I need a mic...
- Thread starter NorBro
- Start date
GaryNattrass
Veteran
AT 875r
Rode NTG 3
Sennheiser MKH416 P48
Sanken CS-1e
Shoeps CMIT5U
I am sure others will add more options!
Rode NTG 3
Sennheiser MKH416 P48
Sanken CS-1e
Shoeps CMIT5U
I am sure others will add more options!
Steve House
Veteran
Such a thing as you describe does not exist. All mics pick up sound from all directions. Shotguns FAVOUR sounds coming from straight ahead but they aren't completely deaf to sounds from other directions. And to further complicate things, the degree of directivity they exhibit depends on the frequency of the sound itself. 'Gun are designed to be relatively directional at the typical frequencies found in human speach but are less so at frequencies much higher or lower than that. Indeed, in the low bass ranges shotguns become almost omnidirectional. It's all a matter of degree. The closest thing to a mic with the characteristics you want that was produced was a multi-tube mic that used a cluster of interference tubes of varying lengths with a capsule in each one, looking sort of like a small organ ... very directional but also VERY expensive and made in very small numbers, never generally avaiable on the market.
Gary suggests several practical mics and all are decent, but none of them, even the over 2 kilobuck Schoeps, completely block out all sound from the sides and rear.
Last edited:
As steve says, there isn't any mic that only picks up sound from one direction. What are you going to use it for?
Depending on the usage, I would look at the sanken CS3e, which is one of the few shotgun mics with almost no backlobe, and the Schoeps CMIT5U or superCMIT. These are short shotguns, but there's also the longer models like the MKH70 (or the older MKH816 which can be hard to find in good condition these days) and the new rode NTG-8 (which I haven't heard much about).
There's also parabolic mics, which work very well in the higher frequencies but less in the lower.
Depending on the usage, I would look at the sanken CS3e, which is one of the few shotgun mics with almost no backlobe, and the Schoeps CMIT5U or superCMIT. These are short shotguns, but there's also the longer models like the MKH70 (or the older MKH816 which can be hard to find in good condition these days) and the new rode NTG-8 (which I haven't heard much about).
There's also parabolic mics, which work very well in the higher frequencies but less in the lower.
Noiz2
Sound Ninja
Actually there are mics that only pick up from the front, or more accurately mic systems. The sound quality generally sucks but... The easiest to find that is going to pick up with extreme directionality is a parabolic mic. This will pick up virtually nothing from the sides and nothing from the rear. The second looks like a gattling gun or a weird pipe organ. It's a series of tubes of different lengths that all end up in a cone shaped collector with a mic in the center. Only sound making it down the tubes will be "heard".
Both are really designed for surveillance kinds of work and are pretty decent at picking up inteligible dialog, but neither sounds "good". The parabolic can sound not too bad, but it kills low end so ti's better for say bird calls than thunder.
Also these kind of things only work outside where you get essentially no reflected sound. If something makes a sound behind you and there is a wall in front of you then the sound will bounce off the wall and now it's a "front" sound.
There is also a digitally controlled mic array that they use in some sports venues. It supposedly can go from omni to incredibly tight and sounds good. But that is $$$$$$$$.
Both are really designed for surveillance kinds of work and are pretty decent at picking up inteligible dialog, but neither sounds "good". The parabolic can sound not too bad, but it kills low end so ti's better for say bird calls than thunder.
Also these kind of things only work outside where you get essentially no reflected sound. If something makes a sound behind you and there is a wall in front of you then the sound will bounce off the wall and now it's a "front" sound.
There is also a digitally controlled mic array that they use in some sports venues. It supposedly can go from omni to incredibly tight and sounds good. But that is $$$$$$$$.
GaryNattrass
Veteran
How about one of these: http://javierzumer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/electro_voice_model_6431.jpeg
GaryNattrass
Veteran
Best mic for DSLR too as it will zoom right into the sounds and now we need rode to do an NTG2000mm
Bruce Watson
Veteran
If you need decent full range sound from what you are aiming at, then you can't also have zero sound from the back / sides. The laws of physics can be played with, even bent a little. But you can't just ignore them. Not in this particular gravity well anyway.
Mics aren't zoom lenses, neither are they fresnels. They don't have a focal length, neither can they be focused. Pressure waves are a whole different deal than light.
Sergio Fucchi
New member
If it can help I own a MKH 815 and a MKH 816 and I could sell one of these two. The MKH 815 is very similar to MKH 816 but it has a much higher output level.
Between microphones with good rejection characteristics I can recommend also the Neumann KMR-82i.
Between microphones with good rejection characteristics I can recommend also the Neumann KMR-82i.