Can you guys reccomend a decent sub >$400 boom mic?

M

mattman1

Member
Just shooting some sketches for Youtube and I'd like to up my audio quality a bit but I don't have the budget for the really nice mics.

Right now I'm using an Azden Sgm-1x running into a Zoom H4. Unfortunately, the Azden's output seems to be pretty weak and I have to boost the levels a ton in post.
 
Also, I'm going to be shooting in small apartments a lot. What kind of mic should I get to cut down on echo? (If at all possible)
 
Check out the Avantone CK-1 hypercardioid. If you are shooting almost exclusively indoors it may be what you are looking for in a micro-budget mic.
 
All these sugestions are great, especially Jema's , knowing when and why you need a certain type of mike is much more important than just sugesting a particular mic. I love the 875r myself.

The stickies are a great source of information to guide you.

good luck
 
You could search for a used a AT 4073a short-shotgun, which has a very hot output, (-23 dB ~ 70.8 mV) and may keep a Zoom's noisy preamps in check. By contrast, the output of the AT 875R is -30 dB ~ 31.6 mV.
Of course shotgun mics in general are not good for 'live' interior locations.
I have not used Avantone CK-1 but it's output level is stated to be 15mV.. which is not bad, but that doesn't mean it 'sounds good'.
A stock 012 Oktava's output is 10mV, but they usually sound pretty decent with a good shock mount. (in the hands of a skilled boom op, but that applies to all)
 
You guys are absolutely right, I should've read the stickes more closely. Although a lot of that info is several years old. Perhaps prices have changed around a little in that time? Or I guess the audio landscape doesn't change as quickly as DSLRs.

I've heard that the AT4503b would be a great choice but it's a little out of my price range. Are microphones something that are safe to buy used?
 
mattman1 said:
I've heard that the AT4503b would be a great choice but it's a little out of my price range.
Click to expand...

Prices are really the only major changes with mics in the last few years (except for the high end like Schoeps and Sennheiser). Mixers and recorders have changed drastically.

A budget hypercardioid that gets little mention around here, but is worth a look/listen, is the U873r from Audio Technica. Perhaps I should add that to the information in the stickies...

mattman1 said:
Are microphones something that are safe to buy used?
Click to expand...

If you know and trust the seller, it can be. Problem is, mics can look great on the outside but be absolutely destroyed on the inside. Make sure you have a trial period and a return policy.
 
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