How do I mic Kids?

[jonnyh1968]

Hi. So i have gig coming up where i'm filming kids talking about what there parents do for work. Think of Candid camera/Art Linkletter kind of thing. I have two mics right now..
- Sennheiser ME66/K6 shotgun
- Lectrosonics 400/401 digital hybrid wireless with a Tram mic

My objective is to be as non-obtrusive as possible and yet get great sound. So I want to be back as far away from my subjects with my camera (and i like the look of a long lens).

Anyways.... y'know I was never really happy with my ME66 - it seems too poppy and tingey on my DVX. It's not warm. What's up? Can I use this as a table microphone on a stand? Or should I try to use my Tram lav? The thing is i don't want to freak the kids out (or make them more nervous) by having a mic pinned on them.

Oh... and it's just me. No budget for a boom operator.

 

[factor]

If you can get the kids to sit somewhat still, and you have a decent shockmount, a table stand sounds like the best option. Not ideal, but pinning a lav to some toddler's snotrag sweatshirt doesn't really sound like fun.

You can always warm up the sound with some tactful subtractive EQ.

 

[-zach-]

Not ideal, but pinning a lav to some toddler's snotrag sweatshirt doesn't really sound like fun.

Are you generalizing that ALL toddler's sweatshirts are snotraggy?

Stereotypicaler!

:cheesy:

 

[jonnyh1968]

So a table stand with my ME66. I have shock mount but it's got a hot shoe mount... maybe i should take a trip to radio shack?

 

[ozduc]

Why not just mount the Me66 on a mic stand above the kids head. You dont need a boom op for that, or use a boom mate and a c-stand.