Shotgun for HVX
- Thread starter jrp
- Start date
Jeff Anderson
Custom Title!
I'd read the stickies - at top of the audio forum and decide what mic you need. You'll need a microphone cable to connect the camera and the mic. NTG1 and 2 are the same mic except the ntg2 has the option of being battery or phantom powered and is a tad longer because of this. As far as essential - that will cover it. Suggested accessories - boom pole, shock mount, wind protection for outdoor use (get a hyper like the oktava if you want a good inexpensive indoor mic), looong mic cable, and a mixer if you want to make your life easier.
You'll get a better response if you tell us more about what you are using this for (feature dialogue, outdoors, etc) and if you do a bit of research in the stickies in the audio forum. Posting in the audio forum will probably yield better response as well.
You'll get a better response if you tell us more about what you are using this for (feature dialogue, outdoors, etc) and if you do a bit of research in the stickies in the audio forum. Posting in the audio forum will probably yield better response as well.
(blush)
I have to admit I didn't knew there was an audio forum.
What I want the mic for is dialog recording for feature purposes, both in and outdoors.
Doing a search on "Mics" was that I arrived to the conclusion to get a NTG1, but looking at them, I found that they come in a variety of ways to connect them to the cammera, like
Miniplug and XLR Female.
Also, I don't know if the HVX200 provides phantom power (and how much will it drain the camaera's battery)
and about the lenght of the cable, how long is desired?
Thans a bunch.
I have to admit I didn't knew there was an audio forum.
What I want the mic for is dialog recording for feature purposes, both in and outdoors.
Doing a search on "Mics" was that I arrived to the conclusion to get a NTG1, but looking at them, I found that they come in a variety of ways to connect them to the cammera, like
Miniplug and XLR Female.
Also, I don't know if the HVX200 provides phantom power (and how much will it drain the camaera's battery)
and about the lenght of the cable, how long is desired?
Thans a bunch.
Matt Gottshalk
Resident Preditor
I partial to the Benelli Super 90 myself.
Jeff Anderson
Custom Title!
No worries about the audio forum - lots of fantastic reading there though. While I've got an NTG-1 and think the audio from it is fantastic for the price, I definitely wouldnt use it indoors (unless its a true soundstage), the oktava will perform much better being a hyper. Look up hyper vs shotgun and see what you think fits your shooting. A well rounded audio package will have several mics, but I know that doesnt fit into everyone's budget.
The HVX has 2 mono XLR inputs (female) and the NTG1 is XLR male, so XLR male to female will take care of you for a cable. I would have several cable lengths available. If I only got one length it would be a 50'. Should cover a nice long boom pole, and a fair distance from the boom op to the camera. Of course having several lengths is a handy thing and it sure doesnt hurt to have backups sitting around in case one fails.
Another fantastic source is Jay Rose's book, Producing Great Audio for Digital Video (or something like that, he's got a book on post too - also a fantastic read!) And definitely do some testing with your mic(s) and learn all the handling characteristics BEFORE the real shooting begins. (thats where I'm at right now)
The HVX has 2 mono XLR inputs (female) and the NTG1 is XLR male, so XLR male to female will take care of you for a cable. I would have several cable lengths available. If I only got one length it would be a 50'. Should cover a nice long boom pole, and a fair distance from the boom op to the camera. Of course having several lengths is a handy thing and it sure doesnt hurt to have backups sitting around in case one fails.
Another fantastic source is Jay Rose's book, Producing Great Audio for Digital Video (or something like that, he's got a book on post too - also a fantastic read!) And definitely do some testing with your mic(s) and learn all the handling characteristics BEFORE the real shooting begins. (thats where I'm at right now)
Jeff Anderson
Custom Title!
I'd go do some research on pickup patterns of mics - shotgun will have long narrow pattern and excellent side rejection, where a hyper has less reach and a broader pattern. The long pattern picks up lots of relections from the room and can make a small room sound really reflective and a hyper will help make it a little more natural sounding. Outside there arent as many reflections so a shotgun is fantastic as it will help isolate the talent and keep environmental sound to a minimum. There are of course many exceptions to many rules and there are times and places that the right shotgun will sound great indoors and a hyper like the oktava will sound great outdoors. If I remember the NTG-1 pattern right it isnt all that tight so it doesnt sound horrible indoors, but the oktava or a ck93 will sound much more natural.
craigbowman
Veteran
Don't just think pattern but distance as well. Shotgun's have narrower pattern than hyper but pickup farther so can acutally pickup a lot more reflection than hyper. Distance for example on Senn. MKH50 is optimal from 12 inches to 2 ft. Whereas a short shotgun like the 416 is optimal from 2 ft. to 4 ft. Sound decreases according to inverse square rule. This is why shotguns aren't first choice indoors. Doesn't mean they can't be used at all if you know what you're doing with room angles, mic placement etc.
craigbowman
Veteran
General Note:
A lot of recommendations in audio for mics are behind whats best in a price range for a category of mic and not what is the best mic period. I have listened to most of the mics first hand and you can definately hear why a mic for its price range is best price/perfomance wise. However, when you start comparing mics for actual sound quality, susceptability to handling noise etc. then you will realize why mics in the upper price ranges are there. The Oktava MK012 is one mic which happens to perform much better than its price range indicates, but I don't use one myself as my absolute first choice.
You can provide a lot of help to your mic by using it properly for its pattern and distance specs., developing your booming skills and picking a location for its sound as much as for its visual appeal.
A lot of recommendations in audio for mics are behind whats best in a price range for a category of mic and not what is the best mic period. I have listened to most of the mics first hand and you can definately hear why a mic for its price range is best price/perfomance wise. However, when you start comparing mics for actual sound quality, susceptability to handling noise etc. then you will realize why mics in the upper price ranges are there. The Oktava MK012 is one mic which happens to perform much better than its price range indicates, but I don't use one myself as my absolute first choice.
You can provide a lot of help to your mic by using it properly for its pattern and distance specs., developing your booming skills and picking a location for its sound as much as for its visual appeal.
Jeff Anderson
Custom Title!
Yep craig's spot on and good to mention that these mics are the least expensive you can get by with. Neither the NTG1 or Oktava make it into many hollywood movies. You get what you pay for still applies.