why does my at 897 sound so weak

K

kyleb

Well-known member
ok guys, i'm using the 897 with the HVX 200. using input 1 (switch is on mic) and i have it input 1 on the channel input on the side. external mic is off with no battery installed. i've tried it with and without a battery and turning my HVX 200 volume all the way up it still sounds weak. this shotgun seems to be only good if i'm right up on the intended target (about 10 ft or less).
i've searched the site and found some recommendations but what i would like to know is the settings you guys use on the HVX200. i'm about to toss this mic in favor of something else.

help !!! :kali:
 
Do you have phantom power on? Without a battery installed in the mic, you must power it from the cam. There is a switch on the HVX to turn phantom on, it may be labeled 48v.

And, 10ft is pretty far out for any mic to record quality audio. You need to be closer; less than 3' is a good number. Nothing will perform very well at 10'+.

The AT897 can do the work. It isn't in upper range of quality sound, but it is decent given good operation. I still use one for a backup, and having the battery power option is a good thing, only a few mics have that feature.

Grant
 
kyleb said:
ok guys, i'm using the 897 with the HVX 200. using input 1 (switch is on mic) and i have it input 1 on the channel input on the side. external mic is off with no battery installed. i've tried it with and without a battery and turning my HVX 200 volume all the way up it still sounds weak. this shotgun seems to be only good if i'm right up on the intended target (about 10 ft or less).
i've searched the site and found some recommendations but what i would like to know is the settings you guys use on the HVX200. i'm about to toss this mic in favor of something else.

help !!! :kali:
Click to expand...

As ggrantly said. There is no mic made that will give you that 'up close and personal' Hollywood sound quality from 10 feet or more out, there simply is no such thing as a 'telephoto for sound' that captures distant dialog. If you're recording normal human speech, I suspect what you're getting is perfectly normal for the distance you're trying to work. Even if you scrap it and go with a top-shelf 'gun like the $2500 Schoeps CMIT5, at 10 feet you're not likely to hear any difference. The normal working distance for such a mic would be in the range of about 30" from the speaker's mouth, with an aiming tolerance of around +/- 15 degrees on either side of dead centre on his throat and upper chest.
 
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