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Home: Video University Forums: Audio For Video:
low cost condenser mics

 
 


Scott Brooks
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Oct 10, 2009, 8:34 AM

Post #1 of 9 (267 views)
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low cost condenser mics Can't Post
I'm trying to find some low cost (under $100) condenser mics for stage events. I have three Crown PZMs, but they're cardioid as opposed to omnidirectional. My concern is that they're going to be too directional and I'll lose them once they move. I now wish that I had gone with another element for those mics. Unsure

My plan for the condensers are to put them on stands in front of the stage apron ... about 6" higher than the apron ... and directed towards the performers.

I recently attended a very small high school performance and the sound was the best I had heard from them in a long time. I went up and checked out the mics they were using thinking I might get those ... they were Shure SM 81s. They run over three hundred each, so that's a bit more than I would like to spend right now.

With three or four condensers spread across a stage, do you think some cheaper Radio Shack mics would be able to handle a stage production (spoken dialogue)?

If I were to increase my budget to under $200 each ... does it change things significantly?

Thanks


Brackish
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Oct 10, 2009, 11:27 PM

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Re: [Scott Brooks] low cost condenser mics [In reply to] Can't Post
I have an idea but ... Can you use mic's that need phantom power?
Or do you need battery-powered mics?




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Scott Brooks
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Oct 11, 2009, 8:01 AM

Post #3 of 9 (243 views)
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Re: [Brackish] low cost condenser mics [In reply to] Can't Post
I'm leaning very strongly towards the H4n at this time, so yes it would have phantom power available.

My most recent project coming up would include theatre in the round with a really low stage ... 8" in some plasces, so I'm not 100% sure how I would handle that.

I've also considered the R44. The little boy in me says just buy it for yourself as a gift. The practical side says the H4n would get more use at a wedding (ceremony).


Brackish
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Oct 11, 2009, 2:30 PM

Post #4 of 9 (238 views)
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Re: [Scott Brooks] low cost condenser mics [In reply to] Can't Post
I"ve never mic'd theater in the round but, off the top of my head,
I'd prefer the R44 for that so that you could spread the mic's
out to get 4-area coverage. Of course, with the H4n, you've go the
two on-board mic's together on the unit. One other thing that
I'm thinking would bug me about the H4n is that you can only
set levels on the XLR mic's as a pair, not independently, atleast
when you are also recording to the on-board mic's (i.e. 4 channels).
Now ... perhaps (but I'm not sure) you can set individual levels
on the XLRs when you are only doing 2-channel recording.




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Scott Brooks
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Oct 11, 2009, 2:48 PM

Post #5 of 9 (233 views)
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Re: [Brackish] low cost condenser mics [In reply to] Can't Post
The R44 most definitely would be the better choice for the theatre setting, but then there's the weddings. Granted I don't do near as many as I used to, but I still do enough that it has to play into the decision.

If I go with the R44 then I have to start thinking about adding more wireless microphones for wedding ceremonies, so the cost would continue to climb.

I was thinking if I could pick up a couple of cheap condensers then I could set everything up in thirds. The Zoom would catch 1/3 of the stage and the other two could be placed in the other two thirds ... cutting it up like a pie. I would also have a shotgun on the camera. Keep in mind that it's a very intimate type of theatre, acoustics are at least decent, and the camera would be close to the stage, so the shotgun would be of some benefit.


Brackish
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Oct 11, 2009, 3:02 PM

Post #6 of 9 (230 views)
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Re: [Scott Brooks] low cost condenser mics [In reply to] Can't Post
Here's the omni I was thinking about:

http://www.behringer.com/...roducts/ECM8000.aspx






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Scott Brooks
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Oct 11, 2009, 3:16 PM

Post #7 of 9 (229 views)
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Re: [Brackish] low cost condenser mics [In reply to] Can't Post
Thanks! Certainly worth looking into.


Brackish
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Oct 18, 2009, 11:29 AM

Post #8 of 9 (170 views)
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Re: [Scott Brooks] low cost condenser mics [In reply to] Can't Post
In Reply To
Thanks! Certainly worth looking into.
Well, let us know if you decide to try 'em.

It's hard to find any condenser mic's that are both good and low cost.
The Giant Squids are quite nice for the money. I had considered getting
a "battery box" from Giant Squid to power the mic's. Say if
your recorder doesn't have the proper voltage and/or wiring to power
the Giant Squid, you power the mic then with the battery box that has a
9-volt battery inside. This way you can use a Giant Squid with
any device that has a 1/8" input. As an example, I think (not positive)
that the Senn G2 will not power the Squid but - with the battery box
between the mic and the G2 - you are able to use the Squid direct
into the G2. Or so this is my understanding. Best would
be to check with Giant Squid to confirm this before ordering.

http://www.giant-squid-audio-lab.com/gs/gs-batterybox.html






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(This post was edited by Brackish on Oct 18, 2009, 11:35 AM)


Scott Brooks
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Oct 18, 2009, 12:17 PM

Post #9 of 9 (164 views)
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Re: [Brackish] low cost condenser mics [In reply to] Can't Post
What I've decided to do the first time around is go with something I had forgotten I even had ... 4 Crown PZMs. I purchased them quite a few years ago for some focus groups that I was shooting at the time. I packed them away and forgot all about them till this week.

I've got two H4n units coming this week. I'll plug two into each of them and spread them around the stage with a mouse pad or something under them to see how well it works. I could end up with nothing but feet ... or I could end up with decent audio.

I'm getting the two Zooms from Sweetwater, so if I'm reading the info on their site correctly, I can return them or at least get credit if I wanted to send them back.