Cheap Microphone

N

neofg

New member
I hate this questions but... I have no money...and a T2i.
What cheap microphone (under 100$) I Can buy to use it, first, on dialogue recording, and then for ambient and other sounds? The target is "short films". A shotGun is the right choice for all?
If you have suggestions and prices...

PS. Please, don't answer "You Can't have quality and never spend money...bla bla bla"... I know...:thumbsup:
 
neofg said:
Please, don't answer "You Can't have quality and never spend money...bla bla bla"... I know...
Click to expand...

If you know, then why ask this question in the first place?

There is nothing - nothing - in that price range that would be anywhere close to advisable. Besides, you're talking microphone only, so I assume you're wanting to record straight to the camera? Also not advisable due to the T2i's AGC and lousy pre-amps... unless you've gotten Magic Lantern to work on your T2i for defeating the AGC. Even then, your lowest-budget solution is going to be the RODE VideoMic ($150). It's unbalanced output does mean the signal is not as good when it's extended for use on a pole, and it's not really the best dialog mic out there (even on a budget), but it's at least a start.

Have you considered renting for your projects?
 
C2V said:
If you know, then why ask this question in the first place?

There is nothing - nothing - in that price range that would be anywhere close to advisable. Besides, you're talking microphone only, so I assume you're wanting to record straight to the camera? Also not advisable due to the T2i's AGC and lousy pre-amps... unless you've gotten Magic Lantern to work on your T2i for defeating the AGC. Even then, your lowest-budget solution is going to be the RODE VideoMic ($150). It's unbalanced output does mean the signal is not as good when it's extended for use on a pole, and it's not really the best dialog mic out there (even on a budget), but it's at least a start.

Have you considered renting for your projects?
Click to expand...

Exactly this.
 
OK I am going to go off on a tangent, sort of.
First off anything is better than what is built in to the T2i. Second nothing is going to sound good going into the T2i. So if you don't have a recorder your pretty much SOL.

Assuming you have some way to record other than going into the T2i and assuming it will take XLR and provide phantom power, there is at least one choice that isn't awful. The CAD CM217. You can get a pair for $60.

These are cardioid so better used as a pair for ambiences than as a single for dialog, but all in all a very decent mic for ~$30.

If you are going to go direct into the camera then it doesn't matter that much. I would go and get the cheapest directional mic you can find that will go into the 1/8" jack. Maybe start at Radio Shack since they sometimes have decent stuff at a heavy discount. But be advised that going direct to the T2i is going to sound BAD.
 
neofg said:
I hate this questions but... I have no money...and a T2i.
What cheap microphone (under 100$) I Can buy to use it, first, on dialogue recording, and then for ambient and other sounds? The target is "short films". A shotGun is the right choice for all?
If you have suggestions and prices...

PS. Please, don't answer "You Can't have quality and never spend money...bla bla bla"... I know...:thumbsup:
Click to expand...

No, a shotgun is NOT the right choice for all. It's the wrong choice for ambience, It's the wrong choice for music. It's the wrong choice for vocal performance. It's the wrong choice for dialog in reflective spaces such as typical interiors. It is a viable choice for dialog outdoors and other non-reflective spaces such as a soundstage. So it's the wrong choice for 80% of the situations you're likely to be working in. And for that remaining 20% ... assuming you can find a shotgun under $100 - not very likely unless you get a used Rode VM - you still need to budget some way of getting it into proper position. A shotgun is NOT a "telephoto for sound" - a mic that maginfies distant sound doesn't exist. To use a shotgun effectiv;y on dialog means the mic has to be positioned in front off and above the speaker no more than about 22 inches from his mouth. You're NOT going to be shooting with your camera that close, so that means a boom pole, shockmount, and about 10 feet of cable also needs to be included in your budget.

It's not that you need to spend money for good quality. You do, but the money you've budgeted isn't adequate even for the wrong tools and crappy quality.
 
Steve House said:
No, a shotgun is NOT the right choice for all. It's the wrong choice for ambience, It's the wrong choice for music. It's the wrong choice for vocal performance. It's the wrong choice for dialog in reflective spaces such as typical interiors. It is a viable choice for dialog outdoors and other non-reflective spaces such as a soundstage. So it's the wrong choice for 80% of the situations you're likely to be working in. And for that remaining 20% ... assuming you can find a shotgun under $100 - not very likely unless you get a used Rode VM - you still need to budget some way of getting it into proper position. A shotgun is NOT a "telephoto for sound" - a mic that maginfies distant sound doesn't exist. To use a shotgun effectiv;y on dialog means the mic has to be positioned in front off and above the speaker no more than about 22 inches from his mouth. You're NOT going to be shooting with your camera that close, so that means a boom pole, shockmount, and about 10 feet of cable also needs to be included in your budget.

