Wind problems

Just starting with the new HVX200A. I plugged the mic (Shure SM58) in input 2 and put the wind shield (foam) on the mike. It was a bit windy, but not that much. I don't understand why I hear the wind on the registered clip (I am using P2 card). Also the sound is a bit muffled. Could it be because of the type of mike that I am using?
 
The SM58 is a great all-purpose mic, but not exactly designed for audio-for-video use. Also, the foam windscreen which comes with it is designed to help minimize the popping and blowing noises of the human voice when a few inches away. It really will do next to nothing to cut down on wind on a windy day.
 
yeah, thats not exactly a video mic. its more a live singing mic.

and again, yeah. if youre shooting in the wind youre gonna need a blimp AND a softie to effectively kill wind noise.

also keep in mind, youre going to have 4 audio tracks, 2 being your 58 and 2 more of which will be the on camera mic. you can kill those two tracks and it MIGHT make things better
 
Which mike should I buy

Which mike should I buy

I went to a local music store and even though I told him it was attached to a camera for interviews that is what he suggested. I paid a hundred dollars... Maybe he did not know that much about mikes for other purposes than music.

What would you suggest as a good mike and how much should I pay?

Thank you very much for your replies...
 
I would recommend getting the "Sound" DVD from this forum. It will answer all your questions and aid you in acquiring the proper equipment. And take that other mic back.
 
I would recommend getting the "Sound" DVD from this forum. It will answer all your questions and aid you in acquiring the proper equipment. And take that other mic back.

Great advice on which types of mikes to use for every occasion Take the mike back and buy the DVD. You won't regret it.
 
What they said. The Sound DVD is a GREAT resource, especially if you have little or no experience with sound aspects of shooting video.
 
NEVER buy camera audio gear from a music store. the sales folks there rarely know about audio for video. you bought a good live show singing mic.

so are you specifically looking for a handheld mic? (like for interviews) or would a shotgun or lavalier do the trick

eh, i have to disagree. i dont care for that sound DVD at ALL! i bought it and sold it the next day
i think its WAY too rudimentary to be useful and too advanced to be rudimentary.

youd be better off just telling us here what youre trying to do. and we can guide you.
 
My experience is most employees at music stores don't even know what they are doing when it comes to live sound, let alone what it takes to get good audio in the field with a camera involved.

Take the mic back for a refund, unless you want to sing on a stage. That mic, although very respectable in its own right, is virtually useless in the video world. For the same money you can buy a low-end condenser mic for VO that sounds much better.

Read these two killer articles by Dan Brockett over at Ken Stone's Website:

http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/lavs_brockett.html
http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/right_mic_brockett.html

Sound clips to listen to and should enlighten you on shotgun and lav mics.

In the wind, you will need without fail, some sort of zeppelin (a capsule covered in synthetic hair with a shotgun mic enclosed inside). I use an Audio Technica AT897 Shotgun (a nice mid-range priced mic that has a great sound quality for the money), the mic mounts to my camera with a K-Tek shock mount. Lastly, I have a Lightwave Equalizer which is a low-cost half-zeppelin. I plan to upgrade to a full zeppelin soon since it is the only real effective way to eliminate wind noise. I shoot in a high wind area all the time and the Equalizer starts to fail in wind above 20 MPH or so.
 
We want to make interviews outside and inside. I heard that the lav mike is good for inside, but that there would be problems with the wind for outside use. I am looking for a good mike and windshield for interviews outside.
 
outside and inside mics

outside and inside mics

We want to make interviews inside and outside. I heard that the lav is mostly for inside because of the wind? We mostly need a good mike for interviews outside (hand held mike) but it could be mounted on the camera sometimes for voice coming up to 4 - 5 feet from the lens.
 
Yeah, the SM58 is really only useful if the voice is no more than 4 or 5 INCHES from the mic, and its usually "eaten" by singers on stage.

The other guys have given some good advice: take it back, don't ever ask for advice from someone at a music store ever again, and get a good shotgun mic. A good shotgun mic will be a LOT more expensive, but it will serve you much better in the long run. It can also be used indoors for interviews and as long as you can keep your boom operator out of your frame, you'll actually probably get better results with that than you would with a lav. Wireless mics are typically the very last resort just because of all the potential problems that can crop up.
 
Back
Top