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Home: Video University Forums: Audio For Video:
need shotgun mic

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RT Steele
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Jun 16, 2007, 12:43 PM

Post #26 of 41 (1343 views)
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Re: [ryin] need shotgun mic [In reply to]	Can't Post

Ryin... it sounds like even after all the advice you are hellbent determined to get a shotgun. If that's what you want, go for it like I did after everybody warned me not to. Laugh

You're also limited to $250 dollars and investing that in a shotgun is a dead end for toasts IMO. I would recommend applying those funds to something that you can use now and will also work with a decent wireless unit down the road.

For the toasts, get this for $130:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/...E604_Microphone.html

Remove the drum clip shown and mount it on one of these about 4-6 inches from the DJ's speaker ($30):
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/...ipod_Microphone.html

Finally, just feed that mic directly to your camera using some xlr cable and a mini jack adapter. ($40 or so).

This is not ideal mind you but I kept you at $200 total which will pick up the toasts quite nicely and much better than a shotgun. The nice thing is once you get a wireless system the mic stand and e604 microphone will still apply... just lose the cable.

There are other ways to just bypass the direct cable feed to your camera by using the "e604" with an iriver if you want but you will lose the ability to monitor the sound of course.

Keep in mind that my audio plan never includes interacting with DJ's who never use the same equipment from wedding to wedding. I shoot alone and just don't have time for "hit and miss" tactics with all the various boards. The head phone jack is usually a sure thing and can even be done with an inline attentuator and an iRiver but at some point the DJ will usually screw with this and you'll get nothing.

I guarantee if the sound you want is not coming out of the speakers then *everybody* has a problem so that tends to get fixed pretty fast. Laugh

- RT

Tim Kennelly
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Jun 16, 2007, 7:14 PM

Post #27 of 41 (1334 views)
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Re: [Mark Foley] need shotgun mic [In reply to]	Can't Post

Not to mention, the better the shotgun the more exact orientation you will need.

Point them slightly off axis to what you are really trying to record and you get worse than an oncam omni mike. Shocked

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Tim Kennelly

Tim Kennelly
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Jun 16, 2007, 7:16 PM

Post #28 of 41 (1331 views)
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Re: [ryin] need shotgun mic [In reply to]	Can't Post

Why spend the money?

If you are satisfied with the voice audio from the iRiver and lapel mike use it on the ones giving the toast or even still on the groom if the toasts are happening directly beside or in between and over the shoulders of the couple like some wedding receptions do.
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Tim Kennelly

Brackish
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Jun 16, 2007, 7:30 PM

Post #29 of 41 (1326 views)
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Post deleted by Brackish [In reply to]

Tim Kennelly
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Jun 16, 2007, 7:34 PM

Post #30 of 41 (1323 views)
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Re: [Brackish] need shotgun mic [In reply to]	Can't Post

Why?
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Tim Kennelly

Brackish
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Jun 16, 2007, 8:31 PM

Post #31 of 41 (1312 views)
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Post deleted by Brackish [In reply to]

Tim Kennelly
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Jun 17, 2007, 1:31 AM

Post #32 of 41 (1294 views)
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Re: [Brackish] need shotgun mic [In reply to]	Can't Post

Well, with a bit of gaffers tape to orientate the lavaliere mike upwards and in line with the body of the iRiver you could use it as a handheld mike.

I have done that at times with my Samson wireless mikes when I did not have my actual handheld available in a pinch and passing that around worked very well, far better than a shotgun would for many environments.

This would work just as well as any of the other "portable" audio recorders mentioned here (well, not the high fidelity quality of the others mentioned here, but certainly more than adequate for speech and better than any shotgun unless stationed pretty darn close regardless of any shotgun mike claims.

However, Ryan twice made statements about toasts.

Perhaps the terminology or traditions are different in other sections of the country, but in my area "toasts" normally refer to the traditional best man speech and in the last decade to the maid/matron of honor as well sometimes and occasionally the Dad or bridal couple themselves.

