Stereo Shotgun

choseifunahara

choseifunahara

Member
Hi,

I’ve just purchased DVX100a and start shooting music documentary, and recording session will be separate recording and line in to the FCP HD and sync it to the pix, but most the time, I’ll shoot without any crew that means I have to depend on “on board microphone”.  I’ve spoken to a few sound engineers who suggest that I should use Stereo Shotgun. Is that true, I have to shoot some incidental live music session or conversation also, I have “Sennheiser 416 mono”, is that good enough or get step-up version “ME66” or “MKH60”.  “MKH418-S” and “Newmann RSM191” are too expensive.
 
Re: Stereo Shotgun

I’ve also posted on Japanese DVXfansite:
http://www.geocities.jp/sumi653/
Their main guy “Winglet” suggested me that AT835ST will be the best choice; I checked price and is very reasonable. It’s more than half price of MKH418S. For music, it has to be stereo, who ever I spoken to, everyone said so. Do you guys have any objection? Please let me know.
 
Re: Stereo Shotgun

A shotgun microphone is a poor choice for recording music. A shotgun will add unnatural coloration to the music. The AT835ST is good for what it is, but because a shotgun is directional, it will not do a good job of stereo imaging. Your Sennheiser 416 with a simulated stero effect added in post production will likely sound much better than the AT835ST. If you need to record *music* in stereo, forget the stereo shotgun and buy a non-shotgun stereo mic like the Shure VP88 or the AT825. They will do a better job reproducing the music and give you superior stereo imaging. When you shoot interviews, you can switch to your 416.
 
Re: Stereo Shotgun

Choisei,

The physical design of the shotgun will prevent good music reproduction.  The long slotted tube focuses the sound, but adds frequency dependent colorization that will make music sound *bad*.  The AT835ST is an M-S design (mid-side) that allows you to disable the stero decoder, so you can change the width of the stereo image in post production by mixing the M and S channels appropriately.  Even so, the music will not be recorded properly in the first place.  The M capsule in the mic will be too focused and not combine well with the S capsule (figure-eight) for music recording purposes.
 
Re: Stereo Shotgun

Thanks Barry,

I got all responses from Japanese DVXfan fellows also, you are totally right and I’ll keep using my old 416. One guy said that DVX’s internal pre-amp didn't make for high quality / hypersensitive microphone, if that’s so, I’ll use DVX’s audio track for reference and guidance only. If I find solution, I’ll post it.
 
Re: Stereo Shotgun

MKH416ST 12V -not exist 416 t , does work with t power sourse
the preamps on dvx are good enouth for camera work , but for better prformers of yopur mikrophones use outboard mixer
there is almost no difference betwin feeding the camera line or mike level ,
but if you are fidding line ,the camera doesnt love +4 dbu and living much better with low level ( 10-12 db less)
what is hippersencitive mickrophone you are talking about :-)?
 
Re: Stereo Shotgun

What are Stereo Shotguns good for? The name actually sounds kind of funny... i mean you want stereo but it is directional(focused) weird. Don't mean to sound sarcastic but most of the replies have been that this kind of microphone is bad for music so what is normally used for? Large crowded, outdoors, speeches?
 
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