Help please... Decent cheap mic and boom pole

[chuckdown]

I'm brand spankin new to this. Could anybody tell what a option for a cheap mic that won't completely suck to begin with is, or any good place to get used mics and boom poles?

Thank you so much.

Chuck

 

[Why Why Are Why Be]

The Rode NTG 1 doesn't totally suck. I listened to one once, and I wasn't that impressed with the rejection, but it sounded okay. I would listen to some of the Audio Technica AT mics. I have the big one (AT815a) and it's pretty darn good. They wont have the presence of a Sennheiser, Neumann, or schoeps, but then again thats why they are a couple hundred not a couple grand. As for poles check out Gitzo, or K Tek avalon.

 

[Why Why Are Why Be]

Also, don't forget about the shock mount, and the fuzzy wind screen. They will add about 150 on to the price tag, but they are very important.

 

[Casalen]

It depends what "cheap" means to you. You need to attach a number to the question.

You can save a bit by modifying a painter's pole instead of a standard boom pole. It won't work as well in that it's harder to use, but it is cheaper.

 

[frostgfx]

Take the time and initiative to reasearch before purchase...

Octave MK012 Hyper is probably the best solution for the money and you should include a KSSM shock mount, baby ball gag and furry cover... mounted on a REAL boom pole... Money well spent will last for years and save you from hassles of using painters poles, mop handles, etc.

You want a quality product... use quality equipment.

 

[David W. Richardson]

Hey Chuck. Welcome to the world!

What are you plugging the mic into? The Rode NTG-1 won't help you if whatever you're plugging into doesn't provide phantom power -- you'd need the NTG-2, which has the option of phantom or internal battery power. I have one, and it's a pretty darned good mic for the money.

Give us some idea what kind of budget you have to work with, and we can be of more help. Just about anything is probably going to sound better than the mic on the camera.