Low Cut Filter?

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Danny1280

Well-known member
I'm trying to run an Oktava MK-012 directly into the HMC150. Someone in the audio forum suggested I use an low cut filter to help reduce boom handling noise. Is there such a thing in the camera, or is it a separate add-on?

And one more audio question. My cam's set to -50db gain. I'm assuming -50 will get more more gain than -60db? I'm trying to get a bit more gain from the Oktava going directly into the camera.
 
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You'd get far more knowledgeable answers in the audio forum, this being a camera specific thread.

Some mics have a low-cut; you can buy an XLR barrel connector with low-cut as well, Oktava makes one and there are others out there.

Personally - I've found it just as effective to roll off the rumble in post. It's generally out of the range of human voices and either way, you're EQing - using the hardware means you have no choice in post for what level of highpass you want and at what hz. I interviewed a guy the other day who does a lot of motocross stuff and grabbed a lot of just-audio tracks of engines, etc... knowing me, I could have forgotten my low cut was on and not gotten the bass I wanted. (But that's just a case of me knowing myself in a run & gun, no sound man situation...)

I have always wondered if keeping the rumble out of your converters would make for better audio - giving the converters less stuff to convert. I doubt this is really an issue, the audio guys could tell you more.
 
I actually have been talking about this (ad infinitum) in a number of audio forums. And one of them didn't know if this camera had the low-pass filter, that's why I checked here.

But that's good to hear that the low handling rumble may not be too difficult to remove/reduce in post with EQ.
Thanks
 
I've been using the Oktava MK-012 for quite a few years.

I will tell you it is almost UNUSABLE without the low cut filter that Oktava sells for this unit. Their filter goes inline between the capsul and the body of the mic. It was not until I purchased this accessory that I was able to use the MK-012 on the end of a boom (well I did, but it was EXTREAMLY difficult to do without getting lots of handling noise).

The low cut filter on a camera or a mixer will NOT do the same. The rumble needs to be filtered between the capsul and the preamp (mic body) and BEFORE the signal reaches the camera or the mixer. Otherwise the "rumble" will be so bad it will overdrive the preamp or your inputs with low freqs, and no amount out "low cut" on a camera or mixer will solve that problem.

Tom
 
Thanks for your advice, Tom. Does using the filter alter the sound quality at all. I'd assume that it slices out some of the lows...how's it sound? Also, does anyone know what the price is for the filter?
 
The low cut is generally out of the range of the human voice except for the deepest voices. If you've ever mixed commercial music with a lot of mic'd sources (vs samples, etc) one of the first things you do is roll off the low end on any track not filling the bass side of things - just gives you a cleaner mix.

I've been using an AT 4053; Next time I have someone booming it, I'll give the low cut switch a try - I've never heard enough rumble to peak the meters, but it's shocking just how much rumble you get from booming; and that mic is usually considered a step up from the Oktava, a great sounding mic but not known for stellar handling noise.
 
I am no audio expert. However I have several mics: sennheisers, akg sony,and a couple of chinese knockoffs that sound remarkably good. The lf roll off is one thing but the type of mount is another. The sennheiser blimp system is great and with a dead cat cuts most boom swishes and lots of the rumble using my me80 or m66, but if I switch out to a Hyper Card on a Rode SMC that sits on the camera and put it on the boom with a foam and fur. Big difference. I just bought a Baby Ball gag on the marketplace here and tested it with the one mic I have that it fits and the same thing for movement I also tried a K tec universal and K tec fuzzy the BBG was the best. I also found the carbon pole was less noisy than my aluminum eng pole. So some handling is certainly causes rumble but movement of air across the capsule, even slightly in the case of my hyper cards rumbles big time too. I have been doing this because I am trying to get the best sound I can and not have to transport the very large sennheiser blimp system on the road.
 
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