It's not that you need to spend money for good quality. You do, but the money you've budgeted isn't adequate even for the wrong tools and crappy quality.
Click to expand...

Sounds like good advice. I need to pick up a mic for basic in the streets one man shooting. I have a little more money. Enough for a Rode video mic / Rode stereo video mic or an AT 875r. I suppose the shotgun will not be the best way to go. Do you know the difference in quality between the 2 Rode video versions?
I do already have a very good Sony wired studio Lav. Maybe it would be just as good to figure out how to work with that mic in the field temporarily, and save the money for proper gear as my shoots get more specific needs. Right now it's just a mix of all kinds audio gathering.
 
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neofg said:
I hate this questions but... I have no money...and a T2i.
What cheap microphone (under 100$) I Can buy to use it, first, on dialogue recording, and then for ambient and other sounds? The target is "short films". A shotGun is the right choice for all?
If you have suggestions and prices...

PS. Please, don't answer "You Can't have quality and never spend money...bla bla bla"... I know...:thumbsup:
Click to expand...

I did a test yesterday between my nice Sony lav and my $3 PC desk mic. You may be surprised. If you want to hear the test put your email address in my dvxuser message box and I will forward it. It's already on my gmail server. The 2 files are 2.5mb each and I don't know how to post a file that big here.
Id also appreciate some feedback from more experienced audio people hear if you will give a listen.
 
If you are going to shoot directly to your DSLR, you won't be able to use the AT875 since it needs 48v phantom power to operate. Your cam doesn't offer that. There are interface boxes you can buy which will allow you to do so such as the Juiced Link and Beachtek. The videomic has been popular due to its reasonable price, decent sound (not great) and the fact it is self powered so you can plug it in direct to your 1/8" cam input.

Grant
 
I would rather invest nothing than 100 and just make the best out of what you have. Make a silent film and put some music over it. Maybe you have a buddy who's a musician. Make it really short and interesting. Think it through carefully. Forget about technology. Story/idea is king. A decent mic and the necessary skills to pick up good sound only becomes important if YOU make it important. Why even record sound on set? You don't have to. Some of the best shorts I have seen don't contain a single line of dialogue.

Good luck! :)
 
People who really understand audio for video and film are quick to point out the shortcomings of inferior microphones, and rightly so. But I believe that there are uses for mini-plug camera microphones. They're not ideal, not by any stretch of the imagination. But they do offer an impressive improvement over the built-in mics on these cameras.

The built-in mic on the T2i is a total nightmare.

I understand and respect the fact that dvxuser is focused on film making. When you shoot a film you need to do everything in your power to make your project come out as good as possible. You need to be passionate and obsessive about this. That's why sound people are so adamant about giving the best advice.

But there's a big side to me was raised with the punk rock "do it yourself" ethic. I can't help but think that there are people out there who scrape together enough money to get a T2i who literally can't scrape the cash together to rent sound equipment on a regular basis, or buy good mics, boompoles, and Beachtek adapters - just so they can explore the ideas that inspired them to get the T2i.

We don't know what kind of project this person is working on. If it's a full-blown film with actors, locations, lighting, and a decent script - then yes. By all means. Rent sound gear. Do it right.

But if it's an ultra-low profile run and gun documentary with a negative zero budget and a backpack, or just basic day to day shooting with some dialog, then yes. Spending $100 on a shotgun is a better idea than using the built-in mic or renting gear. If the original poster doesn't have $190 for a juicedLink CX211, $269 for a Rode NTG2, $39 for a Dead Cat, and $20 for an XLR cable, then I believe them.

Audio Technica makes a really crappy shotgun called the ATR6550 that sells for under $50. It comes with a shoe mount to put it on your camera. It's a bit bulky to put on a T2i, but it can work. With any shotgun mic, you NEED wind protection if you shoot outdoors. There isn't a perfect fitting softie windscreen for this mic, but getting the ROde Dead Cat for it is probably the best you can do. The Dead Cat is $39.

Another option is the Azden ECZ-990. Again, it's crappy, but it's worlds better than that pin-hole mic on the T2i. It too comes with a camera mount, but no outdoor softie. The Dead Cat won't exactly fit on this one, but using it is still a must for outdoor work.

A Rode VideoMic and a Dead Cat is a better idea, but at that point you're almost doubling your budget.
 
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