What is the most useful microphone?

[Tony Connoly]

I was wondering whether the NTG-2 was a good choice for both indoor and outdoor work. I had heard that it’s not as good indoors due to echo (although I would have thought a shotfun mic would help you avoid echos).

Is 2 feet a minimum? If I can get in closer, it’s not a good a idea?

Sorry to ask so many questions. I am trying things out myself, but any added wisdom helps too.

[Ty Ford]

here ya go..

https://gallery.me.com/tyreeford#100038

Listen on good monitors or really good headphones.

Regards,

Ty Ford

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[Tony Connoly]

I’m beginning to understand: microphones are like lenses to a photographer: you can never have enough of them and they’re expensive. The only difference is that there are no zoom mics!

Seriously, I appreciate your insights. Looking at the polar response chart of the Rode NTG-2, it seems that off-axis it picks up more low-frequences than it ought to. Do you think that the high-pass filter would be useful in dampening the off-axis low frequences when the sound you’re recording doesn’t include very low frequencies(for example a woman’s voice)?

[Ty Ford]

Tony,

Most women’s low resonance is below that of most men, but still in a useful range.

If you’re thinking lenses, think lighting.

If you could flag off the offending frequencies without affecting the ones you wanted, you’d be OK.

It’s the reflected sound that causes the problem with interference tube mics like the typical shotgun. Eliminate the reflections (as you would have on a sound stage) and you can use the shotgun. If you have simultaneous sound sources that are happening off axis to the shotgun on the sound stage, though, you will get unwanted leakage at the lower frequencies.

Regards,

Ty Ford

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