questions on which handheld mic for street interviews

B

bobhoffman

Member
Trying to figure out a decent sounding mic under 200 bucks for interviewing people on the street, cable connected or wireless, that is handheld and with a good windscreen can handle the wind well.

any suggestions?
 
The EV RE50 is a good choice. Durable. Sounds good. Suspended mic capsule. It's the go-to mic for this kind of thing.
 
RE50 N D/B is the best but can be quite costly and over your budget so a beyer M58 or if you want real budget the AT 8004. AKG (D230) Shure (VP64A) and Sennheiser (MD46) also make omni dynamic reporter mikes.

Rode also just brought out a reporter mic but I wasn't very impressed with the results I heard on-line, the RE50 N-D/B is the best but note that this is the latest "N" model with the extra 10db of gain, the older RE50 D/B may be a second hand option.
 
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The top interview mics are the EV and the Beyer that have already been mentioned plus the Sennheiser MD21, MD 42 and MD46.
 
I know there's a long tradition of using omni mics for this, but I've always preferred something a little more directional so I can cancel specific background sounds if necessary. I've actually used short shotguns in the past, but they require a very responsive interviewer, and I don't have regular access to anyone skilled enough at pointing the mic right now. My go-to these days is a Sennheiser MD46 -- tough dynamic cardioid mic, easy to handle, looks good on camera, enough output to do well with close-up voices. I use it both wired and with a plug-on transmitter depending on the shoot.

- Greg
 
I hate cardioids, because the on/off axis sound is so different, plus proximity effect problems too - so an omni works best for me. Directional mics do, as mentioned need though, skill and experience to make work, and in the scrum - an omni seems to cut it!
 
Be mindful that if you're attaching any of the mics recommended in this thread to a camera with an 1/8" mini-plug mic input, you're going to need an impedance transformer of some kind to get the best results. These transformers are built into XLR adapter boxes by Beachtek and juicedLink, and they're also built into short adapter cables. A regular XLR female to mini-plug cable that doesn't have an in-line transformer is not the way to go.
 
thanks all, I will research each mic listed and weigh my thoughts, then put the hammer down on one.
appreciate the feedback and experience shared.
 
"I hate cardioids, because the on/off axis sound is so different, plus proximity effect problems too"
+1 .. though in this scenario, if I wanted more isolation, the 'cardioid' MD46 would be my 1st choice.

In the US, the RE50 gets more airtime than Seinfeld reruns, though I would not consider it any better than the MD42. A high output level mic like the RE50 N/Dym would be recommended for budget recorders, which usually do not offer much (clean) gain.

I would not even consider using a unbalanced H/H mic.
 
In the USA, the go-to ENG mike is the EV RE50N/D-B. You'll see 'em on air in just about every newscast, from NYC to LA, Seattle to Miami. They work in all conditions, from sports events to high winds like hurricanes (amazingly, often without any kind of wind shielding). And if that's not enough, in a pinch you can use one as a hammer to drive nails. ;-)
 
Bruce Watson said:
In the USA, the go-to ENG mike is the EV RE50N/D-B. You'll see 'em on air in just about every newscast, from NYC to LA, Seattle to Miami. They work in all conditions, from sports events to high winds like hurricanes (amazingly, often without any kind of wind shielding). And if that's not enough, in a pinch you can use one as a hammer to drive nails. ;-)
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Yeah, but my MD46 is even longer and heavier, and could make a pretty good weapon if I find myself in a street fight on location. :)

Actually, the local stations in my smallish market all use 635As that they last upgraded back in the 1960s, to judge from the wear and tear on them. Cheapskates.

- Greg
 
I have heard (that means I am perpetuating a rumor) that the RE50 and the 635, use the same element, and that the difference is the internal suspension and or pop filter.

Grant
 
ggrantly said:
I have heard (that means I am perpetuating a rumor) that the RE50 and the 635, use the same element, and that the difference is the internal suspension and or pop filter.

Grant
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in a word NO i have both and they are totally different and the new N version is far superior, I heard the rode and was not impressed with the sound or handling noise and the mic flag is hillarious!
 
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