Video Mics

[smash]

Hi All,

Just wanting a mic suggestion, I need to obtain a Cardiod Mic for a videoographer client of mine.

The Client is looking for maximum rejection from the rear, as well as high sensitivity from the front.

Basically the client is doing alot of location shooting and is having problems with noise from the rear.

Battery Power would be ideal but if necessary we will just use a battery 48v system.

[chris p]

I know what your friend means. As we all know, cardioid and hypercardioid patterns are far less directional at the lower frequencies that wind seems to like making, and still capture a lot of the noise at higher frequencies.

I know of just four options -

(a) use a typical shotgun mic and EQ the noise out as best you can;

(b) sonically isolate the mic so that it doesn't get the rear or side axis noise (think also of the older style parabolic mics, which are highly directional);

(c) use sound replacer / ADR

(d) live with it, including telling the noisy sods at the back to keep it quiet!

[smash]

Hmm -

Unfortunatly ADR or quietness is not really a possibility in these cases - he is shooting native tribes from a boat on tropical islands !!!

Acoustic Foam behind the Mic?

Can you still get parabolic mics?

[otto ruiter]

Rode do some well regarded video mics. There's the VideoMic which is for DV style cameras and the NTG-1 and NTG-2 shotgun mics. Check them out at www.rodemic.com

[smash]

Rode were actually kind enough to lend me their mics to demo, unfortunatlely all are either hyper/super-cardiod and are picking up to
much from the rear.

We need to basically have as close to absolute rejection from the rear as possible.

Guys, would it be possible to rig up something with a sideways facing figure 8 and cancel it oot in post?

[Kris]

If you're shooting from a boat and you want clear sound you're asking way too much of any mic mounted on the camera. If you're looking for good ENG mics then Sennheiser is your best bet. Call channel 7, 9 or 10's audio depts and ask what they're using. Maybe read the last CX mag... had an article on location sound for reality tv.

Seriously though, the boat engine will kill you long before the hypercardioid will.

[HA_DA_JA]

??

[chris p]

Hey Smash

The latest AT mag mentions a new "reflexion filter" from SE electronics that may be what your friend is looking for. Ambertech.com.au

Regards

[smash]

Thanks guys.

FYI we ended up grabbing one of the Rode's.

The customer was happy, I can relax.

Those reflexion filters do look good though, I will have to have a bit of a closer look.