Good Mic for Boom Poles?

[CryStyle]

Hey! I am on the edge of buying a rode video mic, because my budget is $150 and I hear good reviews about it. I am planning to put this on a boom pole, but I hear it isn't very good quality on a boom pole because its a shotgun mic. Any other mic around $150 that is GREAT on a boom pole?

Thank you! :hv20-smilie77:

[HueyNRolf]

I hear it isn't very good quality on a boom pole because its a shotgun mic.

That's not why. The problem is that it's unbalanced, so long cable runs make it susceptible to signal interference. I'm not sure how much a low-cost-balanced shotgun mic costs, but you'll probably need to up the ante.

[CorbenT]

I built a 10ft boom pole with the Rode VM last year and it seems to work pretty well. I made sure I purchased the best cable possible to reduce noise nd interference. However, you should look into purchasing an XLR mic second hand off eBay etc. to get the best sound for your money.

[CryStyle]

I built a 10ft boom pole with the Rode VM last year and it seems to work pretty well. I made sure I purchased the best cable possible to reduce noise nd interference. However, you should look into purchasing an XLR mic second hand off eBay etc. to get the best sound for your money.

Can you link me to the cable you bought?

Or what kind of cable do i need to plug it in the rode video mic to the camcorder. Thanks =)

[CorbenT]

http://www.surplustronics.co.nz/shop/product-AL1020.html (It's in NZ dollars)

[cgbier]

The Azden SGM X1 (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/238826-REG/Azden_SGM_1X_SGM_1X_Shotgun_Mic.html) is not much more expensive than the VideoMic. While I wouldn't call it top notch it is not that bad (http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/azden_1x_shotgun_mic_douglas.html).

[Seo]

There are a couple pretty basic requirements for a boom mic.

First of all, it has to be directional. If you put an omni on a boom, it wouldn't be very useful since you wouldn't be able to control the direction in which it's picking up sound from. That's why the least directional mic you ever see put on a boom is a cardioid, and the most common types are shotguns and hypercardioids.

Second, it should be a balanced mic. It should have a balanced line, a balanced signal, and a balanced body. A good example of a mic like this is the MKH416, a common workhouse shotgun used in both Hollywood and ENG applications. An example of an unbalanced mic, which is what you don't want, is the Rode VideoMic. Personally, I don't like this mic for this very reason, and I wouldn't recommend you get it.

The mic you choose to put on a boom pole depends on what it's going to be used for. In most indoor situations, you'll use a hypercardioid. In most outdoor situations, you'll want a shotgun. Depending upon that, you can make your decision. I've spoken about hypers and shotguns a bunch already on this forum so you can easily find some relevant posts on this subject.

[arbi_ph]

Im kinda dumb when it comes to specs....

I got a Rode M3 (http://www.rodemic.com/microphone.php?product=M3) and I don't know if this would be good enough for boom pole operation.

This mic is a workhorse in my Recordings Studio but I dont know if this will be good film making mic.

Anybody who has experience with this?

http://www.rodemic.com/images/mics/m3_001.jpg

http://www.rodemic.com/images/mics/m3_accessories2.jpg

[Seo]

1. It's a cardioid, not quite directional enough so it won't perform as well as the other mics on the market.

2. It's heavy. Heavier than what are more commonly used in sound for film and TV, such as the AT4053b and the CK93/SE300b combo.

So it's not suitable. It won't give you the best sound, nor will it be easy to boom.

[Janke]

If you're close enough, won't a semi-shotgun on camera work?

Here's what I built today for an old Sennheiser; I'll post how-to instructions in the DYI subforum.

[Seo]

Semi-shotgun? What's that? Do you mean a shorty?

Having the mic perpendicular to the ground isn't a good idea, since you could pickup a lot of the background noise. The ground is a lot more silent that your surroundings.

And plus, you'll never be close enough. You need to keep the mic 18 or so inches from your talent most of the time, and I highly doubt you'll be getting that close with your camera. I certainly wouldn't want a camera 3 feet in front of me.

[Janke]

1. Semi-shotgun? What's that? Do you mean a shorty?

2. Having the mic perpendicular to the ground isn't a good idea


1. Since Sennheiser have a longer shotgun than this, which isn't very short, I called it a "semi"...

2. Surely you mean parallel, not perpendicular?

3. This setup of mine is mostly for outdoor filming. I will need to kill and skin a cat, too, of course. ;)

[Seo]

The ME80 is usually referred to as a long shotgun. Semi-shotgun AFAIK isn't a legitimate term. So stick with long shotgun I guess.

Yes yes, I meant parallel. You want your mic to be more or less perpendicular. And to think I have an upcoming math test this week... ugh...

Outdoor filming... and? Still going to need a boom.

[Janke]

Outdoor filming... and? Still going to need a boom.

Not for my planned production, where I'll shoot newsreel-like interviews, being the interviewer myself, behind the camera, with the interviewee about 2 ft in front of me, almost licking the dead cat... ;) I'll have my lav on one channel, the victim's Sennheiser on the other.

