What type of microphone for filming cooking/recipe videos

J

Jeffsteez

Member
Hi,

Pretty basic question I'm sure, but sound is something I've largely neglected in my video work so far and I'm just wondering what people would suggest I consider for an upcoming project filming cooking videos. Fairly standard 'kitchen island' set-up. I need to be able to capture dialogue and some ambient of chopping, sound of frying, etc. Generally this will be 'background' rather than some sort of ASMR-style focus in its own right - although obviously the 'nicer' I can capture this ambient the better.

At the moment I have a Rode Wireless Go with lavier and can borrow a Rode Video Mic Pro. I'm probably going to be filming quite a few of these videos (multi-cam setup), so keen to get the audio right. Thinking about buying a separate sound recorder (Zoom seems most common) and additional mic if helpful - but at this stage wouldn't want to go beyond $500 or so. I'd been half thinking about a Aputure Diety type mic or similar for a while. I'll be using Resolve for audio/camera sync.

Probably 80% of dialog will be delivered from the same location behind a kitchen island, but there will be some moving about - transferring food from chopping board to hob etc. Wondering how feasible a static shot-gun type approach for dialog might be or if a lav is the answer?

Wondering if there a single mic approach to this? Or do I need multiple mics? And if using more that one mic, do I need to worry about echo e.g.: dialog being picked up by the ambiet mic and vice versa?

Many thanks!
 
Just going to ask the obvious but why not hire a professional sound mixer? DIY sound can range from adequate to unusable, depending on how comptent
you are as a sound mixer. Sound is no different that being a DP, gaffer, hair or makeup artist, it's a skillset, it's an art and a science. You obviously understand
the importance of sound or you wouldn't be asking about how to do it, so hire a pro who will record what you need.

We all DIY sound occasionally but often, the sound is compromised because even if we know what we are doing with sound, we are torn away from paying attention
to it by directing, DPing, gaffing and working with the location and talent.

I probably know the answer which will be lack of budget or no budget. Maybe hook up with an up and coming sound mixer with some gear and trade work for each other,
I've done that on low/no budgets. But if you are doing this professionally, having shot lots of YouTube and instruction cooking pieces, I recommend budgeting and hiring a pro,
it's sooo important to cooking videos to hear the talent cleanly and clearly, the Rødes are consumer gear (I have the Video Mic Pro) and they can sound and work okay, sometimes.
Sometimes they are a hot mess, depending on 2.4Ghz traffic in your location.

The big question, is this a hobbyist freebie gig or is this a pro gig and you are being paid or trying to make money with it? If it's a hobbyist thing, I would want to know which camera you are
shooting with before recommending IF you should spend $500.00 for a stand alone recorder. If it's a pro gig with a budget, hire a pro sound mixer and don't worry about the details,
concentrate on the lighting, camera and direction/working with talent.
 
One person? A radio lav, and a couple of cardioids on stands as overheads for the cooking sounds. Shotguns need accurate and precise aiming - no good on a moving subject. TV shows always use lavs because the chopping and sizzling often drown out the voice - so mic up your presenter/cook. If there is more than one person, a mic each. Any other technique needs people to look after the mics.
 
Yes, it's dead simple. One or two lavs and you're done. Set the level before the show and go. I've done plenty of live cooking shows with just two lavs. Or, experiment and see what suits your taste. Maybe a plant mic or overhead hypercardioid will make a more satisfying production.
 
Thanks all for the replies.

PureDrifting: Totally get what you are saying, but from the two catagories you highlight, I'm more in the hobbyist camp. Me and a friend are cooking and photography enthusiasts, but wanting to start producing video content with a long term intent for it to be profitable. At the moment we are in DIY territory, but enthusiastic about learning - so at this stage, merely 'adequate' sound would be good going. Camera wise, we'll be shooting on a Sony A7rii, A7C and A7Siii.

PaulEars / Paul F: Yes, just one person. I'll also need to shoot some interview/talking head style videos (without any cooking going on). Wondering is a hyper cardioid (rather than just a cardioid) would suit my purposes best. Seems like i'll have too much movement to use anything other than a lav to pick up audio during the cooking segments, but I'd rather lose the visible lav using another mic where I can elsewhere.

