Hand mic

Cees Mutsaers

Cees Mutsaers

Veteran
I need a good hand mic for interviews, obviously of dynamic type with omni characteristic. Can anyoen give me some advise? Are there ones which can be wired but also can me use wireless (wireless only to be future proof)? I dont want to to use a boom since I have no sound man and the interviewer has no experience in handling a boom
 
Cees Mutsaers said:
I need a good hand mic for interviews, obviously of dynamic type with omni characteristic. Can anyoen give me some advise? Are there ones which can be wired but also can me use wireless (wireless only to be future proof)? I dont want to to use a boom since I have no sound man and the interviewer has no experience in handling a boom
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Sennheiser MD42 omni, or MD46 cardioid if you're recording in a location with a lot of ambient sound. Audio Technica AT8004. Electrovoice RE50N/D or 635.

I own both the MD46 and the AT804 - both are very good sounding.
 
The EV 635 is the most rugged and most popular hand mike in the world, Period. They even ran ads about using it as a hammer. Known as"The Buchanan Hammer".
 
If your budget's tight (and whose isn't), you shouldn't have much trouble finding a used Electrovoice 635. Broadcast news outfits tend to buy them by the crate, and often sell the extras.

The RE50 has a nicer heft for handheld ENG work, but I prefer the lower profile of the 635. Its the kind of mic that you always want to have within easy reach.

Most wireless mic systems have "butt plug" transmitters that can convert any dynamic mic with an XLR plug into a wireless mic.
 
I posted this the other day on another tread, but it belongs here also.


You don't mention a budget but a good place to start would be a ElectroVoice RE50N with a Sennheiser G2 wireless setup. The G2 can be bought with a "buttplug" tranmitter which attaches to the mic base giving you a good wireless interview mic setup and when not needed the RE50/N works great with a wire. The RE50 comes in two models, the N model has a little more output which is a good thing generally and is only $20 more.

The RE50/N needs less wind protection than most mics (saves you $) and has good isolation for handling noise and overall, is very forgiving since you mentioned it will be held by the victim. When not using the RE50 for a mic, it can double as a hammer.

This combo will set you back about $750. Mic only around $175. This is around the minimum for a wireless interview setup which will do a good job.

Best
Grant
 
DadinWestchester said:
The EV 635 is the most rugged and most popular hand mike in the world, Period. They even ran ads about using it as a hammer. Known as"The Buchanan Hammer".
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Yes, the 635 is a great mic, rugged, and inexpensive, but it does not have isolation against handling noise, which is easily noticed when used as an interview hand mic. That is why most interview mics seen on television are the RE50 (or RE50N/D), which has a very effective internal rubber isolation donut (thus, the larger size). The more expensive "N/D" version is the same except that it uses a neodymium magnet for a significantly higher output level. The "B" suffix is for black, which is, by far, the more popular color.

When a cardioid interview hand mic is called for (usually not the case), the Sennheiser MD46 is a good sounding and good looking choice with good isolation against handling noise.

Glen Trew
 
Rippie said:
Im a RE-50NDB guy myself.
which basicly has a 635 inside of it.

Even more rugged ;)
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This is a great mic. Back when I was a rep for EV and the 'Neodymium' magnets were first developed (they are more powerful than a standard magnet, thus the higher output)...we use to joke about how tough these things are and called the new material, "NoDentium"!

Ahhhh... the good old days.

Now... don't get me started on the "ButtPlugs"....:happy:
 
ZazaCast said:
This is a great mic. Back when I was a rep for EV and the 'Neodymium' magnets were first developed (they are more powerful than a standard magnet, thus the higher output)...we use to joke about how tough these things are and called the new material, "NoDentium"!

Ahhhh... the good old days.

Now... don't get me started on the "ButtPlugs"....:happy:
Click to expand...
I refuse to ever call a PLUG-ON transmitter a ..."BP"
and i encourage all of you to try to do away with that term as well.
makes us look pretty goofy to the outside world ;)

Zaza you're definitely right about the higher output..
its a pretty big improvement to my ears compared to reg re-50's i've owned
in the past.
 
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