Sennheiser g3 - need cardioid recommendations

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netwerks

Member
Hey everyone-

I have a handful of the sennheiser g3 systems and I'm filming in a very reverberant room. Obviously the ME2 omni mics are not working well to say the least so I was considering buying some ME4 to use on this location but was looking for some feedback.

I also see an ME4-N model wondering what the difference is?

I've also read that they are very "midrange" but would like some real world input before I buy. I'm open to other suggestions. I'd like to keep the mics priced <$200 ea.

Thanks in advance!
 
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netwerks said:
I have a handful of the sennheiser g3 systems and I'm filming in a very reverberant room. Obviously the ME2 omni mics are not working well to say the least so I was considering buying some ME4 to use on this location but was looking for some feedback.
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My feedback would be, don't. The problem with a cardioid lav is that every time the talent moves their head, they move inside the sound field, thus their sound changes. They have to be trained how to move when wearing a cardioid, and it can look pretty wooden, so they'll likely resist. Which will leave you where?

There are two other things to do before considering going cardioid IMHO. First thing to do is to tackle the problem itself -- the reverberant room. Really consider (as in, don't dismiss it out of hand like you are about to do ;-) moving to a less troublesome venue. If you can't, or more likely won't, then sound absorption (even furniture moving pads) on the floor, on the walls outside of the blocking, behind the camera, etc. Whatever you can reasonably do. It's often amazing how much this helps, especially if you can hang them half a meter away from the walls and at random odd angles.

If that falls short, then move the mic even closer to the mouth. Consider going to a headset mic like a Countryman E6 earset.

If these don't work, it's likely that going to an ME-4 will also fail. Just sayin'.
 
The room is 50x60 with 20' high vaulted ceilings and concrete floor (wedding ceremony/reception hall) where I'll be filming many weddings in town. This is why I am considering it.
 
Atempting to change physics with microphone pick up pattern doesnt change physics. a properly placed Omni is still the best selection. cardioid lavs rarely work out well with untrained speakers.

you are in a cave, its gonna sound like a cave regardless, but high quality fairly level dialog will be much better than the volume of the speaker changing drastically when they turn their head.

good luck.
 
netwerks said:
The room is 50x60 with 20' high vaulted ceilings and concrete floor (wedding ceremony/reception hall) where I'll be filming many weddings in town. This is why I am considering it.
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Well yuck. A cave is gonna sound like a cave. The concrete floor is just mean. Carpet would be a huge help for you, and for the guests.
 
I agree with others that you are better sticking with the ME2 omni, have you tried lowering the gain on the transmitter and increasing the gain on the receiver as you may be driving the front end too much and hitting the limiters therefore increasing the ambient sound.
 
netwerks said:
Hey everyone-

I have a handful of the sennheiser g3 systems and I'm filming in a very reverberant room. Obviously the ME2 omni mics are not working well to say the least so I was considering buying some ME4 to use on this location but was looking for some feedback.

I also see an ME4-N model wondering what the difference is?

I've also read that they are very "midrange" but would like some real world input before I buy. I'm open to other suggestions. I'd like to keep the mics priced <$200 ea.

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...


My advice would be to stick with the omnis as they will be better than the cardioids.

All you will be doing is swapping one problem for another.

The relative distance is just 1.7 - so a cardioid at 17cm would pick up the same as an omni at 10cm - so all you have to do is to get the omni closer.

The cardioid would have to be further away or you will get horrible dropouts as the speaker moves his/her head - the omni can be much closer - closer than the 1.7 distance equivalent - and would pick up less of the room than the cardioid.

Also - remember the inverse square law - halve the distance and you get an x4 improvement - double the distance and it's x4 the other way.

If you are having real problems, put the omni on the head with the cable going over the ear - this is half the distance compared with the mic. on the chest (even if the capsule is close to the ear).

If this does not work, then use a headmic. like the ME 3, rather than a cardioid tie mic.
 
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