When do I want to use...

A

armadillo

Well-known member
I just wanted some clarification on a couple types of microphones and when I would want to use them. I have gotten some conflicting information in various forums and also conflicting information from 'experts' in speciality stores.

When do I want to use

(a) Directional shotgun mic

(b) Omnidirectional shotgun mic

(c) Hypercardioid mic

Examples of situations would be outdoor dialogue, outdoor ambience, indoor dialogue... Thanks in advance and yes, I have searched the forum before posting this question.
 
a) shotgun is a directional mic (usually used out doors)
b) oxymoron no such thing see a (an omnidirectional microphone is sometimes used for interviews for radio, very rarely in film. It can also be used to pick up ambiance's but see below.
c) usually used indoors

Collecting ambiance's for post purposes should be done in stereo. A pair of cardioids works well. Omni's in a pinch but Hypers are too narrow
 
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Thanks so far. I was already familiar with the wikipedia page but I appreciate the link.

Would it be fair to say that if you are shooting dialogue indoors then (small to medium sized room), you want a hypercardioid? And if you are shooting outdoors, eg. outdoor dialogue between two people, you want a shotgun mic on a boompole?

This was my understanding before, but I received some advice today from an expert that has thrown me off a bit.
 
armadillo said:
Thanks so far. I was already familiar with the wikipedia page but I appreciate the link.

Would it be fair to say that if you are shooting dialogue indoors then (small to medium sized room), you want a hypercardioid? And if you are shooting outdoors, eg. outdoor dialogue between two people, you want a shotgun mic on a boompole?

This was my understanding before, but I received some advice today from an expert that has thrown me off a bit.
Click to expand...

The actual polar pattern is the thing to look at and whether or not the environment is reflective is the issue rather than indoors or outdoors per se. A hyper- or supercardioid patterned mic can be used both indoors and out and in either case is best boomed so you can get it close enough to the talent. A lobar-patterned shotgun is best reserved for a non-reflective environment - that usually means outdoors but an acoustically treated soundstage would be an example of an indoors non-reflective space while an interview filmed outdoors in the middle of a hard-paved parking lot or standing close to a brick building could very well have off-axis reflections hitting the mic so take the simple "outdoors" and "indoors" distinction with a grain of salt.
 
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ullanta said:
I know what an oxymoron is! Send the wiki to Noiz!
Click to expand...

Well actually there definition fits, though "contradiction in terms" might be slightly more correct. However since I have heard marketing dept. call something a "omni shotgun" oxymoron is probably a better fit.

What did you think it meant?
 
tigeba said:
Noiz,

The word you were looking for is: redundant
Click to expand...

Oh damn Sorry guys. I was thinking b and the omni shotgun, and my fingers betrayed me.
Apologies all around.
SK

I've changed the post to what I thought I had written...
 
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Ugh, well thanks for all the definitions and discussions of oxymorons...

Anyway, should I then use this dichotomy:

(a) Hypercardioid for reflective environments

and

(b) Shotgun mic for non-reflective environments?
 
armadillo said:
Ugh, well thanks for all the definitions and discussions of oxymorons...

Anyway, should I then use this dichotomy:

(a) Hypercardioid for reflective environments

and

(b) Shotgun mic for non-reflective environments?
Click to expand...

Hyper/Super could be used in either environment, classical shotgun for non-reflective environments when you need a little more reach or isolation than the hyper gives you. But look at the polar pattern instead of just simply classifying a mic as a shotgun or not - the line-gradient shotgun has very distinctive lobes at about 120 and 240 degrees but the actual pattern varies with frequency more than other types and can almost become omni at ends of the frequency spectrum - that's what gives you the issues with them. A super- might physically look very similar and even be called a 'shotgun' but have a smoother response pattern over a wider range of frequencies and minus the lobes. Look at the patterns before buying.
 
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