Minature mics at DVinfo.net

Tim Bisley · December 24th, 2008, 05:39 PM

I was watching an old episode of Miami vice where they put minature mics in a house and I was thinking what if you could hook a minature mic to a camera? Is that possible? How is the sound quality. Or would you be better off with a body mic?

Ty Ford · December 24th, 2008, 09:31 PM

Hello Tim

Putting the mic on the camera would result in a really good recording of camera noise.

Here's a Countryman B6

Regards,

Ty Ford

Jim Andrada · December 25th, 2008, 12:27 AM

Which besides being tiny, sounds great!

Warren Kawamoto · December 25th, 2008, 12:40 AM

I have the B6s and use it for weddings. It's so small that you can peek it through a button hole and it's virtually invisible. I have one black, and one white. The only thing I don't like about it is when people yank on the wire. It's so thin that it'll break easily.

Jim Andrada · December 25th, 2008, 01:29 AM

Have you actually had one break? I thought they had a few Kevlar fibers in the wire to prevent that. Maye I've just been lucky and need to be more careful.

Ty Ford · December 26th, 2008, 04:59 AM

I have not had mine break yet, but have heard from other sound guys that rough handling can break them. You do have to be watchful. When I put the mic on someone, I do a little thing where I introduce myself and let them know I'm the sound guy and that I'll be in their personal space to rig the mic. I show them the mic. They are amazed. I show them the wire and in passing mention that the mic costs about $400 and "we" need to be careful not to yank the wire. That includes not stuffing your shirt back in your pants right where the wire is. After a scene, I'm on them to take the mic off, or detach the xmitter if they'll not be needed for a while. That way they can go to the john and not come back with a sheepish grin and a wet transmitter. (if you catch my drift) So far, knock wood, the mics are fine.

Countryman does make a thicker cable, but it doesn't lie as easily under clothes. I've used in on their E6 headworn mic and had to swap it out because as thin as the thicker cable is, it was thick enough to dislodge the mic from the ear after a few head turns.

Regards,

Ty Ford

Paul R Johnson · December 26th, 2008, 06:35 AM

I too find Countrymans pretty tough - in fact I tend to use them on people I suspect will be a bit rough on DPA - which can be wrecked far too easily, but do, I reckon, sound better. At the other end of the scale I have a few unbranded reall cheap ones that I use when I KNOW they are going to be trashed. They are not so good, but with a bit of eq can sound ok(ish).

December 24th, 2008, 05:39 PM	#1
Tim Bisley Regular Crew Join Date: May 2008 Location: New York, NY Posts: 28	Minature mics I was watching an old episode of Miami vice where they put minature mics in a house and I was thinking what if you could hook a minature mic to a camera? Is that possible? How is the sound quality. Or would you be better off with a body mic?

December 24th, 2008, 09:31 PM	#2
Ty Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD USA Posts: 2,337	Hello Tim Putting the mic on the camera would result in a really good recording of camera noise. Here's a Countryman B6 Regards, Ty Ford Attached Images __________________ Ty Ford's Audio Bootcamp Field Guide Ty Ford's Audio Video Blog

December 26th, 2008, 04:59 AM	#6
Ty Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD USA Posts: 2,337	I have not had mine break yet, but have heard from other sound guys that rough handling can break them. You do have to be watchful. When I put the mic on someone, I do a little thing where I introduce myself and let them know I'm the sound guy and that I'll be in their personal space to rig the mic. I show them the mic. They are amazed. I show them the wire and in passing mention that the mic costs about $400 and "we" need to be careful not to yank the wire. That includes not stuffing your shirt back in your pants right where the wire is. After a scene, I'm on them to take the mic off, or detach the xmitter if they'll not be needed for a while. That way they can go to the john and not come back with a sheepish grin and a wet transmitter. (if you catch my drift) So far, knock wood, the mics are fine. Countryman does make a thicker cable, but it doesn't lie as easily under clothes. I've used in on their E6 headworn mic and had to swap it out because as thin as the thicker cable is, it was thick enough to dislodge the mic from the ear after a few head turns. Regards, Ty Ford __________________ Ty Ford's Audio Bootcamp Field Guide Ty Ford's Audio Video Blog

December 25th, 2008, 12:27 AM	#3
Jim Andrada Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 2,211	Which besides being tiny, sounds great!

December 25th, 2008, 12:40 AM	#4
Warren Kawamoto Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 1,435	I have the B6s and use it for weddings. It's so small that you can peek it through a button hole and it's virtually invisible. I have one black, and one white. The only thing I don't like about it is when people yank on the wire. It's so thin that it'll break easily.

December 25th, 2008, 01:29 AM	#5
Jim Andrada Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 2,211	Have you actually had one break? I thought they had a few Kevlar fibers in the wire to prevent that. Maye I've just been lucky and need to be more careful.

December 26th, 2008, 06:35 AM	#7
Paul R Johnson Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Lowestoft - UK Posts: 4,016	I too find Countrymans pretty tough - in fact I tend to use them on people I suspect will be a bit rough on DPA - which can be wrecked far too easily, but do, I reckon, sound better. At the other end of the scale I have a few unbranded reall cheap ones that I use when I KNOW they are going to be trashed. They are not so good, but with a bit of eq can sound ok(ish).