zjazz@charter.net
Active member
nnheiser ME 66 Microphone ?? any 1 know if this will do the job?? any preferences???:cheesy:
Looking for a boom mic?
- Thread starter zjazz@charter.net
- Start date
Steve House
Veteran
To really answer your question properly you need to get specific about defining "doing the job." Exactly what and where you're trying to shoot and how do you intend on using the mic? Is any shotgun even the right mic for your application?
For shotguns the ME66 is a fair enough mic, Sennheiser's entry level prosumer mic. Some folks find it sounds a bit harsh. You can get as good or better quality of construction, as good or better sound, and a much better price by going to the Rode NTG-1 or NTG-2 shotguns (they're the same mic, the -1 is phantom only, the -2 has an internal battery). If you have a bit more money in budget, consider the Rode NTG-3, the Audio Technica BP4073, or the Sennheiser MKH416. Note that all of these are more appropriate for exterior uses - if you're shooting interiors you should be looking at hypercardioids instead of shotguns for a boom mic.
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Steve,
Can you recommend a good Hyper, I'm in the market & not sure what or where to look?
Thnx
Steve
JordanBlock
Well-known member
Do a search for 'Hyper' and check out the stickies, tons of information here if you're willing to put in a couple minutes of work.
Dafilman21
Carbonite Member
NTG-2 is a great mic on and off the camera, even better on a decent pole.
I know how to use the forum, I'm asking Steve because of his knowledge & he lives close & may know where to buy the mic.
Steve House
Veteran
LOL - what's your budget? Audio Technicha AT4053b, AKG Blueline series SE300b/CK93 or ULS series C480b/CK63, Neumann KM150, Sennheiser MKH50 and MKH8050, Schoeps CMC641.
Just saw your comment that we live close by. I shop at Trew Audio in Toronto, also Resolution Pro Audio, also Long and McQuade in Burlington.
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Steve
$350.00 is the budget for the mic. Yes we are close by to each other, I'm in Niagara. Was hoping there was someplace out in Hamilton that you used & with great prices.
Trew audio is great with their used gear, but I'm not familiar with hyper mics, & what to look for.
Thanks
Steve
$350.00 is the budget for the mic. Yes we are close by to each other, I'm in Niagara. Was hoping there was someplace out in Hamilton that you used & with great prices.
Trew audio is great with their used gear, but I'm not familiar with hyper mics, & what to look for.
Thanks
Steve
Gohanto
Veteran
For $350 you'll likely want to go with used. Cheapest setup for new imho would be a Oktava MC012 with hyper cap ($250), KSSM shock mount ($120), and Rycote BBG ($140).
With the Oktava you definitely need the shock mount and the BBG, but they're solid investments that continue to work well with higher end mics.
In terms of what to look for, there are the mics that Steve recommended, but there isn't any "magic spec" that says whether the mic will work or not. Those mic recommendations were made because they've been used by many and given excellent results.
Not to mention if you don't already have headphones, cables, boom pole, ect...
With the Oktava you definitely need the shock mount and the BBG, but they're solid investments that continue to work well with higher end mics.
In terms of what to look for, there are the mics that Steve recommended, but there isn't any "magic spec" that says whether the mic will work or not. Those mic recommendations were made because they've been used by many and given excellent results.
Not to mention if you don't already have headphones, cables, boom pole, ect...
Steve House
Veteran
Long and McQuade are Audio Technica dealers, Trew carries the AKG Blueline. Price on any of the mics I mentioned are a bit over your stated budget though. About the only thing I know of in the sub-$350 range is the Oktava M-012 - they have a pretty good reputation but I haven't personally used one so I can't vouch for it. Don't forget to budget for a decent pole, shockmount, and wind protection - all absolutely necessary.
Chadfish
Veteran
I use it for outdoor stuff. Very nice for the price. Get a hyper for indoor though. Rode NT3 is great. Rode NT3 goes for 250 -260.00. Very directional. Forget shotgun for indoor use - wrong tool for the job.
Thanks guys,
I have the pole, NTG2, Rode blimp, SM3 shockmount, Tascam HD-P2, MDR 7506'S - Looking at the NTG3 or the seinheiser 416 to upgrade the shotgun, I just know nothing of the hypers, I usually borrow or rent a wireless setup.
I'll check into the models you guys have mentioned.
Thanks again
Steve
I have the pole, NTG2, Rode blimp, SM3 shockmount, Tascam HD-P2, MDR 7506'S - Looking at the NTG3 or the seinheiser 416 to upgrade the shotgun, I just know nothing of the hypers, I usually borrow or rent a wireless setup.
I'll check into the models you guys have mentioned.
Thanks again
Steve
zjazz@charter.net
Active member
Sennheiser MKH 815?? what about that model?
