Josh Levine
Forum Replies Created
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Hmmm, yeah, I could go for a handheld as well. If I were to keep my groups at 2 people (for now), what would be a few wired lavs I could do? Can you guys recommend a few in different price classes?
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Ty, I’m doing a movie on graffiti writers in my city. Most of the interviews will be one-on-ones, but I want to get group interviews as well to capture their interactions. For example, I may have 4-5 people in a room in seated in chairs or on a couch, I’ll give them a subject, and let them talk. I can do a cardioid mic on a boom, but in a situation like that, I’d anticipate the conversation bouncing around a lot. It could be hard to follow the conversation using a boom, especially with an amateur operator. I understand my conditions aren’t ideal, and I also realize mt budget is even less ideal. All I’m looking for is some advice on how to accomplish what I want as best as I can within my financial means. I’ve thought about wired lavs as well, but I can’t afford 4 wired lavs right now. So… I’m stuck and hoping you pros can offer some advice!
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Thanks all of you for the responses.
The documentary is, I guess, what you guys call “run-n-gun.” It’s about graffiti in San Francisco in the 1980’s, which was our golden era for graffiti. Since there’s little actual footage (for obvious reasons), the doc will depend heavily on interviews and photo stills. I plan to show it locally (maybe at film festivals, if I pull this off) and release it on DVD.
Most the interviews will be one-on-ones outdoors in the City. However, most won’t be in as challenging a location as the back of a bus. Some will be indoors, and there will be several group interviews, which I’ll keep indoors to make it easier on myself. The interviews won’t be Mike Wallace style, with a back and forth. Interviews will be used to get video clips and/or sound bytes, so there interviewer won’t be featured in the film.
I have audio experience as a mixer, and my stepfather is an ex-pro mixer, so I’m decently experienced with that end, but I have little to no experience in actually capturing audio.
I bought the G2, and I think I may buy a wired lav as a backup, but I still need a mic for indoor group recording. I’ve given in to the idea of using a boom mic, so recommendations for the best I can get in the $300-400 range would be great. (I have good studio monitor headphones and extra XLR cables already.)
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The shotgun mic probably would only be used for indoor environments, interviewing small groups of people. The lav would be for individual interviews outside.
So, saying I up it to about $1100 and destroy my credit – haha – what then? Are the Sennheiser G2’s a decent bet? How about the ME66 for a shotgun (for inside)?
I mean, I understand I’m not going to get Lucasfilm quality. That’s a given. But I’m sure a $400-500 mic must be better than, say, a $50 Radio Shack one, right…? What’s the lesser of evils, then, in mics within my range? (I’ll check out the AT shotgun.)