• Audio

  Mic selection

  Posted by Rob Dunford on December 12, 2019 at 2:38 pm

  I don’t do a lot of location sound (mainly video interviews), but I have a small event coming up and need some advice on mic type.
  It’s a small meeting with about 12 folk in one room. The people will sit in a semicircle and the presenters standing at the centre.
  The presenters will have a wireless handheld mic.
  I’d like to place a mic on the camera, placed outside the circle.
  I have a choice with my AT 8000 series. One is an omni capsule and the other is the cardioid capsule.
  The room could be quite acoustically live, so I am thinking the omni will keep that to a minimum.

  Ty Ford replied 6 years, 5 months ago 3 Members · 3 Replies
• 3 Replies

• 

  Rob Dunford

  December 12, 2019 at 2:39 pm

  Forgot to mention, I also have the AT stereo mic that I could use.
• 

  Robert Withers

  December 13, 2019 at 6:12 am

  Hi Rob,
  I would expect an omni would _emphasize_ the “liveness” of the room rather than reduce it.
  Best,
  Robert

  Robert Withers

  Independent/personal/avant-garde cinema, New York City
• 

  Ty Ford

  December 15, 2019 at 5:30 pm

  Hello Rob and welcome to the Cow Audio Forum.

  As Robert suggests, an omni will make things worse.

  A great deal depends on the size of the room, the acoustics of the room and how far apart the twelve people will be seated.

  Also, a great deal depends on your or your client’s expectations.

  You say the presenters will be using handheld wireless mics. What will the receivers be feeding?

  The easiest solution would be to have one or two wireless handheld mics that are passed among the 12 people so their voices can be recorded. Levels may vary considerably from person to person. You’re pretty past the level at which one person can do this shoot properly. A professional location audio person with the right gear is your best bet. Not cheap, but welcome to the next level of your business as a shooter!!

  Bear in mind that when you report this to your client, he or she may say, “No. Too expensive!!” Your answer to which should be, “Well, I can not guarantee that you will like the quality of the finished product. We are fighting the laws of physics. That’s always a losing battle.”

  OTOH, if their expectations are very low, it might not be what a pro wants to hear, but it might be OK for them.

  Regards,

  Ty Ford
  Cow Audio Forum Leader

  Want better production audio?: Ty Ford\’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide
  Ty Ford Blog: Ty Ford\’s Blog

Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up