Guests "spontaneously" making speeches publicly just doesn't happen at receptions in my area unless a specific area with a mike stand is set up and announced and that is really rare and usually not well received.
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Tim Kennelly

(This post was edited by Tim Kennelly on Jun 17, 2007, 1:32 AM)

DGates
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Jun 17, 2007, 2:01 AM

Post #33 of 41 (1285 views)
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Re: [ryin] need shotgun mic [In reply to]	Can't Post

Here's one, pictured alongside his son, Scott.

Tim Kennelly
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Jun 17, 2007, 2:37 AM

Post #34 of 41 (1280 views)
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Re: [DGates] need shotgun mic [In reply to]	Can't Post

Now there is a shotgun Mike you could really intimidate a problem photographer or church lady with. Wink

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Tim Kennelly

Mark Foley
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Jun 17, 2007, 7:21 AM

Post #35 of 41 (1272 views)
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Re: [DGates] need shotgun mic [In reply to]	Can't Post

Quote

Here's one, pictured alongside his son, Scott.

You're slipping Dirk...I figured you would have photoshop'd a mic element at the end of the barrel....

_________________________
Mark

Mark Foley
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Jun 17, 2007, 7:25 AM

Post #36 of 41 (1272 views)
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Re: [ryin] need shotgun mic [In reply to]	Can't Post

ryin,
RT's suggestion for the e604 mic and tripod is the best suggestion given your budget. Good luck...

_________________________
Mark

DGates
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Jun 17, 2007, 10:21 AM

Post #37 of 41 (1250 views)
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Re: [Mark Foley] need shotgun mic [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

You're slipping Dirk...I figured you would have photoshop'd a mic element at the end of the barrel....

Ron Priest
Veteran

Jun 20, 2007, 6:27 PM

Post #38 of 41 (1212 views)
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Re: [ryin] need shotgun mic [In reply to]	Can't Post

Kathy & Al Ritondo on www.wedVidTalk.com interviewed Anthony Francese in a 2 part podcast (see WVT-2007-04-01-1 and -2) on ths subject of ceremony and reception audio. I found it very educational, and implemented a few of his ideas myself, although I choose to capture my ceremony and reception audio different then he suggests. In any case, the podcast was very good and is worth listening to.
___________________
Ron

RustyB
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Jun 20, 2007, 7:20 PM

Post #39 of 41 (1209 views)
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Re: [Mark Foley] need shotgun mic [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

ryin,
RT's suggestion for the e604 mic and tripod is the best suggestion given your budget. Good luck...

For sure. This has been the all-around smartest/most practical thing I've done for capturing the introductions, toasts, and even some music. Instead of being tethered to the camera, my e604 is connected via Senn G2 plug-on transmitter. Immediately after the ceremony, I take the AA batteries out of the groom's lapel mic, and place them into the plug-on transmitter, and it EASILY lasts the entire night in front of the DJ's speaker. I set the frequency the same, so there's no other changes necessary for the reception whatsoever. When I get home, the batteries still have plenty of juice to be used in other stuff around the house.

faith poison films
it's better than nothing

Ron Priest
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Jun 20, 2007, 8:31 PM

Post #40 of 41 (1200 views)
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Re: [RustyB] need shotgun mic [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

Instead of being tethered to the camera, my e604 is connected via Senn G2 plug-on transmitter.

So do you then connect your receiver to your camera, a 2nd stationary camera, or are you capturing your audio on a stand-slone recorder? Would the e604 be good for capturing ambient sound too if not placed in front of a DJ's speaker?
___________________
Ron

RustyB
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Jun 20, 2007, 8:47 PM

Post #41 of 41 (1196 views)
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Re: [Ron Priest] need shotgun mic [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

Instead of being tethered to the camera, my e604 is connected via Senn G2 plug-on transmitter.

Goes straight to my camera, captured on channel 2. Channel one is the on-board shotgun mic for ambient sound, and the two channels are mixed as needed in post. IMHO, the e604 would not make a good "ambient" mic...since it's an instrument mic made for high volume. I put it point blank in front of the DJ's speaker...like a couple of inches away, inbetween the horn and woofer. I shoot the reception with one camera, and recording audio like this makes for very efficient editing.

faith poison films
it's better than nothing

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