microphones

[becomedeath]

Gentlemen,

I'm really not very familiar with sound recording and all the subsequent equipment, but I am learning. I have a Sony TCD-D8 portable DAT. I am pretty new to filmmaking, but there is nothing else I want to do. I'm getting off course. My question is this -- I am about ready to make a short test film with sound, for I haven't made a film with sound yet on super 8. I have an "Optimus Dynamic" microphone that my roomate is allowing me to use but I have found that it only works well if you hold it very close to you. But he uses it for a band he's in, so it makes sense...again, I am off course. I'm not too familiar with all
the different types of microphones, as previously stated. Would a shotgun mic be my best bet? I think that would work under more conditions than a mic for a boom would.
I guess I just want a microphone that I can keep out of the frame. Eventually I will be doing alot of interviewing for a film I am planning, if that helps any......I'm going to need more than one mic aren't I?.....ya, definetly more than one. Now I'm talking to myself...I don't even know if this topic is repliable. Any suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated my friends. Good afternoon.

Tayman Strahorn (becomedeath)

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[mattias]

> Would a shotgun mic be my best bet? I think that would work under more conditions than a mic for a boom would.

yes, but a shotgun is usually put on a boom. what do you mean?

/matt

[becomedeath]

Ah, I didn't realize that shotgun mics were the types normally put on booms. Well if thats the case than I definetly want a shotgun.

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[Nigel]

Go to www.locationsound.com

Good Luck

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[rollemfilm]

here is a good boom pole for cheap. go to the hardware store and buy an aluminum painters pole. remove the plastic mount. it comes off with one screw. now, go to your local music store and buy a right angle extension for a mic stand. this will allow you to mount a mic at the end of the pole. remember too, get a shock mount for that shotgun mike, and a wind screen. the pole and the right angle adapter will cost you about $30.00. the adapter will be more than the pole, and, the shock mount will be more than both. that's why they call it a shock mount! the price is shocking!

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[Matt Pacini]

A shotgun is best, and also, get as good of one that you can afford.
The shock mount is also mandatory, or you will hear rubbing and thumping noises from just the smallest amount of movement of the operators hands on the boom pole.
A good and cheap boom pole is sold on ebay, for about $50. http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI...tem=1305704807
They make these, so they're always there.
They are LONG too!!! really long, nad really light.
I used the paint-pole idea before I got one of these.
They're great, and they come with a mic screw-in and mount. (not a shock mount though)
You want to get the mic as close as possible, and do lots of tests if you've never done this before.
Just remember, if you're not close, even using a boom, the sound will have that "bathroom" sound, MUCH more than you would ever imagine.
Also, it's a good idea to get some of those padded blankets, the kind they use to protect furniture when you are moving, and lay them on floors and other hard surfaces when shooting indoors.
Even hang them on walls or over windows.
I bought some at a hardware store for $9.00 each, and they work great.
I wish I knew this when I shot Lost Tribes, because some of my audio suffers from these problems because of it.

Matt Pacini

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