Except that a professional shotgun mic can cost several thousand dollars:
$4449.00
And that's not even the most expensive model.
Cheap shotgun mic for video
- Thread starter Daviesgeek
- Start date
Except that a professional shotgun mic can cost several thousand dollars:
$4449.00
And that's not even the most expensive model.
Steve House
Veteran
Not all that much of an exaggeration. You must not have priced a Schoeps CMIT, the Sennheiser 8000 series, or a Neumann 'gun lately.
Zephyrnoid
Veteran
Interesting assessment. Do you know where the mic capsule in a shotgun like my MKH416 is located? It's at the middle of the interferrence tube....
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthrea...n-mic-anyway&p=2363454&viewfull=1#post2363454
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Victor Nhat Nguyen
Well-known member
I have gone the cheap way too but is now upgrading. I can sell you my rode video mic pro for $150 and I'll give a free Rode boompole. Then just purchase a zoom h1 or you can even connect it to your camera with a cable which I will also give you for free. What do you guys think? Rode vmp on a boompole with a line into the camera for a budget option?
Steve House
Veteran
As John says on the page you linked to, the front slots are functional, the rear slots are cosmetic (for that particular mic).
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Daviesgeek
Active member
Yes, I've considered that. The shoot that I'm planning is primarily going to be outside, with some small parts being inside a car...
Daviesgeek
Active member
I would be interested...the same thing applies to your offer as the other one. I need time to talk it over with my business partner. Which boom pole is it? Can you post a link? And what are the advantages of the Rode VideoMic Pro over the Azden SGM-1X? I'd like a little more in depth pros/cons of each...thanks!
Daviesgeek
Active member
I am also wondering about the difference between an XLR connector (which the Azden has), as opposed to the Rode (which is a 3.5mm). I was trying to avoid 3.5mmmp, as I've heard that you get more interference with it, as compared to XLR. How concerned should I be about this?
Victor Nhat Nguyen
Well-known member
Here's the boompole. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/757123-REG/Rode_MICRO_BOOMPOLE_Micro_Boompole_3_Section.html
I have no problem with interference so far. If you want XLR then you're also going to have to buy external audio recorder with XLR so add at least $150 to your budget. If you want to buy my rode then it's $150 and you'll just connect it to your camera. I never have interference problem so far, but I would still prefer XLR input.
I have no problem with interference so far. If you want XLR then you're also going to have to buy external audio recorder with XLR so add at least $150 to your budget. If you want to buy my rode then it's $150 and you'll just connect it to your camera. I never have interference problem so far, but I would still prefer XLR input.
Daviesgeek
Active member
Do you record to a field recorder with this mic? Or do you record on camera? From what I've heard, on camera is fine, but if you make the cord longer, it causes interference. I am going to be using a field recorder, so I do need to know...
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John Willett
Veteran
No, it's not an exaggeration - the Schoeps SuperCMIT-2U is about $4,500 and the DPA 4017 is about $2,000, etc...
Agreed, but at this price range I would certainly look at the new Sennheiser MKH 600 which was launched at IBC a couple of weeks ago - sells for about £250 (and it's *not* like the K6/ME66).
Richard Crowley
Veteran
A microphone mounted ON the camera is NEVER the right location. The exceptions to this fact are so few, they are of no significance.
What does "make the code longer" mean? If you mean "cord", then making it longer does NOT "cause interference" when done properly.
Daviesgeek
Active member
Yes, I meant cord. I do apologize, as it was typed on an iPad. 
Fixed now…
Fixed now…How do I do it properly? What should I be doing to make sure I don't have extra hiss? (besides not having an AGC)
Rick R
Veteran
"Yes, I meant cord"
As in "microphone cable"?
If that's the case, all balanced in/outs of course. I prefer the Star-Quad type but a decent two-conductor shielded cable will usually get you at least 200 feet without problems. Don't buy into the mega-buck 'designer' cables, they are just a scam.
If your using unbalanced gear.. as short as possible.
As in "microphone cable"?
If that's the case, all balanced in/outs of course. I prefer the Star-Quad type but a decent two-conductor shielded cable will usually get you at least 200 feet without problems. Don't buy into the mega-buck 'designer' cables, they are just a scam.
If your using unbalanced gear.. as short as possible.
Daviesgeek
Active member
As I mentioned earlier, I'm by no means a sound guy. So, how do I know what is unbalanced/balanced? How would I be able to tell?
Pedantic Sound
Member
Basically no one uses that version of the CMIT, and two thousand is not several thousand. There are many shotguns in the $1000-$1500 in constant profesional use (416, CS3e, CS1, KMR81, MKH60/70, etc.) or less (816, NTG3, etc.).
John Willett
Veteran
Agreed
The key thing here is "when done properly".
Extending the cable of an unbalanced on-camera mic. is a dangerous thing as the unbalanced cable can act as an antenna and pick up radio interference.
The correct way is to run a fully balanced extension cable with balancing/unbalancing transformers at each end.
Psudo-balancing can sometimes work - this involves using twin+screen balanced cable but only connecting the screen at one end.
John Willett
Veteran
Er - it's over four thousand dollars, not two thousand - and that is certainly several thousand in my books.
To say that "no one uses that version of the CMIT" shows how little contact you have with professional sound recordists. The SuperCMIT is the only gun mic. that can cancel out the rear-facing lobe that other gun mics have and, because of this, is gaining in popularity with the discerning professional user.
If no one was using it, Schoeps would not have come out with the 2T improved version.
Yes, of course there are also good professional mics that are less than this, in the $1,000 to $1,500 price bracket you mentioned - but don't forget that you will also need a shockmount and basket windshield, which puts the price up. I never said that there were not mics at this price.
The 816, by the way, was a lot more expensive than the 416, not cheaper, and was discontinued 15 or so years ago.
Personally, I would go for the MKH 8060, which sells for $1,250 in the USA I see, as a good all-round RF condenser (and better than the 416 and 60 IMHO).
But I originally said "several thousand" to draw attention to how stupidly low $100 was, not saying that you have to spend this amount of money to get a good mic.
John Willett
Veteran
A balanced mic. normally has a 3-pin XLR connector.
An unbalanced mic. (in video recording terms) is normally a mic. designed for on-camera use and comes with a connected cable terminated with a mini-jack plug.