Gohanto
Veteran
I just want to add....
NT3 is on the heavy side as a boom mic.
And yes, shotgun mics can be bad inside, but that's isn't a 100% wrong tool for the job deal. In reverberant spaces (no carpet, hard walls, ect...) and lower class shotguns, they're generally terrible.
But you get into a reasonably dead room (or especially a studio), you've got a wide shot, shotguns can be your best friend even indoors.
Hyper indoors, shotgun outdoors is only a rule of thumb. (I thank Oleg for opening my eyes to that line of thinking)
Chadfish
Veteran
Yes rules of thumb are only general guidelines.
With that in mind it's important to be prepared for any situation. A shotgun in ideal indoor situations can sound good. But a hyper will about always sound better indoors. It sucks if you go in hoping you will have the right situation, and find you don't. The plain fact is you need a good shotgun, a good hyper, a good wireless, and even a good large diaphragm condenser for VO work. Audio can be as expensive, and even beyond the cost of your video gear. IMO audio is more important to get right because people will forgive cruddy video as long as the audio is stellar, but not the other way around.
Yes the NT3 is a tad heavy, but for budget priced mics you can't beat it. A slightly cheaper solution would be the Rode M3. Not a true condenser, but it has a bass roll-off and a pad I believe. Don't forget placement. If you have the mic within 18" of the mouth you can usually get great voice recordings.
Alan H. Chang
Veteran
While an ME66 is an okay microphone, just save some more for a Rode NTG-3 microphone.
If you have friends or resources that have a couple of microphones in stock, try and test it out. Use your ears.
If you have friends or resources that have a couple of microphones in stock, try and test it out. Use your ears.
Gohanto
Veteran
I think my point was that a hyper doesn't ALWAYS sound better indoors. (There's tons of sound mixers that use the Schoeps CMIT5U and Sanken CS-3e indoors on a daily basis.
And I know Jeff Wexler has talked about loving the sound of a Schoeps CMC641 hyper outdoors when he can.)
I agree you need a wide variety of tools though, and having a hyper for use indoors is also great (but not ALWAYS the "go to" mic inside).
Although seeing as you own a ME66, I can see where you'd get a view that it's always bad indoors. The ME66 is one of the worst shotgun mics to possibly use indoors imho and I've never had good results using it as such. When you get up to a NTG-3, 416, CS-3e, ect... quality mics, they're a useful tool indoors.
Chadfish
Veteran
You got me there Gohanto. I'm not to in love with the ME66. I like the 416 sound much better, and I would simply love a Schopes or a Sanken. I own an NTG-2, and I use the boss' ME66. I find that 90% of my work is done indoors so I go with the NT3. I have not heard an NTG-3. Though If I were upgrading I would try for something a bit more, but maybe the NTG-3 has a good bang for buck?
How does the 600.00 NTG-3 compare to the 1,000.00 Senn 416?
Sadly I don't even get to play with any nice equipment from work. http://www.precisionintermedia.com The owner cheaps out on everything, so I have just bought what I can. I saved up for a year and a half (1/3 years pay) to get the EX1. There will be no 1,000.00 mics purchased by my work. So that is something on my list, but it's not as big a priority as other things. If a 416 kicks a NTG3 in the butt, I'll just drop the extra 400.00 on what I want.
How does the 600.00 NTG-3 compare to the 1,000.00 Senn 416?
Sadly I don't even get to play with any nice equipment from work. http://www.precisionintermedia.com The owner cheaps out on everything, so I have just bought what I can. I saved up for a year and a half (1/3 years pay) to get the EX1. There will be no 1,000.00 mics purchased by my work. So that is something on my list, but it's not as big a priority as other things. If a 416 kicks a NTG3 in the butt, I'll just drop the extra 400.00 on what I want.
Gohanto
Veteran
MattinSTL has done a lot of comparisons that he talks about here....
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=160061
I've used both and generally think the extra $400 isn't worth it for the 416.
Biggest advantage imho of a 416 is basically it's a tried and true design that's been around for years and proven to be bullet proof. So far the NTG-3 seems as good or better, but it doesn't have years of background either.
For my money, I'd say a NTG-3 for the budget conscious, or a CS-3e if you want to take a real step up (granted that's even more than a 416). I own a NTG-3.
My 2c
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=160061
I've used both and generally think the extra $400 isn't worth it for the 416.
Biggest advantage imho of a 416 is basically it's a tried and true design that's been around for years and proven to be bullet proof. So far the NTG-3 seems as good or better, but it doesn't have years of background either.
For my money, I'd say a NTG-3 for the budget conscious, or a CS-3e if you want to take a real step up (granted that's even more than a 416). I own a NTG-3.
My 2c
zjazz@charter.net
Active member
Sennheiser MKH 815?? what about that model?