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Type of mic for one on one interviews?
Can anyone suggest a microphone or type of microphone for recording one on one interviews with audio only. The setting would likely be sitting at a table or couches with microphones on a desk or coffee table recording a casual conversation.
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16 Replies
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Not clear whether you are talking about a microphone just for the interview subject, or a single microphone to be used for both interviewer and subject? Also not clear whether you are shooting video and whether the mic visible in the shot is acceptable or not?
1) It may be possible to find a microphone such as a (relatively exotic) figure-8 microphone that can be placed on a table with interviewer and subject on opposite sides facing each other. But this typically requires constant vigilence to be sure that both people remain within the working distance (no more than 18 inches) from the microphone. I wouldn’t recommend this for a beginner.
2) I can’t think of anything you could place on a coffee table and expect to get decent sound from someone on a couch. Way too far away. Unless you are talking about “transcription grade” audio where the only purpose is to transcribe the speech into written word (i.e. nobody is going to hear the recording)
The time-proven methods of doing this kind of interview is one of these options:
1) Use a sensitive hyper-cardioid (indoors) or “shotgun” (outdoors) microphone on a boom which is kept aimed at the subject’s mouth. The reasonable working distance is rarely greater than 2-3 feet depending on how loud the subject talks and the acoustics of the room and the ambient noise and how good the microphone is (sensitivity and self-noise, etc.) If the subject and the interviewer are close enough together, and if there is little incidence of talking over each other, it is possible for a good boom operator to use the same mic for both the interviewer and the subject. If you are using the mic for only one person (the subject, typically), and the subject is not moving, it is reasonable to put the microphone on a boom stand. But if you are using the mic for both subject and interviewer, or if the subject is moving around, you really need a skilled boom operator with headphones to monitor the microphone signal.
2) The interviewer can use a hand-held “stick mic” and hold it up to the subject’s mouth when they are speaking, or bring it back to their mouth when they are speaking. Again, it is possible to get good results with this method as long as the interviewer remembers to ALWAYS hold the mic close to the mouth of whomever is speaking. Note that most amateur interviewers quickly forget to do this and ruin the audio.
3a) Use a clip-on lavaliere microphone on the subject. Although most professional production sound people prefer the sound of a good boom mic (hyper or shotgun), the clip-on is the most sure-fire way for someone with limited experience and/or resources to get decent results. It is highly unlikely that you could expect to get decent sound from a single clip-on lav mic shared by both the subject and the interviewer. The interviewer needs their own microphone if the sound of the questions is important for the production. (Some styles edit out the interviewer and use only the subject’s dialog.)
3b) A variant of the clip-on lav is a “headset mic” which clips around the back of the head and rests on the ears (like a pair of eyeglasses worn backwards).
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Thank you for the feedback on this, I already have two Shure clip on wireless mics but was considering something more boom like. So for your suggestion two shotgun mics pointed respectively at the interviewer and subject would get the job done?
Oh and as far as how many mics, one for each subject. For this purpose it would be audio only but could also be video down the road.
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duplicate
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I already have two Shure clip on wireless mics but was considering something more boom like.
Why? What are you trying to accomplish? Is there some problem you are trying to fix?
So for your suggestion two shotgun mics pointed respectively at the interviewer and subject would get the job done?
1) I never suggested two shotgun mics. It is very rare to see two shotgun mics except on larger scale cine/video productions. Again, I have to wonder what you are trying to achieve by replacing your clip-on lavs (wireless or not) with shotgun(s)?
2) You never confirmed indoors vs. outdoors (or any of the other clarifying questions). But if this is indoors, you won’t find much favor for shotguns. There are typically too many close reflections indoors to permit shotgun mics to work properly. Please review my response where I mentioned hypercardioid mics for use indoors.
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1) The mobile recorded we have has XLR inputs which would allow me to use microphones that don’t need AC power like the clip on Lavs making the set up truly mobile.
2)Sorry, the interviews would likely all be indoors
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What kind of clip-on lavs require AC power? I’ve never heard of such a thing.
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They are wireless shure PG81’s. I think we have figured out the problem from reading these forums and some of your responses.
Thank you again for all your input. -
Ingo,
The PG81 is an instrument microphone that requires a mic clip and some sort of stand. I think you have your model number wrong.
In this situation, I would like to see each person with a lavalier microphone. They would be sent through a mixer and the mixperson would ensure that their relative levels are maintained for the recording.
If there isn’t a mixperson available, you could use an automatic mixer like the Shure SCM410 (with some adjustments to the default settings) or just record each person straight through and edit the cuts in post-production.
If you’ve found your solution, good. If not, keep asking questions. Actually, even if you HAVE found your solution, keep asking questions. 🙂
Wolf
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No matter what type of mike you use the basic physics is the same. They need to be close and directed at the speaker’s mouth. A major variable is the talent. If the talent knows how to use a mike that helps a lot. If this is run and gun and not professional/experienced talent then I would go with the clip on lavs. With those you can experiment with where to place them and basic settings. Then when you actually use them in the field you can adjust the levels to the speaker.
Booms require a boom pole operator for each mike. This is a difficult job that requires skill. For an interview I do not see the point unless its in a crowded news event and you do not have a feed from the mike stand.
MacPro4,1 2.66GHz 8 core 12gigs of ram. GPU: Nvidia Geoforce GT120 with Vram 512. OS X 10.6.x; Camcorders: Panasonic AG-HPX170, Sony Z7U, Canon HV30/40, Sony vx2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.
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Sorry you are right, we have the PG188/185 dual wireless set.
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