Rode Pin Mic editing. How does it work with women voices?

D

Deer Film

Well-known member
Hi, I used the Rode Pin Mic last weekend on mostly women speakers.
I had 2 issues. On day 2 I started to get a little static, but maybe it was interference in my wireless. It would be just a little here or there. Do you ever get an interference or static with your wireless? It has never happened before. I hope it is not the mic itself. It is going to take me a few hours to clean out the static pops.

But what I have a question about is I feel the sound of the Rode Pinmic has a little to much bass on women voices. Does anyone think this is true? And how would I fix this in editing? What software and technique would you use?

thanks
 
It's hard to diagnose "static" in a post like this. It could be RF interference, it could be a shorted cable, it could be fabric rub. If you post a sample so that we can hear what you're hearing, we may have a better shot.

As for the sound being bottom-heavy, well... there is no one mic that is perfect for every voice. But if it's the one you have, it's the one you use. Placement of the mic can also affect the frequency response. If you feel like there's too much low end, use a parametric EQ, specifically a bass roll-off or a shelving band. Either will drop the low end out, and you just have to play with it to get it where you think it sounds right to you. Start, perhaps, around 80Hz since this is the female voice, and if that doesn't help then start moving up, as high as 100Hz or even 120Hz.
 
Sorry it took a while, here are some samples. I have spent a few hours cleaning up pops ans static. The first morning the pin mic worked good, but afternoon with a different speaker, it was full of pops and static. Any idea. Does this happen to other people.
Some static pops are very short, while others are sometimes longer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsC2O-VzPVg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWwu-j1nvhw

I am using the SENNHEISER WIRELESS unit with the Rode Pin mic
I might have to do some tests at home to find out what a where this is coming from. It is a pain to spend hours fixing this.
Thanks for any help on this
 
These are classic RF "hits". This is common and the only thing that surprises me is that the speaker is not moving much. A simple remedy for this may be to get the antenna off of the wearer's skin (if it touches it can reduce the signal by something like 80%). Same with the receiver on the camera, keep the antenna away from metal and your hand. Another cause can be wireless signals interfering such as cellphones. Everyone in the room should be required to turn phones OFF (not just on vibrate). Finally, wireless smoke detector signals or other signals could affect the audio. Not much you can do in that case.

If your wireless is a G2 or G3, there are many channels to pick from. Read your manual and set the wireless up on a channel not used by local TV or emergency networks. Sennheiser has a list on their website.
 
+1 Just before you start recording a session with a class like that, demand! every class member shut off their cell phones
and any wireless recorders or similar rigs.

Even go next door and ask the teachers too. Some might be wireless linked to recorders for remote tuition later.

Even with all this, there are recording sessions where all the students have to leave their phones in baskets by the classroom doors.
Don't trust students to comply, some carry 2 phones. And ALWAYS monitor your recordings with headphones.

Cheers.
 
Indeed those are "RF hits" from the wireless system and have nothing to do with the Rode PinMic. The wireless system likely would have done the same thing with ANY microphone you are using. As others have said, be sure you have both the transmit and receive antennas free from interference. And try moving the receiver closer to the subject to reduce the likelihood of dropouts. Turning off cell phones in the vicinity is also a requirement.

Few women have voices that reach down to 150 Hz. If you don't like the low end, don't be afraid to apply some rolloff up to several hundred Hz. Season to taste.
 
I just noticed something, I have 2 MICON-1 adapters (3.5mm) for my wireless Sennheiser wireless unit. Is this the wrong size, because one adapter works, and the other one does not. And the adapter from another mic(ME-4) that goes into my Sennheiser is just a touch longer then the rode micon-1, about the thickness of a dime longer. Could that have been the problem and what size adapter do I need? I am trying to find a length of the 3.5 jack.

They both say they are 1/8" (3.5mm) in length.

I guess the micon-1 adapter is the right one, but I am having trouble with mine.

RODE MiCon to Sennheiser Wireless Adapter - Compatible with SK 500 G3, SK 300 G3, SK 100 G3, SK 500 G2, SK 300 G2, and SK 2 Freeport. RODE's MiCon Cable system is a modular, low-profile cable that lets you choose the terminator type for your RODE microphone. Whether you have a RODE Lavalier, HS1 Headset Mic, PinMic, or any other MiCon-equipped ROAD microphone, you can adapt your mic for use with any system. The RODE MiCon to Sennheiser Adapter...
 
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