Stab Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 So I'm in the market for a (cheap) shotgun microphone that I will mainly use to record the priest / speaker during wedding ceremonies and for voices of people up close. Actually, I won't use it so much on the camera itself.The reason why the Rode Videomic Pro comes to mind as a possible canditate, is because of it's +20 DB setting. This gives much better and especially 'cleaner' audio when recording directly to the camera, in this case a GH3 or a G6.So actually, it doesn't need to be a on-camera-mic but it should be a good sounding shotgun, like the Videomic Pro, with a hot noiseless signal. The +20 DB and the price are the only reasons I'm after the videomic, so maybe you guys know any similary prices alternatives?There is the Shure VP83(F) lenshopper which is around the same price. Again an on-camera-mic, with a +20 db setting. There is also the 'F' version which has it's own flash recorder built-in, which is very nice but a bit more pricey.See here:http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/966010-REG/shure_vp83f_condenser_shotgun_mic.htmlAny other mics I should consider?I don't want to use lavs and if possible no other mics which require senders / receivers. I would like to use it directly plugged in to the camera so again, a 'hot' signal is required.If you know anything, let me know.Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzynormal Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 With audio, it's not so much about the mic as it is with mic placement...just saying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stab Posted January 8, 2015 Author Share Posted January 8, 2015 Thanks Fuzzy.I know, that's why I'm not planning to use the mic on the camera, but close to the speaking person! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Naylor Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 Placement aside, mics definitely make a difference. For the money, Rode is hard to beat. I've tested it against mice that were 2x-3x the price and I preferred the Rode. If $ were no object, I'd get a Shoeps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Palmer Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 *(forgot you said it didn't need to be on camera)http://www.amazon.com/TAKSTAR-SGC-598-Photography-Interview-Microphone/dp/B00E58AA0I/ref=sr_1_sc_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1420751673&sr=8-2-spell&keywords=takstar+shot+gun+mic$35. its got a +10Db switchI bought one of these just to check it out and to have better backup sound when recording to separate devices. Ive seen some pretty good comparisons on youtube between this and the Rode Video Mic (not the pro one i think). Its really not too bad, considering the price. Pretty good indoors. I dont really have that great of an ear for picking up small differences in audio equipment though, so I am not the best person to ask.I think I read some where that this mic is manufactured by the same company that manufactures Rode's stuff too. not sure though Cinegain 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinegain Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 I've got the same as John just mentioned (Takstar is a pretty big brand in CN, http://takstar.tmall.com , the HI2050 and Pro80 for example are pretty popular (head-fi) headphones as well) and a HTDZ HT-81 shotgun mic (eBay) paired with a Zoom H1.Also tried the PL-MIC02 from iShoot, this one is utter crap though. But the Takstar SGC-598 I'd say is a fair option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzynormal Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 not planning to use the mic on the camera, but close to the speaking personOn a mic stand? Boom? If you need to get an innocuous mic into a wedding ceremony, shouldn't it be a wireless lav system? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stab Posted January 8, 2015 Author Share Posted January 8, 2015 On a mic stand? Boom? If you need to get an innocuous mic into a wedding ceremony, shouldn't it be a wireless lav system?Yes usually we use a small mic stand on the table of the speaker. Very 'minimal' setup IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzynormal Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 Yes usually we use a small mic stand on the table of the speaker. Very 'minimal' setup IMO.I know you don't want to do it, but the best audio solution would be a wireless lav. I don't think you'd be able to grab better audio with a shotgun in a big room. You can use a shotgun such as the MKH-416, but unless it's close to the subject it's not going to sound all that great. Cutting corners on getting good audio would be a mistake IMHO. For what it's worth, I've used the Sennheiser ew100 without any problems for a few years. Good luck regardless! Stab 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Hughes Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 Are you going to be running the mic into the camera via a long cable, or into a nearby recorder? Either way, you're going to be running some kind of cable, so think about buying a wired lav mic, which would be much cheaper than a wireless system. Keep in mind that running a 1/8" cable long distances may introduce noise into your signal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stab Posted January 9, 2015 Author Share Posted January 9, 2015 I know you don't want to do it, but the best audio solution would be a wireless lav. I don't think you'd be able to grab better audio with a shotgun in a big room. You can use a shotgun such as the MKH-416, but unless it's close to the subject it's not going to sound all that great. Cutting corners on getting good audio would be a mistake IMHO. For what it's worth, I've used the Sennheiser ew100 without any problems