Budget handheld mic recommendations

No experience with that particular AT mic...Since it's AT, I'd guess it's OK. I don't use handheld interview mics much, but I have an Electro-Voice RE50; that mic will survive us all...However, it's about $200 with a long handle. Perhaps you can find a good one used?

I haven't used many other handheld interview mics; not really my bag. But I've used a Beyer M58, Sennheiser MD46 (cardioid...takes a bit of care to use, but good in noisy environments; but not my first choice), and a Rode Reporter. The Rode was actually decent, had a good long handle, and fairly inexpensive. $130 at the usual suspects. I'd consider it a candidate. Ignore the WTF flag accessory.
http://www.rode.com/microphones/reporter

So perhaps traipse down to a dealer and try out the AT and the Rode mics. Maybe toss in a RE50 or M58 as references. See if they have much handling noise (since I'm guessing you might not always have an experienced reporter working the mic). See how heavy the proximity effect is, check off-axis sound. My guess is they'll all be fairly similar.

An important test that might be difficult to pull off: Throw the mics as hard as you can onto the ground. Choose the one that's not dented.

Get a long-handled version of whatever you choose (looks that's an option with the AT; the Rode does have a long handle; many other ENG interview mics also have long-handles at least as an option)...That's good so the mic holder won't be tempted to hold the thing by the transmitter (and thereby limit the antennas)...and will help them keep their hand away from the speaker's mouth.

That's enough from me. What do others think?
 
"Throw the mics as hard as you can onto the ground. Choose the one that's not dented." LOL the BH staff will be happy with that test... I'll check out the Rode. I have an NTG3 and I like that one. Thanks, Jim.

Anyone else have any recommendations?
 
The AT8004 is basically a copy or the Electrovoice 635A.

If you are worried about damage, may I suggest the Nady Starpower? $10-15 bucks. Cheap copy of a SM58, indestructible, and if they somehow did destroy it, you would be out almost nothing. Of course, your friends will sneer at your mic. I have two of them.
 
I use an old SM58; bulletproof and available for about $100. Classic rock n' roll mic. Don't know anything about the sound or longevity of the knock offs, but my "genuine article" has served me well for nearly 20 years.
Hope this helps.
Ken
 
If you need a live performance type mic, there's plenty of low cost SM58 copies around. Even the SM48 & PGA58 are under $50 I think. (BTW, the SM57/58 is 50 years old now. Shure is offering an 50th anniversary 58)
There are usually some used 635s on eBay if you need a dynamic omni.
 
SM58 is one that you could throw at the floor and have it bounce back to your hand with out a sign of damage.

But it would have two big drawbacks for the use that the OP wants to use it for. One is it's a cardioid and that will be problematic for inexperienced users. It also has a lot of proximity effect and it has a very short handle. Your filming someone and you really don't want their fist in front of their mouth the whole time. Which is why you see longer handled omni mics used for on camera interviews etc. For ENG you also need the long handle for the mic flag, but that isn't probably an issue here.

The AT mic looks like it was designed for what you want to do so I would check it out.
 
You haven't said what you want to do with the handheld. Talk into it close, or do interviews, or sing - or what? An SM58 is fine with your lips almost on the mesh, move it away and it's a thin sounding as you can. An omni is best for hand held interviews because you don't need to aim it, or wave it around like Harry Potter. For interviews, the omnis work well, but the long handle versions are really the best - AT do one too. The EV is very popular with the broadcasters, but Beyer and Sennheiser have them too. If you want to use it at the formula 1, then a cardioid might be better and of course being able to shout into it is an advantage - meaning the 58 again.

I had an AT omni, but now use a Beyer M58, which is nicer sounding. It gets very little use.
 
scorsesefan said:
I occasionally get a request from a client for a handheld mic, so I picked up an SKP 100 and I am looking for a reasonably priced handheld mic to pair with it? Anyone have any recommendations for a general use mic with decent sound?
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Yup. On this side of the Atlantic, the most used reporters mic by far is the EV RE50N/D-B. On the other side of the Atlantic, the most used reporters mic seems to be the Sennheiser MD 42. Both are omni dynamic mics, they don't need phantom power so both work just fine with the SKP 100.

