Brilliant microphone shock mount

F

frannyglassarrives

Active member
I am going to be buying the Rode NTG 1 to shoot a documentary which is a run and gun one woman show. NO BOOM! I read that although the microphone is important, having a shock mount that can reduce all the noise from camera is equally important.

Can someone throw in some top of the line shock mounts for my hvx200?

Thanks.
 
The Rycote INV-7 would be the ideal mount for you.

Technically the "Lyre"shockmount is the best there is, at any price; as far as I can tell, nothing beats it.

If you want to add a Softie, go for the INV-7HG fersion with harder grade "Lyres".
 
Those are all great shockmounts, although if you are going with a Rode Mic, then you might also want to consider the Rode SM3 Shockmount. Not nearly as costly as some of the higher end ones, and very simple, but it definitely gets the job done.
 
I would not recommend the K-Tek KSM. I've been using it for over a month now for a feature documentary as an on-camera mount in conjunction with the AKG CK93. Quite a bit of handling noise. Didn't get the "soft bands", so I just placed an order for those today - hoping they'll solve the issue, but it's been a pretty disappointing amount of handling noise considering the whole point is to reduce handling noise - gonna make post a huge nuisance.

I emailed K-Tek support about it a couple of times and never heard back either, after having heard back from them very rapidly about other inquiries when there weren't problems at hand. Don't know if that should be read into or not.

I haven't used any other products for on-camera mount from other brands, so I can't tell you if anything else would be better, but I just placed an order today also for a Rycote S-Series 300 Kit for the Senn 416 boom we're using to see if that helps with handling noise on the boom pole, so I can let you know in a few days if the Lyre system that John sold me on (hehe) is as good as he touts :), but again that's on a boom and not on-camera, though still comparable. (And no, we're not just supremely bad boom and camera handlers!)
 
frannyglassarrives said:
I'm a little confused. What is the difference between a softie and a lyre?

When you mean the softie, are you referring to the wind deflector?
Click to expand...

The Rycote "Softie" is a course foam windshield with an integral "Windjammer" hairy cover. It has a rubber nd into which the microphone is pushed.

The Rycote "Lyre" suspension is the new suspension used with the S-series and InVision mounts.

You can use an InVision mount with a Softie if you use the "HG" version of the inVision - eg: INV-7HG.

It's called a "Lyre" because it looks like a lyre - pic. HERE.
 
frannyglassarrives said:
I am going to be buying the Rode NTG 1 to shoot a documentary which is a run and gun one woman show. NO BOOM! I read that although the microphone is important, having a shock mount that can reduce all the noise from camera is equally important.

Can someone throw in some top of the line shock mounts for my hvx200?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Are you using a wireless lav too? If the NTG-1 on the camera is going to be the only mic, I strongly consider a lav package instead - and both wireless lav and shotgun mic if you can swing it.
 
Guy makes a great point as always. I own the NTG-1 and it has served me well but for you to get quality sound out of it (and any mic for that matter) you have to get it in close. Mounting it on the camera will only help if your subjects stand within 2 feet of the camera or closer. You will get sound from further away, but mostly you will get a lot of sounds you don't want.

The G2 Evolution runs about $549 in the DVestore and is really the minimum you should look to spend on a wireless system. It comes with everything you need and gives good results. You might want to upgrade the microphone when you can afford to but I use the included mic (ME2) and I am happy with it.

I don't know how your shoot is set up but if you have to use the Rode you really want to get it closer. Unless the subject you are shooting is mobile you can just mount it on a mic stand with a boom arm and get it as close as possible. You don't want to have the great image quality from your HVX to be accompanied by substandard audio. And as suggested earlier, if you are going to be outside make sure you use more than the stock foam cover for wind protection.

Cole
 
Here is my filming situation. I'm going to India to shoot a yoga dvd, in which all of it will be voice over. However, I will be shooting India but and then layering music over it and whatnot. I considered not even bringing a microphone but then I thought I would bring the rode ntg-2 just in case something happened and I wanted to film a sound or something.
I was under the impression that a lav mic was specifically for interviews or if I was going to have a subject talking. I can't imagine an Indian allowing me to put a wireless mic on them if their praying.

If anyone has any suggestions for a mic that might accomplish the sounds of India other than the rode ntg-2 that would be awesome.
 
So if i'm looking for a microphone to attach to my camera, through a shock mount, that would pick up sounds that weren't directly in front of me, but in the area of my camera, which kind would i get?
 
frannyglassarrives said:
So if i'm looking for a microphone to attach to my camera, through a shock mount, that would pick up sounds that weren't directly in front of me, but in the area of my camera, which kind would i get?
Click to expand...

Just to get you a little bit of knowledge that may help, take a look at a little experiment we did with swinging some "white noise" around a few mics. Maybe it'll give you greater clarity in your pursuit http://www.dvcreators.net/microphone-polar-patterns/
 
frannyglassarrives said:
Now I just need a good omni microphone. I'm leaving for India in eight days, does anyone have any suggestions?
Click to expand...

You're probably not going to like my suggestion, but I'll throw it out there anyway. I recently had a chance to audition Sony's Stereo/Shotgun mic. Wow! Superb sound. Really quiet too. If I were only allowed to take one mic to India for a shoot as you describe, this would be the mic. You can switch to the shotgun pattern when you need a unidirectional pattern - or go to Stereo to get a feel of the location. I didn't have the mic for long to really test the heck out of it, however in the short time I had it, I fell in love with it. I know it is probably more than you want to spend, but I'm letting you know that this mic is a solid performer and I'd be willing to bet that you would be happy upon retuning with the sound gathered. I have a similar mic, the Edirol CS-50, which I believe is OEM'd from Audio Technica. It has a slight hiss so I rarely use it. It's in the $500 range whereas the street price on the Sony ECM680S seems to be around $850.
If you want a "decent" omni for a lower price, the Sennheiser ME62 with the K6 power module would do the trick. It's not going to sound as crisp and alive as the Sony, but it is a rugged mic and will hold up well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top