Thanks!
 
I would absolutely use a visible lav over anything else. There is no point in hiding a lav or using an overhead microphone for a cooking show. A hypercardiod - youl'll need an expert operator on the boom because the cook isn't standing still. Holding a boom up for a whole show? No, that's not an option.

For the interview, sure, boom it with the hypercardioid.

I may be confusing you with "Maybe a plant mic or overhead hypercardioid will make a more satisfying production.". I only said that to indicate you may want to go over the top to get cooking and chopping sounds; not intended to be the primary pickup for the dialog. Completely unnecessary and I wouldn't do it, but you're experimenting. Do it. See what it does. It's a learning experience.
 
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Many moons ago, I was an audio consultant on a PBS culinary school cooking show. I got the production a four white TR-50 Trams (lavalieres) from the original Tram founder/builder (RIP) and Lectro 185 VHF Txs and Rxs. They sounded good on tape and in the institute's kitchen/amphitheater. The white Trams blended into the chefs' white uniforms so they were practically invisible on camera.. though hiding them was not required
 
Jeffsteez said:
Thanks all for the replies.

PureDrifting: Totally get what you are saying, but from the two catagories you highlight, I'm more in the hobbyist camp. Me and a friend are cooking and photography enthusiasts, but wanting to start producing video content with a long term intent for it to be profitable. At the moment we are in DIY territory, but enthusiastic about learning - so at this stage, merely 'adequate' sound would be good going. Camera wise, we'll be shooting on a Sony A7rii, A7C and A7Siii.

PaulEars / Paul F: Yes, just one person. I'll also need to shoot some interview/talking head style videos (without any cooking going on). Wondering is a hyper cardioid (rather than just a cardioid) would suit my purposes best. Seems like i'll have too much movement to use anything other than a lav to pick up audio during the cooking segments, but I'd rather lose the visible lav using another mic where I can elsewhere.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Hi Jeff:

Since you are not in a position to hire a pro, then it sounds like wired or wireless lavs into a stand alone recorder is probably your best bet. I agree with the other opinions here, although a hyper cardioid on a boom stand could work if your
talent is not moving around a lot, but usually they are prepping, slicing and dicing in one area, then cooking in another, then possible trips to the fridge to get ingredients out, it's unlikely a boom will work without a boom op unless you shoot
it film style with one camera and set up each angle and shoot them out of order. Unlikely for a cooking show.

You could try the Rødes, maybe they will cooperate for you in your shooting environment. The Go, in particular, tends to fall apart if the talent turns and their body is between the tranmsitter and receiver. The Video Wireless Mic is much better.
As for a recorder, you are in used Zoom F4 https://www.ebay.com/itm/ZOOM-F4-Mu...515439?hash=item1ab176feef:g:NhsAAOSwcglgDF3m or used Sound Devices Mix Pre 3 terriority,
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sound-Devi...884271&hash=item46bf3fb59a:g:Yb4AAOSwblhf-ggM keeping it under $500.00 You could also consider
a less expensive Tascam DR60 or 701 type recorder but the Sound Devices and Zooms are much better quality.

Once again, if your talent isn't moving around a lot, wired lavs will sound better and more consistent but probably not practical for cooking since the talent usually HAS to move around the kitchen a lot. The good news is you will be working
in very short distances so there is a better chance of your consumer wireless actually working and sounding decent with the transmitter and receiver less than 10' apart. Another option would be the Tentacle Track E, the Zoom F2 or the Tascam
DR-10L mini lavaliere recorders. All sound pretty impressive but you cannot monitor your sound as it's recorded. With exposed lavaliere and correct rigging, that shouldn't be a big concern though. I've used our three Tascam DR-10Ls quite a lot with
our Fuji X-T3s, especially when shooting on gimbal and the auto sync in FCP X and Premiere makes it not nearly the hassle that many people think it is, although it is more hassle than having matching time code on recorder and camera.
 
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