I've got the EV RE50N/D-B and can attest to its nearly indestructible nature. It sounds fantastic, doesn't need any kind of wind block for outdoor use (watch the coverage of Hurricane Matthew over the next few days -- nearly all the news crews will be using RE50s, but few will use wind protection even in a hurricane), and in a pinch you can use it as a hammer (I'm only half kidding). What's not to like?

Oh, these have been around forever so check the used markets. Older (without the newer neodymium magnets) RE50Ns can be had for around $100. If you can find a RE50N/D-B you'll be rewarded with a little more output and a little less noise, and therefore less gain from your SKP-100, and therefore less noise again.

And do spend an extra $20 on a 5m XLR cable for it. With the cable into a decent mixer (I'm using a little MixPre-D) the bloody thing sounds just amazing. Once you hear it, you'll want to use the cable as much as you can. I only use the Sennheiser wireless when I've got no other way to get the job done now.
 
EV635's were pretty much the standard reporter's interview mic when I was shooting news. Decent sound for speech and very forgiving for orientation/placement.
 
paulears said:
You haven't said what you want to do with the handheld. Talk into it close, or do interviews, or sing - or what? An SM58 is fine with your lips almost on the mesh, move it away and it's a thin sounding as you can. An omni is best for hand held interviews because you don't need to aim it, or wave it around like Harry Potter. For interviews, the omnis work well, but the long handle versions are really the best - AT do one too. The EV is very popular with the broadcasters, but Beyer and Sennheiser have them too. If you want to use it at the formula 1, then a cardioid might be better and of course being able to shout into it is an advantage - meaning the 58 again.

I had an AT omni, but now use a Beyer M58, which is nicer sounding. It gets very little use.
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On two recent shoots I had a call for a "reporter mic" -- one was a trade show where the interviewer walked around interviewing people on the floor (I borrowed a wired mic), the other was an outdoor WWI recreation society where the interviewer asked re-creationists questions (we used a wireless lav mic). I could also see using it up on a podium to get speakers at conferences, etc...
 
We mostly use the RE50 too here in the UK but the use of cardioid radio mic's is becoming more commonplace at sports events due to the PA levels.

The RE50N/D-B is the best if you wish to invest in it and I have two of them and they are perfect.

On a budget the AT is a good mic but also look out for the Beyer M58 as they can be picked up second hand for a good price, I have two M58 too and they look a lot nicer in vision but with the use of branded wind shields the RE50 tends to be the most common mic for interviews.

Also have a look at this one from Shure as it is also budget priced: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/157396-REG/Shure_VP64AL_VP64AL_Omni_Directional_Handheld.html

This one may also be worth checking out and it looks similar to the Beyer M58 I mentioned: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod..._hand_held_omni_dynamic_eng.html/prm/alsVwDtl

The Rode reporter is also another option as mentioned above and as you can see most of these are long handled so better for hand held interviews as the reporter can get the mic closer to the interviewee: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...nidirectional_Interview_Mic.html/prm/alsVwDtl

Cardioid mic's such as the SM58 can be fine too but more for single presentation as you will need to add gain for interviews and the handling and proximity effect can be a problem as they tend to be most effective within 2-8 inches. A high pass filter at 80-100hz will help all hand held mic's.
 
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Just as a side note the EV RE50N/D-B may cost more but as others have said it is pretty much bomb proof and is the best you can get as the magnet structure gives you an extra +10db so you need to dial in less gain and it is more like a condenser mic for sensitivity.

That means you have a lower noise floor and as this pic from the recent bombings in New York shows you can add some acoustic isolation and even use it to do your ENG voice overs in a busy city street. This may look strange but needs must on a busy day in the field on news when you can't get back to your uplink truck.

 
The 635 was designed more for stand usage, whilst the RE50 for handheld. They have the same electronics though. I don't know about the newer n/dym series.
 
Rick R said:
The 635 was designed more for stand usage, whilst the RE50 for handheld. They have the same electronics though. I don't know about the newer n/dym series.
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635 was a chrome bullet mic on a stand. 635A is a handheld interview mic. RE50 is an update handheld interview mic. The 635 is long discontinued, and I would guess it was in no way related to the 635A.

electrovoice_635.jpg


Just a bit of clarification.
 
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