Microphones & Audio

[skipinator]

I've been enjoying the site for a day or so, and it's fantastic. I am trying to produce some short comedy sketches and I find the audio quality horrible. I know nothing of microphones and audio, and was wondering if anyone had any tips, websites, or products that they could suggest.

Thanks!

[samureye]

Before any of those things you asked for, you need to understand that you need a microphone specifically purchased for your needs, the one build into cameras will not cut it. There are boom mics, shotguns and lavs, or even handheld. Are you doing it like Whose Line is it anyway? Maybe lavs would be best, or like The Office? Then you need a boom and a person to operate it.

One thing I myself have to learn about is having the audio recorded totally independently of the video. The different mics above I am familiar with, but they all would connect directly to the camera you are using, but I recall hearing you could also get something specifically for recording audio that you all sync up in editing.

[skipinator]

The show is more like The Office with cameras roaming the action and talking heads. I've experimented with a digital voice recorder with little success. Syncing back up with the video was not the problem, again it was audio quality. Of course I would like to do things inexpensively, but I have NO idea what to buy. So it sounds like a boom mic would be the way to go. What should I look for in a boom mic, and where can I get an inexpensive one. I know that you get what you pay for, but at some price point there are diminishing returns. Thanks for helping!

[jackierulesall]

Yeah definitely a boom would be the way to go. You can probably make it yourself, if you're up for it. And really the only thing you need to make sure as far as the mic is that it's unidirectional or a cardiod - like a shotgun. And invest in a good wind guard since you're gonna move it around a lot.

Shure (http://www.shure.com/ProAudio/Products/WiredMicrophones/us_pro_SM89_content) is a safe and durable brand, but their SM89 runs about $600. Audio-Technica (http://www.audio-technica.com/cgi-bin/product_search/wired_mics/mics_by_type.pl?product_type=Microphones%3A+Shotgu n) and Sennheiser (http://www.sennheiserusa.com/professional_wired-microphones_broadcast-eng-film) are also good, and theirs average at $300. The good thing about mics is that the cheaper ones can be exactly what you're looking for. It all depends on what kind of sound you want (for example, some cheaper mics have a tinny kinda sound, but that's perfect if you want to make vocals sound really clear) and DEFINITELY more money =/= more better. So really you could go with any shotgun/cardioid/unidirectional mic (just make sure the specs fit what you need, like dynamic range and impedance) and fashion up a pole and windguard for it.

[mikec]

Audio is not easy, otherwise everyone would do it.

Google "boundary microphones".

No one microphone works every time for every situation.

Before you buy a microphone, why not go and visit a sound pro? There are people in almost every city, of decent size, who sell and rent sound and audio gear. Look in the phone book for "sound reinforcement". They are the folks who sell and rent and do live concert sound and sometimes work with theaters. If you find a good shop, they can educate you. Just don't be a fool and try to gain knowledge from them and not buy or rent from them.