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Home: Video University Forums: Tech Q & A:
mic set up

tradur
Novice

May 17, 2006, 9:41 PM

Post #1 of 19 (2079 views)
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mic set up	Can't Post

I am wanting to set up my mic system to use with camcorder for filming nature settings.
I was thinking of 2 mics facing opposite directions or a stereo mic or surround sound mic. looking for cheapest and best set up. any suggestions as to which mics or parts to use. thx.
I would like the result to mimic reality . left sounds out of left speaker and vice versa

billelder
Novice

May 17, 2006, 11:02 PM

Post #2 of 19 (2073 views)
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Re: [tradur] mic set up [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi! Could you give a bit more information about which camera you have? Do you want the mic/mics to be mounted on the "horseshoe"? Thanks.
Bill Elder
Voiceovers

tradur
Novice

May 18, 2006, 8:40 AM

Post #3 of 19 (2061 views)
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Re: [billelder] mic set up [In reply to]	Can't Post

My camera is a gs500 it has stereo mini jack. I wasnt sure if it would be better attached to the camera or seperately. I wasnt sure if a stereo mic or seperate mono mics would be best.
john

tradur
Novice

May 18, 2006, 8:53 AM

Post #4 of 19 (2060 views)
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Re: [billelder] mic set up [In reply to]	Can't Post

Bill could you also tell me how I determine the mic's potential to pick up quite sounds(which is what I DO want) . I tried one mic (pro24) at a music store and it had to be all the way up just to hear it at normal level , that didnt seem right. so I want to be careful to get a powerful enough pic up ability to hear the suttle sounds of nature. like leaves, bugs water , wind etc. I dont know what all the numbers mean in the mic specs .
thx

billelder
Novice

May 18, 2006, 3:33 PM

Post #5 of 19 (2051 views)
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Re: [tradur] mic set up [In reply to]	Can't Post

The Panasonic PV-GS500 looks like a great camcorder. I'd have some sort of shockmount to protect against camera noise. I'm assuming you'll be using a tripod for shooting? Please be mindful that I am not a field audio expert. A shotgun mic will be your best bet. Is there a way to control the volume of a mic on the camcorder, or some automatic gain activation? My cheap SONY D8 will auto-level sound very well. Stereo mics that do what you want may be pricey.

One idea may be to buy a lavalere mic (wired) and place it in front of you as far as it will go..or under the tree/bird's nest/ bush you want to shoot. They have plugs that will fit your camera and are condenser.
Bill Elder
Voiceovers

Brackish
Veteran

May 19, 2006, 7:39 AM

Post #6 of 19 (2039 views)
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tradur
Novice

May 19, 2006, 8:30 AM

Post #7 of 19 (2034 views)
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Re: [Brackish] mic set up [In reply to]	Can't Post

nothing set in stone, I would just like to keep it in proportion to the cost of the camera which is 750. when camera in balance..., whole life in balance....

Brackish
Veteran

May 19, 2006, 8:49 AM

Post #8 of 19 (2032 views)
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tradur
Novice

May 19, 2006, 10:05 AM

Post #9 of 19 (2028 views)
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Re: [Brackish] mic set up [In reply to]	Can't Post

it can be manually adjusted

videobear
Veteran

May 19, 2006, 10:22 AM

Post #10 of 19 (2027 views)
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Re: [tradur] mic set up [In reply to]	Can't Post

To set up a pair of mono mics to record a stereo sound image, use two cardioid types, and arrange them at an angle to each other, in a sort of "X" or "V" pattern.

You may want to record the wind rustling the tree leaves, but you'll have to take measures to keep the same wind from making a "rumble" sound as it passes over the mic itself. The solution may be as simple as a foam windscreen (for very gentle breezes), or as complex as a "blimp" enclosure surrounded by a fuzzy wind muff (which can quiet wind noise up to 30 or 40 mph.)

To record the "quiet sounds of nature", you're going to have to turn the gain up. That also means that any UNnatural sounds like feet rustling in the leaves, cars going by on the road, lawnmowers, planes overhead, people talking, coughing, etc. will have to be avoided.

It might be easier to dub in "nature" sounds from a commercial sound effects library.

Regards,
Doug Graham
Panda Productions

tradur
Novice

May 19, 2006, 10:33 AM

Post #11 of 19 (2025 views)
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Re: [videobear] mic set up [In reply to]	Can't Post

I was thinking of the double cardiod set up too . I would have to find the right mics and mounting hardware or make them. I was also thinking of a mini disc set up un attached from the cam to sync it up in post. but not sure how the quality is or how hard it is to get it all together in post

Brackish
Veteran

May 20, 2006, 4:41 AM

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tradur
Novice

May 20, 2006, 2:03 PM

Post #13 of 19 (1982 views)
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Re: [Brackish] mic set up [In reply to]	Can't Post

thanks, I think I will have to start by trial and error cause I am not sure what effect the wind muffs will have on blocking the suttle sounds. I dont think I am reallly gonna to tell until I get something on my cam and play it back to see where I stand . I think I will start with a basic sony stereo mic. 80 bucks and go from there. I do have 2 48v condenser mics that I can experiment with also , from my sons studio.

Brackish
Veteran

May 20, 2006, 2:35 PM

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tradur
Novice

May 20, 2006, 3:29 PM

Post #15 of 19 (1978 views)
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Re: [Brackish] mic set up [In reply to]	Can't Post

this mic I was gonnna start with is a one piece stereo mic.
I heard it work and it had good channel separation, just dont know how powerful it is yet.
I think if it does work well enough then i will go into a double mic set up

videobear
Veteran

May 22, 2006, 10:42 AM

Post #16 of 19 (1950 views)
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Re: [tradur] mic set up [In reply to]	Can't Post

Quote

what effect the wind muffs will have on blocking the suttle sounds

A good wind muff won't block sound. The way these things work is not by filtering out the sounds of wind, but by preventing them. Wind rumble is caused by air moving over the mic. The wind muff creates a dead air zone around the microphone, by slowing and baffling the moving air before it gets close to the mic. A blimp enclosure works in much the same way, by enclosing the mic itself in a volume of dead air.

Regards,
Doug Graham
Panda Productions

tradur
Novice

May 22, 2006, 10:59 AM

Post #17 of 19 (1948 views)
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Re: [videobear] mic set up [In reply to]	Can't Post

I wasnt real sure how they worked, I just figured that the wind screen and wind muff combined would partially restrict sound from entering the mic as well as wind. I know that wind turbulence sound is unacceptable ,. I love the sound of wind through the pines , just not the sound of wind through my mic. I hope that my sony stereo mic will not disappoint . I think sound isjust as important as a clear picture . I guess I will have to get a mono mic shot gun for movie making purposes , but for nature I assumed a stereo configuration is best.
thx

Brackish
Veteran

May 23, 2006, 7:47 AM

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tradur
Novice

May 23, 2006, 10:28 AM

Post #19 of 19 (1932 views)
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Re: [Brackish] mic set up [In reply to]	Can't Post

for now I ordered the sony stereo mic, it ends with "8c" i think. cost 79 bucks I think. that will get me started to see what i need to do from there