Studio condenser for dialog

P

Petrus

Well-known member
Today I shot some make-up video in a fairly large photo studio (about 70x35x20 ft, hard surfaces). To guarantee a usable audio I hung two mics from above about 2 feet over the make-up artist and the model. I was thinking about using Octava hyper (I had another OH as on-camera mic) only but then I thought about trying a cardioid, as the mic could be quite close and it might capture both speakers better. Octava cardioid was my first thought ( I have the full stereo set with omni, cardioid & hyper) but then I remembered the Rode NT1-A large diaphram studio cardiod in my bottom drawer. So I hung that facing down and the OHyper right next to it. The feed went thru my new SD302 to Fostex FR-2.

The result: Studio mic was clearly better with a hi-fi feel to it, good balance and bright top end. Octava hyper was more muted lacking clarity. Perfectly usable, though, but comparing it to the Rode I just threw the OH track away.

Lesson learned: do not get stuck to the lavalier-hyper-shotgun only paradigm for video. In controlled situations also "non-video" tools might work just perfect.
 
Helpful post.

I have heard people talk of using the Rode NT3 and being happy with the results but it's size kinda kills it from being a good boom mic.

In case you didn't already know, the Oktava is, in fact, not a video mic. It was designed for music/drum application and somebody discovered it makes a pretty decent cheap hyper boom mic. The internet has driven that little discovery into legendary status.

Cheers
 
As the persons in the video were not moving I could place the NT1-A in a stationary position above them. It is certainly too heavy for comfortable booming. Being a cardioid it covered a large enough area to pick up dialog from two people close to each other.

Mic is a mic is a mic. To me there are no "video mics", just microphones with different pick-up and handling characteristics. Some more suited for video work, sure, but the main job for a mic is to get the best possible sound in the circumstances.
 
cardioid are largery used in booming situations , at least me is usding them as plants , or on the boom where is no posible go between people involved in the diaalog . using large mic on boom is almost impossible as they side adress capsules , the weight doesnt help as well .
but as plants or fixed position there is no problem use them for large eria caverege .
usially pzms on plexi glass are used for that purpess but defenetly they wouldnt sound as nice as good large diafragma .
 
If anyone wants to give it a shot, they are more than welcome to come over and give a shot at booming my U47 clone.

381406600_58055351c1.jpg



It weighs about a pound, and the power supply might slow you down a little, but it's superb sound and nine polar patterns make it work in "almost" any situation :)
 
side adress - dont work well on the boom :-)
dont see any problem with the power suply as it contra weight to the microphone :-)
 
tigeba said:
If anyone wants to give it a shot, they are more than welcome to come over and give a shot at booming my U47 clone.

381406600_58055351c1.jpg



It weighs about a pound, and the power supply might slow you down a little, but it's superb sound and nine polar patterns make it work in "almost" any situation :)
Click to expand...


What mic is this in the picture?
 
probably one good chiniz with 1 inch or bigger diaphragm
the name is not important only the sound .
about 500-700 usd depends on if it 25 mm or 34 mm capsule
i have one like this very worm
 
Oleg 2 said:
probably one good chiniz with 1 inch or bigger diaphragm
the name is not important only the sound .
about 500-700 usd depends on if it 25 mm or 34 mm capsule
i have one like this very worm
Click to expand...

This is not a Chinese microphone, it is a Peluso 2247 LE. The frame is manufactured in China, and the capsule is assembled in the U.S.A. It has a vintage Telefunken tube inside, which is similar, but not exactly the same as the original VF14 tube found inside a "real" U47. If you are looking for something in this league, this mic is good, and other alternatives are the Pearlman TM1 and the Telefunken RFT AK47. They are all gonna set you back around $1500-1800.

Obviously it is a studio only mic, but it sounds fantastic on just about anything.
 
Petrus said:
Today I shot some make-up video ....Octava cardioid was my first thought ( I have the full stereo set with omni, cardioid & hyper) but then I remembered the Rode NT1-A large diaphram studio cardiod in my bottom drawer. So I hung that facing down and the OHyper right next to it. The feed went thru my new SD302 to Fostex FR-2. The result: Studio mic was clearly better with a hi-fi feel to it,.
Click to expand...

I shoot mainly green screen where talent is stationary. I was interested in this post beacuase I have both those mics so it made me do a quick test with them.

The Rode certainly seems to give more clarity - but the trade off to me is it also seems to pick up more room noise than the hyper cardoid oktava and as a results does 2 things - you can here clothes rustling more (Was this not a problem for you Petrus?) and I noticed the Rode picks up more room reverb than the Oktava ( I guess its because of more top end)

Room reverb could be ok for most things - but for me doing green screen the concern is it tends to sound out of sync with the virtual environment put in after - so the Oktava has some advantages there.

Anyway just some thoughts.
 
Petrus said:
then I remembered the Rode NT1-A large diaphram studio cardiod in my bottom drawer. So I hung that facing down and the OHyper right next to it. The feed went thru my new SD302 to Fostex FR-2.
Click to expand...

Can you upload a sample so we can hear it?
 
Yes I would be interested too.

I actually tried the set up described again today and for the acoustics of the room I was working in (and the fact it was for green screen) the nt1a was not the right solution.

We boom mic 'd both the oktava (with hyper cardoid capsule) and used the nt1a, and the nt1a was picked up alot of reverb/ ambience and so pretty quick we had to ditch it for the Oktava track which was much 'closer' and damp with much less room noise/ ambience.

Nt1a works well in sound booth environment and gives a great rich vocal sound - but for booming in a regular room with painted walls and a 8ft ceiling it didn't work well for us.

Oktava was great and saved the day (and quality I felt out performed a cheap lav on talent).

M28
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top