I need a good mic for a horror film at DVinfo.net

Ray Jones · November 12th, 2009, 01:30 PM

I need a good mic for a horror film.
Any ideas?

Mike Peter Reed · November 12th, 2009, 02:04 PM

Sennheiser 416. Classic sound. Virtually indestructible and very resilient to adverse weather.

Or maybe the Røde NTG-3 which has very similar characteristics.

Usual disclaimers apply - what's your budget, and what will you actually be recording?

Battle Vaughan · November 12th, 2009, 02:18 PM

Darn, got it backwards, I had a horrible mike for a good film once....seriously, you're asking "how long is a piece of rope?"

The answer varies with your situation --- are you doing inside, outside, wireless or wired, stage or location, etc. Give us some more details of your specific situation, there is no one mike that does everything, or any special mikes for horror movies. There are, as I say, some horrible mikes..../Battle Vaughan

Allan Black · November 12th, 2009, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray Jones

I need a good mic for a horror film.
Any ideas?

Try a high price Neumann, that'll scare your films accountant for a start, but a shotgun for location voice may do even better.

In that case the RODE NTG-3s price will settle him/her down and do a excellent job to boot.
Cheers.

Chris Swanberg · November 12th, 2009, 08:36 PM

Battle has it right. You are not asking the right question, and to be honest the fact you are asking it suggests that you are new to the audio side of film making.

It ain't rocket science, nor is it something a microphone purchase coems with as an add on package of "location sound acquisition knowledge".

I'd first try and assess your shooting needs, location, etc (like Battle was asking), and then seek some answers here, While you wait - read everything you can about location sound. It's kinda like buying a bat won't make you a home run king - you need to learn how to use it.

Allan Black · November 12th, 2009, 10:43 PM

I agree and Ray here's a good place to start learning about location sound.

http://www.rodemic.com/news.php?article=0028

I'd take advantage of RODEs current deal for a $1 dollar Blimp for wind protection when you buy an NTG-3 shotgun for location voice. Cheers.

David W. Jones · November 13th, 2009, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray Jones

I need a good mic for a horror film.
Any ideas?

Yes, take the money you would use for the mic and hire a sound person with gear.

Jeff Kellam · November 15th, 2009, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray Jones

I need a good mic for a horror film.
Any ideas?

Forget the mic, just use these:

Horror Background Music Library, Scary Background Music and Scary Sounds

or these

Scary Sound Effects, Halloween Sounds, Spooky Sounds

Lots more sound effects in there if you look around.

I shot a halloween short using those sound effects, including screams (out of context), it was hilarious. No one will even care if the main sound track is crap.

Ray Jones · November 22nd, 2009, 04:36 PM

Thanks alot. We went with the Sennheiser 416.
It is flawless.

David W. Jones · November 23rd, 2009, 05:47 AM

Yes if you are shooting exteriors.

Chris Swanberg · November 23rd, 2009, 06:45 PM

Mics by genre... interesting concept.

November 12th, 2009, 01:30 PM	#1
Ray Jones Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Thomasville Georgia Posts: 25	I need a good mic for a horror film I need a good mic for a horror film. Any ideas?

November 12th, 2009, 02:04 PM	#2
Mike Peter Reed Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: Hants, UK Posts: 185	Sennheiser 416. Classic sound. Virtually indestructible and very resilient to adverse weather. Or maybe the Røde NTG-3 which has very similar characteristics. Usual disclaimers apply - what's your budget, and what will you actually be recording? __________________ ---8<---

November 12th, 2009, 10:43 PM	#6
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,887	I agree and Ray here's a good place to start learning about location sound. http://www.rodemic.com/news.php?article=0028 I'd take advantage of RODEs current deal for a $1 dollar Blimp for wind protection when you buy an NTG-3 shotgun for location voice. Cheers. __________________ Drink more tap water. On admission at Sydney hospitals more than 5% of day patients are de-hydrated.

November 12th, 2009, 02:18 PM	#3
Battle Vaughan Trustee Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Miami, FL USA Posts: 1,505	Darn, got it backwards, I had a horrible mike for a good film once....seriously, you're asking "how long is a piece of rope?" The answer varies with your situation --- are you doing inside, outside, wireless or wired, stage or location, etc. Give us some more details of your specific situation, there is no one mike that does everything, or any special mikes for horror movies. There are, as I say, some horrible mikes..../Battle Vaughan

November 12th, 2009, 08:36 PM	#5
Chris Swanberg Major Player Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 904	Battle has it right. You are not asking the right question, and to be honest the fact you are asking it suggests that you are new to the audio side of film making. It ain't rocket science, nor is it something a microphone purchase coems with as an add on package of "location sound acquisition knowledge". I'd first try and assess your shooting needs, location, etc (like Battle was asking), and then seek some answers here, While you wait - read everything you can about location sound. It's kinda like buying a bat won't make you a home run king - you need to learn how to use it.

November 22nd, 2009, 04:36 PM	#9
Ray Jones Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Thomasville Georgia Posts: 25	Thanks alot. We went with the Sennheiser 416. It is flawless.

November 23rd, 2009, 05:47 AM	#10
David W. Jones Trustee Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Little Rock Posts: 1,383	Yes if you are shooting exteriors.

November 23rd, 2009, 06:45 PM	#11
Chris Swanberg Major Player Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 904	Mics by genre... interesting concept.