Help picking shotgun rig

sporkme

sporkme

Member
Howdy,

Just recently got my DVX-100A. Now that I've spent my AAPL earnings, I need to spend more, it seems...

First project is a doc. Spent a few days already doing some establishing shots where sound was not a concern, but a few important events are coming up quickly and I need a real mic. I'd like to start with something that can either be mounted on-camera for when I'm working alone, or on a boom when the fiance/director is helping.

After digging around this forum and the audio forum at dvinfo.net, it seems like it's a toss-up between the AT-897 and the Sennheiser ME-66. My gut feeling without hearing both mics is that the 897 might be a bit better for an all-around "first mike" that would make a nice permanent on-camera mic when I can afford a better kit. Thoughts on that?

Now the fishpole and windscreen part has me a bit confused. I know I need a pole, and it looks like the Gitzo 12' is pretty affordable for $100 (aluminum) or $150 (carbon). Then I started looking at the shock mounts, the little blimpscreen and the dead rabbit devices. Yowza! It looks like all that stuff could set me back way more than I'd budgeted for.

So what are your recommendations? This first project is almost exclusively outdoors, mostly in the winter and I would assume there'll be a fair amount of wind. It looks like I can go two routes; either the blimp plus the furry deal, or just a furry deal that fits directly on the mic.

Can anyone clarify the difference? All I know is that I've used the "big" package before and it worked. But I didn't pay for that one... It looks like Rycote really has this market locked up. Is there a cheaper yet decent alternative?

Are there any reputable shops that deal in used equipment? I'm totally open to buying used. If not, recommendations on somewhere a bit cheaper than say, B&H?

Oh yeah, to top it off, there are many chainsaws in this doc, so I do really need to get close in with a shotgun I think.

Thanks!
 
Re: Help picking shotgun rig

You and I are in exactly the same boat. (replace chain saws with motorikes).

Most times I will use a Pro audio tech but most of my Doco project is "run and gun"

I know ( from research and tests) that I need a Sennheisser MK 66 (with wind sock) and a wireless lav set up. I need some audio from on board cam shot gun , some from handheld shot gun. Don't imagine I need much from a long boom.

I know I need to use Chan 1 for wireless lav and chan 2 for the shotgun - so I can pan around where I want to and keep a master audio running from the Lav.

So what will I do - big investment coming up . More than the camera in fact.

I am looking at a cheap Canadian built Shotgun - Apex 175 to get me through. Then I will go to the more desireable kit in a few months. Purely economic decision and against my base instincts but needs must...
 
Re: Help picking shotgun rig

If you are going to buy a me66, check the at4073a, from audio-technica. Lower price and from what people have been saying, outstanding quality. Hear them both before you decide for one or another. The at 897 is definately a bargain.

Yes, support cost money. A decent on-camera support will set you back 80 dollars and a furry would set you back little over another 100. A boom and a shockmount would probably cost you even more.

You should get the furry kit from Lightwave or rycote, and think about a blimp for later. If budget is a concern, blimps are quite expensive. A cheaper blimp i the market is Cavision's. It's supposed to be much lower quality then the rycote, but it's half the price (wich still seems absurd). There is always the option to buy used blimps.

The cheapest way to go would be a furry, and that would allow you to use it camera mounted as well...
 
Re: Help picking shotgun rig

[quote author=taubkin link=board=audio;num=1101884667;start=0#2 date=12/01/04 at 04:47:08] There is always the option to buy used blimps.[/quote]

Any pointers to decent online vendors that carry used audio gear? I've dug around on Ebay and there's pretty slim pickings there...
 
Re: Help picking shotgun rig

One last question here... I'm getting a little closer.

Anyone use the Lightwave Audio windscreens? The miniscreen looks like a much more affordable way to go than a zeppelin/furry. Like about $400 less.

I see I can get the AT-897 for about $280 at B&H and a miniscreen for that mic for $140. That even leaves me some money to get a boom pole. :)

OK, let's make it two questions...

Boom poles. Anyone that's used one for any length of time, is the carbon fiber that much more lighter/more comfortable than aluminum? I've already decided that I won't be going with an internal cable model.

Also for mounts, it looks like the Lightwave stuff again wins over the old suspension mount system. Opinions?
 
Re: Help picking shotgun rig

check  the k-teck stuff - much better then lightway suspentions
for docu , the 9 feet boom is usially ok ( thats the minimum you need) , for drama - i have almost every lenght , 20 feet, 12, 5, and even less then afeet for car work
 
Re: Help picking shotgun rig

My recommendation is go with K-tek on the boom. They also make a great shock mount that really holds the mic in place well and completely isolates it. They also have a great pistol grip (for close in work) that is relatively inexpensive from B&H. I'm using the Sennheiser blimp and windsock (or as our director calls it...the giant wookie...I know...he's British, okay?) I've been shooting dockside and on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier and I get no wind noise at all.

As far as acquiring the equipment, have you considered hiring a sound guy that has his own kit? Might be cheaper in the long run and you get someone that should be able to get you better audio (assuming they have more experience than you with audio).

HTH,

Phil
 
Re: Help picking shotgun rig

Wooo! I've been away from this board for some time. That's a good thing since it means I've been shooting. I'm a little overzealous, I've got about 8 hours of stuff so far.

Anyhow, I ended up with the AT 897, the K-Tek shockmount, a Gitzo pole, and the lightwave "zeppelin".

Just wanted to share my impressions real quick.

I like the sound of the 897. The boom pole is nice enough. I modded it a little to get my cable through it (and had to solder/unsolder one connector to snake the cable through) - works well. The shock mount is OK, but if my sound helper isn't careful the thing picks up a TON of handling noise. In fact, the mic itself seems to be very sensitive to handling noise. I don't see this mentioned too much when people are shopping. Anyone know if this differs from mic to mic or is it more a function of the shockmount? Another note on the mount, it's rather hard to get the mic on and off the mount; not something you can do in a hurry.

The lightwave sock is decent in low winds, but I'll need their furry pretty soon. To recap, the mount and sock were about $280. The furry is another $80 or so I think. If I went with the standard Rycote solution I would be out over $500 and I simply couldn't afford that. One day perhaps...

Oh, and is the output on the dvx really sucky? There is so much hiss on the 'phones. Doesn't seem to be on the tape, so I guess it's just got a really sucky headphone amp?

Anyhow, that's my little review.

I would also like to get a cheap/good omni to throw on the camera as well. Would an old EV ??? (the old standard reporter stand-up mic, silver, omni?) be a totally dumb choice??
 
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