[Seo]

Ah, right... funny how you respond to another guy's thread asking about boom mics with your own special situation... I get your point though.

[Janke]

Sorry for the "hijacking" - it all started with my question "If you're close enough, won't a semi-shotgun on camera work?" - and I got carried away...

Seriously Seo, would you say the ME80 (or a similar, modern one) would be good on a boom? (Then you'd need a boom operator or a stand, too, of course...)

[Seo]

IMO the NTG-2 is a better performer than both the ME66 and ME80, an opinion also shared by Matt Gettemeier.

But yes, it'd do decently on a boom. Not worth it for the price though.

[CryStyle]

Haha so do you guys think an Azden SGM X1 is better than a Rode Video Mic for mounting on a boom pole?

and also i want to buy a good enough wire to connect it from the mic to the camcorder. I dont have enough money for an XLR adapter or whatever. I am willing to pay around $35 for the 3.5mm cord. suggestions? :hv20-smilie15:

[HueyNRolf]

Janke,

Shotgun mics reject noise from the sides. That's why they're boomed. If you use it on the camera, because it's horizontal, it'll pick up noise from behind the subject.

CryStyle,
Use a regular XLR cable and an impedance matching transformer, if you don't terminate the balanced signal correctly your cable run will be unbalanced and lose its immunity to signal interference:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/589872-REG/Pearstone_8111240_LMT100_Low_to.html

[CryStyle]

Janke,

Shotgun mics reject noise from the sides. That's why they're boomed. If you use it on the camera, because it's horizontal, it'll pick up noise from behind the subject.

CryStyle,
Use a regular XLR cable and an impedance matching transformer, if you don't terminate the balanced signal correctly your cable run will be unbalanced and lose its immunity to signal interference:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/589872-REG/Pearstone_8111240_LMT100_Low_to.html

Azden SGM X1 - $159
Rode Video Mic - $150

Which would be better for mounting on a boom pole?


And can you link me to the correct XLR cable i need to buy so i dont buy the wrong one? I dont wanna be cheap on XLR cables so please show me a decent one.

Also, is that matching transformer cable connected to the mic THEN the XLR or the other way, or it doesnt matter.


THANK YOU, i know its a long question sorry!

[HueyNRolf]

Azden SGM X1 - $159
Rode Video Mic - $150

Which would be better for mounting on a boom pole?

See my post (#2)


And can you link me to the correct XLR cable i need to buy so i dont buy the wrong one? I dont wanna be cheap on XLR cables so please show me a decent one.

I entered 'XLR cable' in the B&H search and found:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=xlr+cable&N=0&InitialSearch=yes


Also, is that matching transformer cable connected to the mic THEN the XLR or the other way, or it doesnt matter.

Have a good look at that transformer/ adaptor I linked. I can see only one way it could be connected. But, the 3.5mm jack goes to the camera and the XLR cable goes in the other end.

[CryStyle]

See my post (#2)



I entered 'XLR cable' in the B&H search and found:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=xlr+cable&N=0&InitialSearch=yes



Have a good look at that transformer/ adaptor I linked. I can see only one way it could be connected. But, the 3.5mm jack goes to the camera and the XLR cable goes in the other end.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/68097-REG/Audio_Technica_AT8314_10_3_pin_XLR_Male_to.html

Is that a good one? 10 feet is enough for me. Has some good reviews.

Thanks Huey, your a life saver!

[Shigeta]

General rule of thumb, especially if you are booming it, have an extra ten feet. There shouldn't be much of a price difference, and it's better to have too much rather than too little, unless you're working with unbalanced 3.5mm, of course.

[cgbier]

Allown the fact that the Azden is an XLR mic makes it better for booming. That thing is about 100 bucks to cheap. Read the test at Ken Stone I linked to.
Another advantage of the Azden is that it runs on an AAA battery, so it doesn't need phantom power. Goes directly via a 20 dollar transformer into the HV.
A cable can't be long enough. If you have a soldering iron in the house, you can roll your own ones to exactly the length you need it. But remember: A cable can never be too long.

[CryStyle]

Allown the fact that the Azden is an XLR mic makes it better for booming. That thing is about 100 bucks to cheap. Read the test at Ken Stone I linked to.
Another advantage of the Azden is that it runs on an AAA battery, so it doesn't need phantom power. Goes directly via a 20 dollar transformer into the HV.
A cable can't be long enough. If you have a soldering iron in the house, you can roll your own ones to exactly the length you need it. But remember: A cable can never be too long.

I want to mount the Azden SGM-1X on a boom pole, do you have to have a beachtek adapter? I'm on a budget. Can't i just use an impedance matching transformer cable

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/68097-REG/Audio_Technica_AT8314_10_3_pin_XLR_Male_to.html#re views

Pearstone LMT100
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/589872-REG/Pearstone_8111240_LMT100_Low_to.html

[cgbier]

No, you don't need a Beachtek. The LMT100 does the trick.

[CryStyle]

No, you don't need a Beachtek. The LMT100 does the trick.

Okay thanks =)

THREAD CLOSED. :hv20-smilie45: