Panasonic Mic or Sennheiser Mic?

Barra

Barra

Carbonite Member
Hi folks!
Anyone know the practical differences for microphone accessory use on HVX200 between the Panasonic stereo unidirectional microphone (AG-MC100G) and something like the more expensive Sennheiser shotgun kit ME-66 with K6 Phantom supply?
I'm just wondering if the quality difference would be as big as the price difference - that's about double the difference!?:undecided
 
The short answer is yes, there is a difference. The Senn mic or an AT mic are better choices. The Panasonic mic is OK but not great. You get what you pay for when it comes to Microphones.
 
I had the Azden SGM-1X Shotgun XLR Mic which was pretty good for the money. All was great until it just stopped working one day. I replaced it with the Senn ME-66 which sounds great too. To be honest, I really couldn't tell the difference but I'm sure the audiofiles can. I bought the ME-66 just because I hope it's more durable.
 
Hi, thanks for the feedback!
Does anyone know of a decent omnidirectional mic that I could use in the HVX mic holder?
- that will run on camera power and would be good for recording live music, typically a mix of vocals and acoustic guitar, double bass, bongos... little music gigs I will come across on my upcoming travels in South America/Carribbean that don't have any technical/electronic setups?
I presume an omni mic would be better in this situation where I'm panning and moving around with the camera so that the unidirectional panny shotgun would not work so good for the group as a whole?
I'm really not that great on sound so excuse the ignorance please.
 
I'm a big fan of Audio Technica, they're the closest to the Sennheizer while still being a big savings. I have two of them and they've been great.
 
With use on the HVX200, should the Senn ME-66 kit be with phantom power only or, the battery/ phantom powered unit ( less drain on the camera battery??). Recommendations?
 
I never put a battery in a mic when I have phantom power availabel through the cam or mixer, because those units let you know when their batteries are running low, the mic has no way of letting you know.
 
I've had good luck with the ME66, although some on these forums think you can do better.

It performed fantastically when I did an interview on a historic street corner in which busses, trucks, and cars were blowing by my subject. I had the mic mounted on the camera and kept my subject within four feet or so. The radio lav mic wasn't so great, but the ME66 seemed to hone in on my subject and reduce the extraneous noise (which was unbelievably loud!).

This interview will be used by a national cable channel, so it's good enough for them. Also, I notice a lot of production companies I work for use the ME66 for its reliability.

Search these forums. Some say the Audio Technica is better. But most of the hard core run and gunners I know use the ME66.
 
I've recently tested some Rode mics. The quality is pretty darn good for the buck. Test them out and see if you like them.
 
ME66 is a good one, so is Rode. There are even better ones, but for 2-5 times the price (not 2-5 times better, what ever that would mean. Law of diminishing returns).

I would not put an omni on the camera, you'll pick up a lot of camera noice, breathing noice from the operator etc. Either use a hypercardioid or the simple solution; handhold your short shotgun or hyper and shoot with the other hand. This way you can point the mic at the soundsource at all times.
 
Senheiser 416 or AT 835ST Mike

Senheiser 416 or AT 835ST Mike

Greetings,

I am a huge fan of the most popular and widely used Senn 416 Hypercardiod and the now discontinued 816 mikes. They are expensive but you can't go wrong working with these mikes. I picked up a used 416 for 750 bucks and it's awesome. I then rent the 816 with zepplin for any several outdoor shoots. For an all around single mono mike I don't think you can beet the 416.. sure the Sankens are others are nice too but at 2k compared to 1300 New and 750 used for the Senn.

The other mike I'd highly recommend is the M/S Stereo shotgun mike by Audio Technica. Either the 815 or 835 models. I picked mine up used for 400 bucks. It's a great single point MS stereo mike. It has a cardiod pattern mike in the front and an offset figure 8 ambient mike in the same capsule. You have the option to leave it as a matrixed M/S or to convert to either a wide stereo or a narrow stereo signal. The other great advantage is the ability to use it as a mono source by not using the figure eight signal. It's an excellent boom mike for up to about 4' from the subject. Doesn't have the reach of the 416 but rarefly are you that far away from subject and if that's the case, then wireless becomes the solution.

I think on the super buget the AT is a great choice.. it's also phantom powered... and if more cash is there then can't go wrong with the Sennheiser.


Justyn
 
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