT4 into the Zoom H4 and getting my sound guy to operate that. There are times, though, when I don't want it on a boom, overhead, when I want to keep it discreet and low key.

How would you best recommend we hold the mic at that time? It current goes boom to shock mount to nt4. Would it be best to just use the boom at it's smallest? Are there super short equivalents to put it on? Can we handhold it and/or handhold it by the shockmount.

Or is there a better way to do it in this situation?

AFAIK most of the shock mounts usage is nullified when one is holding the thing handheld, after all one is gripping the mic. However I'm dubious if just holding the mic will bring other issues like shaking it about and so forth in one's natural movements - hence the search for a solution.

Cheers!
a x
 
andrew00 said:
Hey,

So, I've decided to get a Zoom h4n, to compliment my zoom h4, for when I film bands playing whilst walking about. I'm going to be playing the h4n on my 5d mark 2, using the 4 track record - w/the two mics on the top for an ambient/on-camera feed, and the into the two inputs I'll plug my G2's - using an extension cable as I'll leave the receivers in my bag.

This leaves my H4 free to record additional audio sources.

I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on the following

1 - I play on putting my Rode NT4 into the Zoom H4 and getting my sound guy to operate that. There are times, though, when I don't want it on a boom, overhead, when I want to keep it discreet and low key.

How would you best recommend we hold the mic at that time? It current goes boom to shock mount to nt4. Would it be best to just use the boom at it's smallest? Are there super short equivalents to put it on? Can we handhold it and/or handhold it by the shockmount.

Or is there a better way to do it in this situation?

AFAIK most of the shock mounts usage is nullified when one is holding the thing handheld, after all one is gripping the mic. However I'm dubious if just holding the mic will bring other issues like shaking it about and so forth in one's natural movements - hence the search for a solution.

Cheers!
a x
Click to expand...

I think the best is to use stands, which you put on the ground.

But it could be a good idea to first do some kind of "clap" (can be in hands) when the h4 and the h4n are recording to more easely sync.
 
Aye, the thing is it'd need to be handheld - can't use a stand therefore as one needs to be able to run about.
 
andrew00 said:
Aye, the thing is it'd need to be handheld - can't use a stand therefore as one needs to be able to run about.
Click to expand...

A Rode NT4 does NOT seem like a hand-held mic for any number of reasons. What kind of applications are you anticipating? I can't imagine using an NT4 hand-held?
 
In the past I've used it on a boom, overheard of a group of musicians, to capture them playing - as I film a lot of music acoustically (though often more than guitars) in random urban environments.

In that sense the RT4 is great b/c it's stereo mics + good location sound gives a nice natural recording option - plus it means I only have to use it - I don't need say two booms or whatever, I can cover the wide area the a group of musicians in a line can be.

I still plan on doing things that way when I can, however I'm thinking there may be times when the whole boom setup is impractical - either because there's no space, or simply because I don't feel I want to have this big mic hanging over people - maybe from a safety point of view, or from a keeping a low profile pov.

However, since the NT4 is still a great mic, I still want to use it. So I'm thinkng, in those situations where I need to be discreet, how is the best way to hold it so I can get the cleanest - free of operating sounds, the sounds of people holding it etc - sound possible.

Hope that explains well enough.
 
andrew00 said:
In the past I've used it on a boom, overheard of a group of musicians, to capture them playing - as I film a lot of music acoustically (though often more than guitars) in random urban environments.

In that sense the RT4 is great b/c it's stereo mics + good location sound gives a nice natural recording option - plus it means I only have to use it - I don't need say two booms or whatever, I can cover the wide area the a group of musicians in a line can be.

I still plan on doing things that way when I can, however I'm thinking there may be times when the whole boom setup is impractical - either because there's no space, or simply because I don't feel I want to have this big mic hanging over people - maybe from a safety point of view, or from a keeping a low profile pov.

However, since the NT4 is still a great mic, I still want to use it. So I'm thinkng, in those situations where I need to be discreet, how is the best way to hold it so I can get the cleanest - free of operating sounds, the sounds of people holding it etc - sound possible.

Hope that explains well enough.
Click to expand...

Thats a nice mic for what you're proposing. I would say use it in the Rode shockmount and attach it to the boom pole and keep it short. Should be fine if the sound guy doesn't move it around too much. For an even lower profile get a pistol grip type handle and attach it to the shock mount. Again careful handling is important but should be fine.
Best,
Bernie
 
Forgive me for saying so, but it's like going to a medical forum and asking about how to do your own dentistry. If you need dental work you go to a dentis. If you are making a sound film then you need a Production Mixer/sound guy. Then you won't need to worry about it!


andrew00 said:
Hey,

So, I've decided to get a Zoom h4n, to compliment my zoom h4, for when I film bands playing whilst walking about. I'm going to be playing the h4n on my 5d mark 2, using the 4 track record - w/the two mics on the top for an ambient/on-camera feed, and the into the two inputs I'll plug my G2's - using an extension cable as I'll leave the receivers in my bag.

This leaves my H4 free to record additional audio sources.

I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on the following

1 - I play on putting my Rode NT4 into the Zoom H4 and getting my sound guy to operate that. There are times, though, when I don't want it on a boom, overhead, when I want to keep it discreet and low key.

How would you best recommend we hold the mic at that time? It current goes boom to shock mount to nt4. Would it be best to just use the boom at it's smallest? Are there super short equivalents to put it on? Can we handhold it and/or handhold it by the shockmount.

Or is there a better way to do it in this situation?

AFAIK most of the shock mounts usage is nullified when one is holding the thing handheld, after all one is gripping the mic. However I'm dubious if just holding the mic will bring other issues like shaking it about and so forth in one's natural movements - hence the search for a solution.

Cheers!
a x
Click to expand...
 
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