I'm an extreme sports filmer, so to speak, and since I spend alot of time on my skateboard filming other skaters I usually hear the sound of my wheels on the rough ground in the footage. I want to capture nothing but the audio coming from the skater, and only the skater. This would definitely be a need for a good directional mic, nothing expensive....hopefully one under $200. Any ideas?
What's the best directional Mic?
- Thread starter Jlucan
- Start date
I think you have a fundamental conflict here. If I am understanding you correctly, you are shooting other skaters while ON a board yourself. Sound travels more efficiently through solids (like you holding your camera on a skateboard) than through the air. I think even a really good shock mount would have trouble with this, but if you have to capture the sound while you are on a board, you have to do your best to mechanically isolate your mic from the source of unwanted noises. So get a mic and a shockmount and hope you don't break it 
If you are able to get the mic off the camera, you may have some luck with a PZM / Boundary style mic. They are usually actually omnidirectional, but they are very good at minimizing noise while providing a lot of coverage. It is the kind of thing you lay on the ground or tape on a wall. I think you can get the cheapo version of the Crown PZM for less than 100$. Other than that, your best bet is probably a shotgun or hypercartoid and have someone dedicated to pointing it at the skater.
If you are able to get the mic off the camera, you may have some luck with a PZM / Boundary style mic. They are usually actually omnidirectional, but they are very good at minimizing noise while providing a lot of coverage. It is the kind of thing you lay on the ground or tape on a wall. I think you can get the cheapo version of the Crown PZM for less than 100$. Other than that, your best bet is probably a shotgun or hypercartoid and have someone dedicated to pointing it at the skater.
I agree, skaters fall all the time!!! Plus, I want to hear the sounds emanating from grinds and slides from the board (down stairs, handrails, ledges, etc.) I don't want to hear the panting and breathing of the skater. Lavs aren't for this, I had a GL2 once with a dm-50 directional, that worked really well. I'm just trying to find an equivalent directional for the dvx.tigeba said:
MattinSTL
Sound Modulator
I didn't think about the falling and breaking part. That's a good point. I've taped a Lectro bodypack inside of a football uniform many times with no problems... and also inside of hocky pads... but it was under plastic.
For what you want to do any good mic should be good enough. For every mic question there's a flood of answers that you get on your own just by getting a good mic and experiementing with it for an hour.
An open lav on the chest would pick up the wheels and grinds as well as the voice of the skater.
If you have $1K or more to spend then I'd suggest: CS3e, or MKH-60, or 416
If you have about $500 to spend I'd suggest: AT-4073a
If you have $300 then I'd suggest: AT-897
If you have sub-$200 then I'd suggest: Oktava MK012 w/ Hyper (yes, even for outdoors)
All of these options still need a good shockmount and windscreen, which will add another $250-$350.
For what you want to do any good mic should be good enough. For every mic question there's a flood of answers that you get on your own just by getting a good mic and experiementing with it for an hour.
An open lav on the chest would pick up the wheels and grinds as well as the voice of the skater.
If you have $1K or more to spend then I'd suggest: CS3e, or MKH-60, or 416
If you have about $500 to spend I'd suggest: AT-4073a
If you have $300 then I'd suggest: AT-897
If you have sub-$200 then I'd suggest: Oktava MK012 w/ Hyper (yes, even for outdoors)
All of these options still need a good shockmount and windscreen, which will add another $250-$350.
you can place the tx where is your bolls are , if they would survive the crash so is your transmitter , in some cases they can make your bolls continue to work .
the lavalier can be placed on the chest , belt or on the snicker , depends how open you wont your scarboard sound, foam and fur are necessary not to get wind bumps on mike
the lavalier can be placed on the chest , belt or on the snicker , depends how open you wont your scarboard sound, foam and fur are necessary not to get wind bumps on mike
You can always hear the camera operator riding around with the skater. In some skate videos I have heard the video guy using his foot to slow down, I love that squeal of shoe on concrete...
If you have to be really quiet, then you need some really soft wheels. Check out some longboard wheels with really low durometer, they are damned quiet. Also get some quiet bearings, and soak them in baby oil. The wheels solution should cut tons of noise for under 50 bucks.
Mount the lav on the skater's foot... not a good idea. One ollie and that lav is dead. Does anyone in this particular thread skate?
If you have to be really quiet, then you need some really soft wheels. Check out some longboard wheels with really low durometer, they are damned quiet. Also get some quiet bearings, and soak them in baby oil. The wheels solution should cut tons of noise for under 50 bucks.
Mount the lav on the skater's foot... not a good idea. One ollie and that lav is dead. Does anyone in this particular thread skate?
Yeah, good point. Too much concentration on wacky ideas rather than keeping it simple has made this thread a little bit much? There is some skateboard videography site somewhere on the Internet, I wish I remembered what it was called or had the motivation to search for it because it has some good tips. Sleepytime now.