Should I buy another Mic?

J

Jokerswild

Well-known member
Have a job coming up. 3 people conversing on one couch. I own a Shotgun Rhode Mic, two lavaliers and two wireless kits. Is there ONE microphone that I should buy to place on a boom to pickup all the 3 folks sitting and talking on the couch? Something like an omni directional? Or should I use the Shotgun in the center of the group, and or use the two lavaliers? Thanks.

Also if I go with the two wireless kits, should I place them each on a seperate channel on the Canon A-1 or feed them into one receiver at the camera?
 
Hi Joker,

I take it you don't have a mixer nor a boom operator. Sooner or later, you'll want to invest in some more microphones with better patterns - now might be the time to consider buying something like two Oktava MK012A hyper-cardioid mics (one on each channel).

Regards, Michael
 
Jokerswild said:
Have a job coming up. 3 people conversing on one couch. I own a Shotgun Rhode Mic, two lavaliers and two wireless kits. Is there ONE microphone that I should buy to place on a boom to pickup all the 3 folks sitting and talking on the couch? Something like an omni directional? Or should I use the Shotgun in the center of the group, and or use the two lavaliers? Thanks.

Also if I go with the two wireless kits, should I place them each on a seperate channel on the Canon A-1 or feed them into one receiver at the camera?
Click to expand...

Forget sending two wireless transmitters to one receiver. Unless you have a dual channel unit it just won't work. Two transmitters means two receivers.

An omni would likely pickup too much of the room. You MIGHT be able to get away with suspending a cardioid directly overhead but it will be difficult to get it close enough for good speech without intruding into the shot.

The shotgun aimed at the centre will be difficult because it's pattern is narrow enough that the two people on either side will be off-mic when they're speaking. If you could mount the mic on a pistol grip and have someone on the floor below the shot aiming it at the current speaker you might have a chance. Or of course, put it on a hand held boom overhead with an operator to aim it following the dialog.

How about renting a third lave and a small mixer, forgetting wireless, and going with 3 wired lavs? It'll require someone riding the levels as you shoot to make sure only one mic is open at any given time but would probably give the best results. If you can't have someone at the mixer, the two end people might be seated far enough apart that their mics won't be picking up the other person and interfere with each other so mixing them to one channel on the track while putting the middle person on the other might work.
 
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