Basic boom questions

[David C jones]

Hi Stan

To answer your questions:

1. In general, it is ideal to have the mic as close as possible without being in the shot, but if you are doing it all yourself, you would put the mic one to two feet overhead (depending on the shot), and slightly in front of you.

2. You can point the mic at your mouth but you have to make sure you don’t move in and out of the axis or there will be changes in volume and tone. You can also point it at the bottom of your sternum. That way, you will be speaking into the loeb (the width of the pickup pattern).

4. You can check out an article for free on booming at http://www.equipmentemporium.com. Just click on Articles about Prod Sound, then the one about booming. Or you could buy Ty’s book :o)

[Stan Welks]

Hi David,

“2. You can point the mic at your mouth but you have to make sure you don’t move in and out of the axis or there will be changes in volume and tone.”

I will be facing the camera when speaking, however, there will be times that I will need to turn to my side to do something on a laptop that will be in front of me on a table. Will this be a problem? I am doing this all myself so there will not be anyone to help reposition the boom, that is why it will be on a c-stand. Should I be using a lav instead?

Thank you!

[David C jones]

If you’re going to be moving like you described, I would go with a lav. Unless what you’re doing with the laptop won’t be a part of the program and so you wouldn’t be speaking at that point.

[Ty Ford]

Hello Stan and welcome to the Cow Audio Forum.

Thanks Dave 😉

Stan, in your case I would use a Countryman E6 over the ear mic. You can see (and hear( the one I use on this Youtube piece.

https://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=-rFHwXWHpcA

Both guys are wearing E6. They can turn their heads anyway they want and they are still on mic. Listen to how present they sound. Sure they are in my acoustically-treated audio studio, but the mic element is 2 inches from their mouths. Head turns (even they are not doing much of that) are not a problem.

Regards,

Ty Ford

Want better production audio?: Ty Ford’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide
Watch Ty play guitar

[Stan Welks]

Hi Ty,

The Countryman sounds great. However, my concern is that it will draw too much attention to the mic in front of my face during my video. I could not really see it in the YouTube video, partially because of YouTube compression. Curious why you recommend this over a lav.

Thanks!

[Ty Ford]

Hello Stan,

It’s not in front of your face, It’s on your cheek when positioned properly. In fact putting it in front of your face would be a big mistake. It would pop like crazy.

If you cheat the talent a bit to one side you never even see it.

I am loading a file called Josh Guitar 2 final to my online server at http://www.tyford.com. Much less compression. Yes he has a beard, but I’m using the black E6 on him. The fleshtone E6 blends in a lot better on regular skin.

I thought I made it clear why I choose the E6 over a lav. Go figure. It’s because the mic is closer to the mouth and head turns don’t effect it.

The networks are using them.

Regards,

Ty Ford

Want better production audio?: Ty Ford’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide
Watch Ty play guitar

[Stan Welks]

Hi Ty,

Thanks for your advice and info! I looked at your site, though I did not see the file.

Thanks!

[Stan Welks]

Based on the excellent info in this thread I have moved away from the idea of using a boom for this particular shoot, though I still have some questions about them. I am including links to pictures of equipment I have available to me.

Boompole left side
https://www.flickr.com/photos/12872593@N06/2702491346/

Boompole right side
https://www.flickr.com/photos/12872593@N06/2702491386/

1. What piece is missing that will enable me to connect the boom mic to this pole?

2. These two boom pole holders for c-stands do not seem particularly stable, unless I am using them wrong. Does anyone have any recommendations for equipment to connect to c-stands to hold booms?

Boom holder A
https://www.flickr.com/photos/12872593@N06/2701684355/

Boom holder B
https://www.flickr.com/photos/12872593@N06/2701685311/

Thanks!

[David C jones]

Hi Stan

I took a look at your other photos you had posted and I noticed the boom arm on the c-stand; you don’t want to use the (c-stand) boom arm with ether boompole mount.

First, put a 2 1/2 grip head on the c-stand and put the boom pole mount in the smaller opening of the grip head (so the boompole mount is parallel with the floor).

Second, put a sandbag on the long leg of the c-stand.

Third, extend the (mic) boompole (from the smallest end) until it is as long as you need to keep the stand out of the shot and out of the way. Put the pole in the boom mount and adjust the stand so the long leg w/sandbag is opposite the front of the pole where the mic will be (this adjustment should be done before you mount the pole).

As far as your question about the boom pole, I can’t really tell what’s missing. It looks like you’re missing the thread mount on the end of it which makes it totally useless; you need to be able to mount a shockmount on the pole for the mic. Can you take some clearer pics of it? What brand is it?

[Stan Welks]

Just came across this video where it appears the person is wearing a lav and something around his ear. I can’t imagine that he is wearing both a lav, and mic similar to the Countryman you are recommending. Any idea what it is around his ear?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/12872593@N06/2704738072/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/12872593@N06/2704738066/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/12872593@N06/2704738072/in/photostream/