Mic choice: Have ME66/K6 need want Cardioid for interior interviews & news gathering

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Mic choice: Have ME66/K6 need want Cardioid for interior interviews & news gathering

I am thinking about adding the ME64 capsule to my audio bag, but I was curious if there were any better cardioid choices for interior interviews and news gathering. I picked up the ME66 over five years ago, and I am now in need of a cardioid, what are some decent options other than the ME64?

Alternately, I am also considering the Rode Lavalier (direct wired initially) with the possibility of adding the Sennheiser ew 112-p G3 wireless to the mix as my budget allows. I have seen the lav review from Chad and I am very impressed with the Rode Lavalier.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
 
Is this for stand-ups and streeters or for booming dialog? If stand-up interviews, a cardioid or omni patterned, hand-held, dynamic stick mic is the broadcast mic of choice and might work well for you. Consider something like the Electrovoice RE50b or 635 or the Sennheiser MD46
 
If you already have a K6 + ME66 then adding the ME64 head and using it with your existing K6 is probably the best option.

For vox-pops and the like an omni may be better - a dynamic is normally used for this. Say an MD 42 (or MD46 if you want cardioid).
 
It's not clear what you're looking for here. You say you want a "cardioid," but the applications you list (news gathering, interviews) leads one to believe that you are looking for a handheld mic. The confusion there is that handheld news gathering interview mics are rarely cardioid, they're almost always omni-directional (like the Electro Voice RE50b that Steve suggested).

An ME64 will be a terrible handheld mic. It's too sensitive to hold with your hands. I don't like the sound of the whole Sennheiser ME family. It's too noisy and brash.

Let us know exactly what you want to use this mic for, and we can make appropriate suggestions.
 
Expanded explanation

Expanded explanation

Thanks everyone for the initial replies. My main interest is in story telling, but as we all know, the bills have to get paid. I am currently working with a client doing some corporate videos (short online commercials) talking about their technology and services. After we finish with the initial shorts, we are going to move on to a more standard corporate 2-3 minute summary of their entire business.

I was hoping that a Cardioid (ME64) would serve multiple purposes such as interviews of corporate officers boomed into position, using a stand, below or above for interior at their desk shots. I was also planning using the Cardioid for the voice over (studio setting) needed for these videos. I also though it may be useful for story telling when I am shooting indoors as the ME66 is not good indoors.

In addition, I plan to do some local news gathering (hobby) and was thinking that perhaps the mic addition would be useful for this as well. I may be wanting to much here. This is why I mentioned the Rode Lavalier. I realize that two mics may be the best option for everything I am asking.

Summary of my needs in order of importance.

1. Mic for Corporate sit down interviews (paid)
2. Mic for Voice overs in videos (paid)
3. Local news gathering (hobby)

Lastly, it should also be mentioned that I already own the Azden SGM-2X in addition to the Sennheiser ME66 K6. I am not overly excited about the sound quality from the Azden small cardioid capsule, so this is why I was looking for another solution.

So, from what I gatherd, no one microphone will do all I am asking:
The ME64 would work for #1 and #2
The Electrovoice RE50b would work for #3
Rode Lavalier would work for #1 and #3 and perhaps I could use my Azden for the voice over in-studio work.

Am I on the right track here?
 
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It seems like the best economical choice you have is to buy the ME64 capsule. Since you already have the K6 power module that you use with your ME66 capsule, you will only be spending $170 to get the 64 capsule. It will be useful for situations 1, 2, and 3 (when used on a boom - not handheld, with proper wind protection outdoors). I think you can get decent voiceover audio with an ME64.

As I said before, I'm not a fan of the sound of the ME66 & ME64. I think you can do much better. I would suggest trying to find a used Audio Technica 4053a hypercardioid condenser microphone. You could use it in all of these situations (the same way you would use the ME64), and you should be able to find a used one at a price comparable to a new ME64 capsule.

Having a wired lav mic is very handy to have around, but since you already have a boom and a stand for the boom, getting a good hyper like the 4053a will do you greater good in the short term with the corporate gigs you have lined up.
 
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