HMC40 XLR Adapter w/Sennheiser MK66: Anything I should know?

C

CMcMahon

Well-known member
I don't do too much interview work, but I'm doing one tomorrow afternoon for a new bicycle shop that's opening up this weekend, to help them hype it up beforehand.

Anyway, I got the XLR adapter for the HMC40 about a month ago, but haven't had the opportunity to use it. I'm renting a Sennheiser MK66 (and a cable) from VMI in Sunnyvale, and have a pair of full-cover (w/o noise canceling) headphones that I'll be using.

I know that I should have the mic plugged into Line 2, with Line 1 disabled on the adapter, and that I can control the audio gain with the adapter, but where should I go from there?
 
You should also hire a boom op. A shotgun mic, used inside, mounted on a camera is not going to give you good audio, unless the space happens to be acoustically treated. I would rent a lav mic instead of a shotgun, or a boom op.
 
We're actually going to be shooting the interview outside the shop, as the inside is going to be very noisy (everything is still being set up for the grand opening). I can't hire a boom op, because I'm doing this on the cheap (the shop owner is a good friend of mine, and, rather than get paid, I'm just asking for a permanent shop discount and sponsorship/marketing of any events I put on).
 
Outside will be better, but make sure you have something to prevent wind noise, like a Rycote softie. Even a little wind wil destory a track if there's nothing on the mic. Also keep an eye on your level meters, you don't want to audio to overmodulate.
 
Here are the results: http://vimeo.com/12475807

I'd originally intended on doing something considerably longer, but I ended up spending the majority of the day helping them get everything organized for their opening, instead.

Here's a video of the opening itself, or what happened down the street, at least. It was way too packed to really do any filming in the shop itself: http://vimeo.com/12574977
 
The audio on the interior shot is pretty tinny. This I believe is more due to the Senn66 than the interior setting. Next time, try a AT4076 or Rode NTG-3, you'll see a big difference. For a straight interior shot, a hyper cardioid on a boom will make a big improvement.

Grant
 
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