Interview Audio - Wireless or Boom?

T

Tom Tom

Member
I'm seriously questioning if it's wise to go with a wireless lavalier instead of a boom mic to do a series of interviews.

Reasons being:

1) Wireless mics look very expensive... at least $1,000 for a decent one - I have half that budget now :(

Unless this one is up to the job:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=cart_accessories&A=details&Q=&sku=553684&is=REG

Sony UWP-V1 Wirless Lavalier package

2) Outside Interference - I heard unless you are willing to drop a lot of money on it, you are much more susceptible to this problem

3) Danger of person being filmed moving around, knocking mic etc...

So -

For around $300-500 - what boom, mic and stand is great for interviews? These are all behind-the-desk type of things. Maybe some outside... but nothing too fancy.

I am thinking of:

KE-110CCR - Avalon Series Aluminum boom pole w/internal coiled XLR cable, side XLR connection on bottom.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ..._110CCR_KE_110CCR_Avalon_Series_Aluminum.html

Rode NTG-1 directional condensor shotgun microphone w/leather case and foam wind muff.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/367746-REG/Rode_NTG_1_NTG_1_Shotgun_Microphone.html
 
If you are doing sit-down interviews the mic does not have to be wireless but can be hardwired to the mixer/recorder. You would need one for each interviewee. That's what the news/interview shows use/do. The lavs themselves are comparatively less expensive as they do not have to small enough to be hidden and be clipped onto a collar, lapel or tie.

Again, if it's a sit-down interview you could use a condensor on a table stand a la Letterman - again, one mic per interviewee. One omni condensor could be suspended over the interviewees provided they are in close proximity. Shotguns are very directional so the mic will have to be pointed at each speaker as they speak.

If you are doing on-the-street style interviews a handheld mic would be just fine, preferably wireless.
 
Thanks Bob

These are sit-down interviews - one subject at a time... interviewing about UFOs... don't want people to see any mics etc....

I did think about wired to my XLR audio input on my camera.... that is a thought as they will be just sitting there..

Do you know of a nicely priced wired lav mic system that will fit into a XLR input on my Canon XH A1?
 
I've done it both ways and I MUCH prefer the sound from a boom mic. And I wasn't using a cheap lav either... I was using a Countryman B6. Both mics were hooked to a dedicated 24bit audio recorder.

I have a mic-stand that I use... I make sure the entire assembly is above the talent, then point the mic at their chest or forehead. No pops, just nice, clean audio with little background. Their body acts as a natural barrier to background sound. Sometimes I will get closer to the talent, and use a dead-cat on the mic if I can't get a quiet room.

Don't forget to record room tone and use that later to attenuate background noise. I've been able to drop my noise floor 20db doing that.
 
The RODE should get it done. I use a Sennheiser. It's not fancy, but it's effective.

Budget Mic stand:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MicStdBoomLt/


Wireless has it's place. I use mine when I have a moving subject at a distance. But if you use wireless, put the receiver as close to the talent as possible. For me, this means I put the receiver just off-set, and then run wires back to the recorder or camera.
 
Look at these 2 photos:

picture.php



picture.php



That should help.
 
Thanks! Looks like it's just the stand, the cable and the mic! Perfect then!

(is that the same stand in your link?)
 
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