Looking for a good sounding Lavalier Mic

[Michael Gissing]

The mics that professional sound recordist provide would be my recommendation. that way you get a good mic and someone who knows how to use it and mix it.

Otherwise, buy DPA

[Neal Broffman]

Sony ECM-77

Neal Broffman
One Production Place, Atlanta, GA
“Voices of Freedom”, Special Jury winner for Fall 2008 CINE Awards produced for the High Museum of Art in Atlanta as part of a major exhibition of vintage Civil Rights Movement photographs, “Road To Freedom”. Currently on display in DC at The Smithsonian Institution followed by The Skirball Cultural Center in LA, then Seattle, Chicago and NYC.

[Matthew Campagna]

As a recording engineer for over 15 years, I must say that most lavalier microphoness don’t sound that good. I also know as a videographer that one needs to get around this issue. I suggest, from personal experience, that you check out https://www.countryman.com/
They have lots of excellent microphones to choose from. I own one of their head set microphones and use it for someone who does stability ball exercises and it works great. I used it for over 32 television episodes and I never had a problem. I also know that Yoga Today uses CountryMan headsets for their yoga productions. My understanding is that the Yoga Today’s microphones are pretty directional so you can avoid picking up a lot of the production/set noise which lends to an easier post production.

I know you are looking for a lavalier mic, so my suggestion is find someplace that carries CountryMan mics and rent one or try one in the store. If their lavalier microphones are as good as their headsets, I am sure you will be happy with their product.

Hope this helps.

MC

[Michael Sacci]

Two things I have learned about good audio people.

1) Good ones are worth their weight in gold.
2) NEVER ask any of them what Mic they would recommend.

Hire and rent until you are comfort to get the job done right yourself.

[David Roth weiss]

[Howard Ferguson] “we’re looking for a good sounding Lavalier for some studio Talking heads projects. “

Howard,

Your profile doesn’t even hint at where you’re located, so it’s tough to know what to recommend beyond the ubiquitous Sony ECM 77, which Neal has already recommended. If I knew you were in the States I’d recommend the Tram TR50, which you can see at https://www.trammicrophones.com/.

So, why not fill out your profile and become a real living, breathing member of the Cow community.

David

David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los Angeles

POST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™

A forum host of Creative COW’s Apple Final Cut Pro, Business & Marketing, and Indie Film & Documentary forums.

[Steve Oakley]

Sanken COS-11 is hands down the nicest sounding lav out there, mixes nicely with a CMC64(1), and quite reasonable. the countryman B6 is thin sounding, but if super small / hidable is important people use them. Tram TR-50 is mediocre at best, the sonotrim is the much better sounding version. ECM-44 is cheap, but so-so. ECM 55 is decent, but really big. ECM-66 is cardiod, skip it. ECM-77 ok, but I’ld still pic the COS-11. haven’t tried the ECM 88 but its pricey. DPA also makes some very nice ones…. and AT is junk… sorry.

[Howard Ferguson]

Thanks very much to all for your helpful advice, recommendations and comments !

It is very fortunate for us to receive this from such an experienced and knowledgeable group !

For this coming project, we’d like to record directly from the Panasonic AG-DVX100A
Into the computer, in realtime,
-and use a MOTU Traveler for the audio interface/mixer to the computer.
(I assume that’s better quality than the camera audio inputs ?)

We’d like to do this to save the time it would take loading at least one of the cameras data into the computer.

Is anyone familiar with the best way to do that ?

We’ll be using Final Cut 5.1.4 on this part of this project-
booted in OS 10.4.11 from an external 7200 rpm mirrored RAID, via Firewire 800.
On a MacBook Pro Santa Rosa model.

We’re in the formative stages of a project that may expand to significantly greater technical means as it develops, but for now- we’re starting off with the basics.
All the same-
we want these results to be the highest quality possible,
regardless of how the project develops.

Thanks again for your help !
Howard Ferguson

ps:
Also, I took a minute to pop some stuff in the profile.
Various clients have various systems for the video aspects of their projects, so I didn’t put that in the profile.

[Chris Poisson]

I hate lavs, because they look like shit and often stray to a lapel or shirt and cause undo noise. Also, I agree they don’t sound that good. We do all our voice recording with an Azden shotgun and are always pleased with the results.

Have a wonderful day.

[Scott Thomas]

I second that recommendation for the Countryman’s.

[Ty Ford]

Hello Chris,

Lavs don’t HAVE to be visible. The countryman B6 can hide in plain sight and secures pretty easily. It also sounds pretty darn good.

I agree with you that boom mics usually sound better than lavs, but there are times when you can’t get close enough with a boom mic to realize that difference.

If you like the Azden shotgun, you really like Audio Technica shotguns and you’ll really, really like the Schoeps CMIT shotgun. There’s a major difference there.

Also, for someone else reading this, a shotgun mic is not the only mic you want on the end of a boom. For interiors and any live, slappy environment, you want a hyper or supercardioid like an AT 4053b, Senneheiser MKH 50 or Schoeps cmc641,

Regards,

Ty Ford

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