need advice re shotgun mic for EX1...

[Malcolm Hamilton]

What mic are you using Akira? Is it one I should stay away from? Have you tried anything else?
Malcolm

[Piotr Wozniacki]

Originally Posted by Akira Hakuta

I have the audio problem with distortion and I can tell you that for my camera (which is in for repairs), adjusting the input sensitivity does not fix it.

Akira, even though I have been understood differently, I must confirm, unfortunately, that indeed adjusting the input sensitivity does not fix the problem entirely - just alleviates it considerably (to a degree depending on the specific microphone being used).

[Akira Hakuta]

Piotr, what shotgun mics have you tried with the EX1, and which worked best? I'm thinking I might get a new one to replace my ME66 as I've been meaning to anyways, I was thinking the AT 4073 as thats at the top of my price budget.

[Piotr Wozniacki]

Akira,

I must admit the microphones that are the least prone to these distortions are not necessarily the best ones (in terms of general opinion, and price).

The on-board EX1 mic is the one I'm hardly ever getting the "chirping" distortion with (though it happened with a strong wind rumble). Then comes the basic mono shotgun from Sony - the ECM 673; at some -38 dB at the input, distortions are avoidable at most circumstances.

The most difficult to handle (out of the microphones I am using, of course) is the Edirol CS-50 stereo shotgun. This one is by far the "hottest" of the three, and also the most distortion-prone. Interestingly, nothing like this ever happened when I was using it with the V1E.

[Barry J. Weckesser]

Does anyone think that this mic would work on the PMW-EX1 : http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/wi...30f/index.html
It is the successor to the AT835ST which works very well on my V1. I would hate to get a mic that runs into distortion problems that I am reading about on this forum.

[Don Greening]

Hi Barry,

I would conduct a very thorough test of the mic you're considering on your EX first before laying down any cash. I'm using the Audio Technica AT4073a on my EX and have crackling/grounding issues that aren't resolved yet. This mic works fine on my other cameras but not on my EX.

- Don

[Graeme Fullick]

Barry, I am using the AT835ST without problems. I also have the Rode NGT1, Sennheiser 416, Senn ME64 and several Sony shotguns, along with a Sound designs 302 mixer, a Sony UWP diversity wireless system and several lav microphones. Have not had any audio problems as yet, but can't say that I have given the audio side an extensive workout. I use the AT835ST a lot - and have had no problems on the EX1 with it - but I always use a mini-blimp, and mount using very high quality XLR connectors and cables which I had custom made (I am very fussy about my audio). I also use a lightwave mini-mic mount - which I prefer to the Rode SM5 (that I also have) as it is much lighter and easier to use - puts less strain on the mic holder.

Hope this helps,

[Dean Harrington]

anyone use this mic? I've been mulling over something for general use and have been thinking about the Rode.

[Malcolm Hamilton]

Originally Posted by Graeme Fullick

Barry, I am using the AT835ST without problems. I also have the Rode NGT1, Sennheiser 416, Senn ME64 and several Sony shotguns

Graeme,
You're in a perfect position to tell us which of your shotgun mic aresenal you think works best (least crackle, cleanest sound, etc.).
I thought I'd settled on the Sanken CS1 (partly because it's had good reviews on this forum, and partly because it's short, and I want something that won't get in the way when I put the camera into the case and take it out, fifty times a day), until a guy at Trews said the Rode NTG1 was half the cost (or less) and just as good.
Can you weigh in on this?
Thanks, Malcolm

[Alex Kanakis]

Hey Graeme -

I also have the AT 4073a. Try switching the low-freq roll off. That should take care of the problem. At least it did for me.

Alex

[Alex Kanakis]

My previous post was meant for Don, not Graeme.

Sorry Graeme...

[Dave Morrison]

This is just a followup to add some specifics to mics used on the EX1. I got a little studio time today to do some lighting and audio testing and got some very clean audio using the following two mics both on 48v phantom power:

Sennheiser MKH60 - short shotgun
Schoeps MK4 - cardioid mic

These mics were boomed overhead while a buddy of mine talked to me on-camera. Mics were set just out of frame pointed at his mouth. I was mostly using them to see what kind of input levels I had to use to get good audio for interview situations. I ran the Senn MKH60 all the way up and down the dBu scale from -20dBu (too low) to -41dBu (almost too loud) and settled on -29dBu as being a good compromise. If I had a quiet speaker, I might have to bump it up to -35dBu.

One other thing I noticed (off-topic, sorry) was the infrared(?) problem. He was wearing a black baseball cap and it photographed as a very dark brown color. It was noticeable in the viewfinder and on the captured footage.

[Don Greening]

Originally Posted by Alex Kanakis

I also have the AT 4073a. Try switching the low-freq roll off. That should take care of the problem. At least it did for me.

Yep. This is the only way I've been able to use it, but one shouldn't have to compromise. Dynamic range is lost and the difference is noticeable. Heck, my PD170 records a wider dynamic range and cleaner sound with this mic than my EX does. I'm waiting on Sony to get back to me with this issue.

- Don

[Akira Hakuta]

Originally Posted by Graeme Fullick

I also have the Rode NGT1, Sennheiser 416, Senn ME64 and several Sony shotguns

Hey Graeme, have you had any issues at all when using the NTG1 with the EX1? At this point, I think I'm either looking to try something like the CS-1, AT875R, or maybe the Rode NGT1. About the AT835ST, whats it like using a stereo shotgun, and how would it work if I wanted to use it as a mono shotgun with my wireless lav on the other channel? I've only used mono shotguns before...thanks.