I have been involved with sound recording ever since a £25 win on Ernie Bonds back in the early 1960s when my parents bought me a Fidelity reel to reel tape recorder. ... 2 sets of 2 microphones in various positions to try and emulate "being there". ...
The BBC use the AKG D202 dynamic mikes for radio. ...
Why use external microphones anyway? ... You must use a mike whose impedance range is the same as the input range of the unit it is being connected to. ... For standard VHS playback use a mike in the range 80 to 15,000 Hz. ... You can use them for recording in the following situations:
1. ... Conversely do not use an omni directional if you do not want to hear the room acoustics. ...
They are not suitable for use in sound reinforcement systems, as they tend to produce feedback easily. ... Just how much the sounds are rejected is dependent on what type of unidirectional mike you use. ...
There are several types of connectors used on microphones. ... Most theatres and many churches use XLR connectors. ...
Balanced Line Microphones
A balanced line microphone system differs from a standard system by having 3 wires (2 signal wires and an earth) coming from the microphone instead of the normal 2 (1 signal wire and an earth). ...
Stereo Signal Phasing
To obtain true stereo sound from a two mike (or more) system the microphones must be wired up in exactly the same way to remain in phase with each other. ...
So what type of microphone should I use? ... If you are going to use a mike on top of your camera, make sure that it has a shielded power supply. ... Use either a camcorder/camera jacket or put a plastic bag over the mike. ... Because of their low output I only use dynamics for voice-overs in a studio environment where you can control the
distance of mouth to mike. ... This happened more than once and so I only use it where it can be placed off the ground. At Catholic weddings I use 2 of these. ... I use a Sennheiser ME80 or Shure Prologue condenser for the vows placed between the couple on a floor stand. To connect these microphones requires a mixer. ...
Phantom and AB power supplies
Condenser microphones need a DC power supply to work and there are two types of power supply to do this. ... I use Beyer DT100 headphones because they are good quality and they have a closed back that excludes most external sound. ... In certain situations bass can disappear when there is contention between microphones or inputs on some recorders. Some videographers use a completely separate sound system as a backup, particularly during the critical parts of a wedding, ie vows and speeches. ... I sometimes use this arrangement when the couple want the music recorded during the signing of the registers. ...
Sound Mixer
As I mentioned earlier I use 3 mikes for a Catholic wedding, (see the PZM section), and 2 for some church of England weddings. ... For stage shows I use the
theatres mixing desk output whenever possible. ... To overcome this I use a stereo mixer, which has both line and mike level inputs, into which I feed the signal from their sound desk and mix it with my mike mounted either on the camera or on a floor stand. Alternatively, if you are using a stereo camcorder/recorder use a mono desk output on one channel and the ambient mike on the other. ... For churches, and many other productions, I use a Shure FP31 sound mixer that can be shoulder slung or mounted on the side of the tripod. ... I estimate that I use the Shure mixer on half of all external productions. ... I usually use the meters in the camcorder or recorder. ...
The alternative to using a mixer is to make use of both channels of a stereo camcorder. If you use more than two mikes then you can either unplug one to put the other in or make up a switch box to go between the other mikes. ... It is important to use mikes that have a similar voltage output. ...
Radio Mikes
I would only use a radio mike if I absolutely had to. ... If you use a radio mike when you are in close proximity to the wearer then always run a direct connection mike as a backup. ... However, there are occasions when it is impossible to run cables and in those situations I use an HW International system that has a Shure 839 lapel mike. ... I did have to liaise with the venue sound engineer because they were using hand held radio mikes and I checked that they did not use the same frequency as mine. ... If you have to use a radio mike then try to keep the distance from the transmitter to the receiver to under 100 feet, line of sight, or 50 feet if the sound has to go round corners etc. If you use a belt type transmitter ensure that the antenna cable is hanging straight. ... They use a frequency of 49Mhz and are subject to interference from radio-controlled toys, walkie-talkies and other consumer products. ...
Wind Shields
All microphones are susceptible to wind noise, some more than others. ... If you cannot use a shield then do not point the microphone directly at the mouth. ... I have to use this set-up because of prominent bird song outside the studio. ... Ordinary cardioid mike on a shock resistant table stand
Interviews
In my opinion the best way to record seated interviews is to use lapel mikes. ... Use a bass filter if one is fitted to the mike to reduce any handling noise. Or use a graphic equaliser during post production. ... Or you could use the Tandy PZM mikes on the stage. ... Do not use the camera mike from the rear of the hall under any circumstances. ... Or if that isnt possible then use mikes near to your vantage point. ... When not in use for long periods the battery should be removed. ...
Use the robust XLR connector wherever possible and ensure that the cable cannot be pulled out of the connector
i. ... Many hotels use air conditioning. ... If you do not want the mike in shot could you use a gun mike? ... To avoid the thump you get when someone taps or bangs the table use a shock mount for the microphone. ...
Further Reading
Most manufacturers and/or dealers print reams about their microphones. ...
The Technique of The Sound Studio and The Use of Microphones by Alec Nisbett.
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