Handheld Mic is Noisy…Why?

[Brian Reynolds]

Wrong mic for the job…. Shure SM58 (and clones) are vocal mics designed for singers to SCREAM into, which means any handling noise will be way down in level compared to the audio signal.
SM 58’s can be used as an interview style mic BUT it needs to be VERY close to the mouth and talking at a loud level.

Typical interview mics used for news type jobs, the mics often used Electro voice RE50, Shure SM63, Shure VP64, Sennheiser MD42,+ others are most times are ‘omni directional’ rather than cardioid pattern mics.

[Craig Alan]

If you don’t want the omni pattern the Sennheiser MD46 is an excellent hand held. The shure is very nice on a stand. You could try getting a shock mount for it. Also, an xlr cable with a loose connection can add to the noise.

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Camcorders: Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV30/40, Sony Z7U, VX2000, PD170; FCP 6 certified; write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Norm Kaiser]

Thanks, guys, for replying!

Thank you for pointing out that tidbit about using an omni mic. That did not occur to me. Funny, right after reading your post, I read up on the matter on the Internet and one article summed up exactly what I was doing: I mistakenly concluded that a uni mic would be better to block out any ambient noise.

Now…back to the matter at hand, however.

I have run several experiments, but still no luck. I switched to a uni mic, no luck.

Here’s the deal — somehow it seems the mic is too hot. That is, if I just gently and smoothly run my thumb along the shaft of the mic, the camcorder picks that noise up.

I could try turning the mic level down on the camcorder, but then I worry my actual dialogue (interview audio) will be too low. The mic level is set pegged squarely in the middle of the level bar…which to a newb like me seems to be where it should be. But then why is it picking up all the handling noise?

[Buz Tarlow]

Hi

It is typical to rolloff everything below 80Hz which does help with mic handling and other noise as well. Some mics have a switch on mic for that but you can do it in post as well. Doing it in mic is usually best but not a big deal. In mic so you don’t use up your gain on noise. But post mic if you want to play with the starting point and steepness of the rolloff in post.

Hope this helps

[Norm Kaiser]

Thank you so much!

I’ve read many people suggest this. Problem is, I can seem to figure out how to do it in Vegas. I apply the equalizer effect thing in Vegas and tell the equalizer to drop everything under 80Hz, but it doesn’t seem to have any effect.

Can you or anyone give me some pointers?

Doesn’t have to be Vegas…can it be done in Audacity? If yes, I’d love to know how.

[Craig Alan]

Be more specific. What omni mike did you try? What camcorder? Most camcorders you want levels at or a tad over -12. You want the mike close to the source, the subject’s mouth in this case. ENG mikes should not pick up that much handling noise. But a poor connection (the cord or interconnect) will make it very noisy. Are you using an xlr to mini-plug cord or an xlr-xlr cord? Will you hear nose if you wiggle the cord near where you plug it in to the camcorder or mike end? Try using a velcro tie down to create a loop that will isolates the plug from any movement of the cord. On the xlr mike end if the cord is loose and noisy then you have a bad cord or a bad mike. You could try some gaffers tape around the connection but I would get a quality cord instead.

The two reasons reporters prefer the omni pattern is so they pick up the atmosphere of the location and so they can shoot with one mike often placed somewhat between them and their subject (though they do try to point it back and forth). And I’ve seen interviews in the field in which this choice backfires. The interview can be drowned out by the b.g. noise. But the mike companies do designate mikes as being for ENG which is news gathering. So these are designed to be hand held without much handling noise. Generally physically playing with the mike you will pick up noise. To learn about the characteristics of mikes try looking them up on BHphoto.

With audio, it’s best to record good sound and just balance levels out in post not try to edit out rumbling noise and such. Good mixers and some mikes have that 80 htz roll off but it does not fix mike handling noise. It helps with low muddy voices and a tad of low b.g. room noise.

Mac Pro, macbook pro, Imacs (i7); Canon 5D Mark III/70D, Panasonic AG-HPX170/AG-HPX250P, Canon HV40, Sony Z7U/VX2000/PD170; FCP 6 certified; FCP X write professionally for a variety of media; teach video production in L.A.

[Brian Reynolds]

In the original posting of this thread you mentioned the mic was a ‘clone of an SM58’… you mean by shape or by construction or by electrically similar.
Any chance of a make and model number?

[Norm Kaiser]

>>Be more specific. What omni mike did you try? What camcorder?

Camcorder is a Canon Vixia HF21.

I’ve tried three different mics: The Pyle PDMIC58. That’s the Shure clone. Then I tried the Radio Shack omni and the Radio Shack uni. Note that I have three different mics AND THREE DIFFERENT CORDS. Regardless of which mic I use, I get the same handling noise. So I assume the problem is not the cord.

>>Are you using an xlr to mini-plug cord or an xlr-xlr cord?

XLR to 1/4…and then I convert the 1/4 to a mini into the camcorder using an adapter.

>>Will you hear noise if you wiggle the cord near where you plug it in to the camcorder or mike end?

No. No noise. Connection is very snug.

[John Fishback]

There might be mechanical damage in the mic caused by rough handling or dropping. I’ve seen that happen.

John

MacPro 8-core 2.8GHz, 16 GB RAM, OS 10.8.4, QT10.1, Kona 3, Dual Cinema 23, ATI Radeon HD 5870, 24″ TV-Logic Monitor, ATTO ExpressSAS R380 RAID Adapter, PDE enclosure with 8-drive 6TB RAID 5
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[Norm Kaiser]

I thought that, too, but I’ve tried three different mics all with the same result.

Is it possible that the noise is due to the fact that the mics are dynamic, not condensers?