for a few years. Good luck regardless!At the moment we use my friend's Sennheiser ME66 with a wireless sender / receiver and then use that directly into the GH3 or G6. So no preamp there. That sounds really great. We position it on the table of the speaker, so never more than 50 cm / 2 feet from the subject. We've always been really happy with the result.I want to buy something similar, but I don't have the budget at the moment for the ME66, power module and wireless solution. But it has been proven that this setup works.So a shotgun mic with 80% of the quality (like a Rode Videmic Pro for instance), directly into the camera or a nearby recorder (I have a Zoom R8) will probably sound very very decent. I just want to be able to plug it in directly into the camera as well when the situation permits, for obvious reasons. Saves time in editing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xavier Plagaro Mussard Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 I didn't read all the answers, but if you are working in a church, placement is 99% of success. A little recorder, like a Zoom H1, can make "miracles"... ;-DD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
animan Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 So uhm, why not the Rode video mic pro? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stab Posted January 9, 2015 Author Share Posted January 9, 2015 So uhm, why not the Rode video mic pro?It will probably be the Rode, but I'm hoping to hear some alternatives as well. Maybe even better quality, cheaper, etc. What I don't like about the Rode is the clumsy shockmount, the use of a 9v battery and the lack of any battery life indication.Anyone having experience with the Shure VP83? Is it a better mic?Or even the Rode videomic GO? Which is much cheaper and doesn't need a battery? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stab Posted January 9, 2015 Author Share Posted January 9, 2015 And what about an external recorder, for instance the Zoom H2N plugged in directly into the GH3. Would that give me a hot enough signal? That mic seems to sound great from a small distance as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzynormal Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 I'm hoping to hear some alternatives as well. Maybe even better quality, cheaper, etc.Here's the Azden SGM2x on location from a b-roll excerpt. You can see my co-director in the upper left of the screen holding the shotgun about 3.5 feet from the guy at which she points the mic, and the pickup the mic gets from the woman in which she does NOT aim the shotgun. The mic was plugged directly into a Zoom H1.The audio compression of these clips I made is probably too high, but this should give you a hint at real-world performance: http://www.path88files.com/Mieko/TESTS/Chikori-San_Printer1_bRoll.mp4Also, here's that ew100 lav wireless in action with the H1. Personally, I can't imagine a shooter not wanting some sort of wireless mic system! http://www.path88files.com/Mieko/TESTS/Chikori-San_Printer_1.mp4 1tkman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stab Posted January 10, 2015 Author Share Posted January 10, 2015 Thanks Fuzzy.The reason for not wanting a wireless lav solution is simply the price. Also, because we've had great results in the past with a Sennheiser ME66 (Shotgun mic), I'm wanting to go a similar road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1tkman Posted January 10, 2015 Share Posted January 10, 2015 Here's the Azden SGM2x on location from a b-roll excerpt. You can see my co-director in the upper left of the screen holding the shotgun about 3.5 feet from the guy at which she points the mic, and the pickup the mic gets from the woman in which she does NOT aim the shotgun. The mic was plugged directly into a Zoom H1.The audio compression of these clips I made is probably too high, but this should give you a hint at real-world performance: http://www.path88files.com/Mieko/TESTS/Chikori-San_Printer1_bRoll.mp4Also, here's that ew100 lav wireless in action with the H1. Personally, I can't imagine a shooter not wanting some sort of wireless mic system! http://www.path88files.com/Mieko/TESTS/Chikori-San_Printer_1.mp4Really beneficial and helpful information and I will use this as a guide. What camera and lens (if you remember) were you shooting with for this project. The colors and look for the interview are outstanding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzynormal Posted January 10, 2015 Share Posted January 10, 2015 Really beneficial and helpful information and I will use this as a guide. What camera and lens (if you remember) were you shooting with for this project. The colors and look for the interview are outstanding. It's ungraded footage from the Panasonic Gx7. Their "Standard" color setting with color and contrast tuned all the way down (-5). It's the Olympus 45mm m43 lens on the interview. I think the footage looks good because that particular room had a decent mix of soft ambient daylight, some non-harsh fluorescent adding some nice fill, and it all falls off into darkness deeper in the background, giving subjects in the middle of the room nice contrast separation from the background. All I did for the interview shot at this location was add some mild backlight. Even though I like my gx7, I'd give more credit to the lighting available at that location than the gear! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stab Posted January 11, 2015 Author Share Posted January 11, 2015 And has anyone experience with the Rode Videomic GO maybe? And what about connecting a portable recorder directly into the camera, like a Zoom H2N? Would that feed a strong enough signal to the GH3? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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