Entry level shotgun mic

I'm liking the AT875r (yes I raised my budget) but it sounds somehow too thin and unnatural . What's the next best thing after that without going to $300?
Plus I don't understand what I should look for if I want to shoot indoor but also able to use it outside without getting all the background behind the actor (on axis).
Is line + gradient pattern ok? I can't afford two mics now :(
 
-Sandro- said:
I'm liking the AT875r (yes I raised my budget) but it sounds somehow too thin and unnatural . What's the next best thing after that without going to $300?
Plus I don't understand what I should look for if I want to shoot indoor but also able to use it outside without getting all the background behind the actor (on axis).
Is line + gradient pattern ok? I can't afford two mics now :(
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It sounds like you're using the mic mounted on the camera, if you're getting sound from behind the actor in a straight line from your lens. You will almost NEVER be able to get proper sound with the mic at the camera position. Not only is it aimed the wrong direction, it's far too far away from the talent for proper pickup. The mic should be on a boom above the camera line, just out of frame, and pointing toward the subject's throat at an angle of about 30 to 45 degrees from the vertical. That way the mic's axis passes through the actor's mouth to point to the ground a couple of feet behind the actor on the side away from the camera. A short shotgun still needs to be within about 24 inches of the subject, 18 inches if you can manage it.
 
I don't find the 875R too thin an un natural at all, yes it has a roll off filter built in but that is what I would do on my mixer anyway.

remember that there is no mic on earth that is designed to work at great distance and speech should be recorded with the mic 1-3 feet away from the source.

I have used sennheiser 416 shotguns for most of my career and the 875R is very acceptable for my pro work and I use them indoors and outside as highlighted in the example clips I posted.

The 875R gives a good nice tight sound and has plenty of focus and gain from most uses, I have five of them now and they are my stock short shotgun mic.
 
Steve House said:
It sounds like you're using the mic mounted on the camera, if you're getting sound from behind the actor in a straight line from your lens. You will almost NEVER be able to get proper sound with the mic at the camera position. Not only is it aimed the wrong direction, it's far too far away from the talent for proper pickup. The mic should be on a boom above the camera line, just out of frame, and pointing toward the subject's throat at an angle of about 30 to 45 degrees from the vertical. That way the mic's axis passes through the actor's mouth to point to the ground a couple of feet behind the actor on the side away from the camera. A short shotgun still needs to be within about 24 inches of the subject, 18 inches if you can manage it.
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I don't own the mic I just watched videos from people
 
Just watched it, I must say the first scenes from 2:30 with the girl interviewing people sound VERY good to me, is that on the 875R as well?
What about the latest scenes outside? Is that noise floor picked up by the mic (doesn't look like added in post)
 
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You can get away with a cheaper mic (of the right kind) more easily than you can get away without good support gear (boom pole, etc.) and correct usage.
 
Yup the girl interviewing news style is actually holding the 875R mic with G2 transmitter that was recorded, as for the end scenes the background atmos was dubbed on for effect as was several other backgrounds when required to add stereo depth!

All the audio on this production was pretty clean and up to broadcast standards, the mic was on a gitzo carbon fibre boom pole.

If you don't know I have been an audio engineer in mainstream film and TV for over 32 years now and have worked as a features and high end TV dubbing mixer, you don't need to buy expensive kit to get good results these days but you do need to know how to use it and the limitations of basic sound recording and audio dubbing.
 
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hey Gary thank you very much for your help. At this point I think I'm going with that because it's the only one I can afford since after that we're going over $300 if you're lucky. Was it included in the standard package?
 
I've read the answers, but I wanted to add some of my "experience".

It has been said a few posts ago, but it's indeed more important to be able to know how to boom proper, have good cables and a good boompole which hasn't to be taped 23103540344 times because it's falling apart.

Don't take next phrase to serious, but: a good boomer booming with a Fisherprice mic could have better sound then "a known friend who's actually a plumber", booming with a 2000$ mic.
It's the idea behind this phrase that counts...

I would also recommend renting gear. And play with it before you use it "for real" (having fun with friends and making a fun short = "for real").

About the money thing,well... don't go out every weekend, don't spend 200$ but only 10$ for drinks... by clothes in cheap stores, by food in cheap stores, don't travel,...and save money...
I'm not saying you're way of living is like this, but it's just something that me and I think other people have done to be able to buy some good stuff and to be able to serve good sound ?
 
Beside technics it's also

-"I hear a cow." Was it on dialogue ? No ? ok, leave it and if it's ok for image and the rest of the sound just leave the cow.
cow was on dialogue ? Ok, wat's the scene ? A farm, outside country ? Ok...if possible one more take and mention there's a cow on the dialogue.
If it's a "1 take project", just leave it...
Cow on dialogue and it's a city, 2045 feature scene... 1 more take.

Sometimes you have to give something, to get more back. If as a soundguy you mention every single "disturbing" sound,well at the end people will say "ooh no..him again".
 
can the tascam dr40 power the AT875r? Another thing, how do you think the rode ntg-2 compares to the at875r? (used as boom mic only)
 
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I had an NTG1 and sold it once I got the 875R there is no comparison as far as I am concerned the 875R is way better and more natural sounding, the NTG 1 and 2 have that thin electret sound!
 
It's the same capsule and the only difference is that the NTG2 can run on battery power and is therefore longer to accommodate the battery, the NTG 1 is phantom power only as is the 875R.
 
Your're asking some of the right questions. so you're attracting some solid advice. One of the most re-iterated but perhaps least helpful distills down to "your not spending enough".

The first thing you can do is understand why. Start by reading all the stickies (yellow) in the audio forum. Then use your first $$ to buy the DVD. If you're not hiring pro sound, make it required viewing for anyone connected with sound on your set. Better still - everyone on your set.

Decent sound doesn't come cheap. But just like every other aspect - talent and experience trump gear every time. Unless you're on a rock or at sea, chances are there are people in the community that have the gear and experience you can't afford. Many will entertain assisting up and comers just for the fun of it. Update your profile to include your location. you just might be amazed. Regardless, your challenge is to find and schmooze these people into helping. There's lots of other threads that talk about this. It's arguably the most important skill an aspiring filmmaker can have.

When (and IF) it does come time to build your kit, your needs will vary widely based on the type of shooting you do. When you do evaluate how to spend your $$, remember that audio gear holds it's value far longer than just about any other hardware you'll find on set. Don't be afraid to explore second hand.
 
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