Shotgun Mic Help... Thanks!
 

Hello all

Could you please tell me what you think of, know about, or your experience with this shotgun mic:

http://www.nrgresearch.com/sa568.htm

It's a Schriber SA-568 Dual Mode shotgun mic.

It has everything I need/ want. However, I don't know if it's compatible with my GL2 in terms of output impedance and all those other little numbers that I am clueless about.

I have the opportunity to land one for about $100. Is it worth it.

Thanks!
Andrew

Per the specifications it should work ok. Have not seen any posts from users though.

THANKS DON
 

Thanks for the reply Don!!

--Andrew

According to my research, a good impedance match occurs when the input impedance of the camcorder is 10 times the output impedance of the microphone.

The input impedance of the GL2 is 5600 ohms.

The SA-568 has an output impedance of 500 ohms when used with the cardoid setting, so that's a good match. When used with the hypercardoid setting, the output impedance is 1600 ohms. It will work, but it is not as good a match.

I've just ordered one of these from Zotz digital. It should arrive this week and I'll try to post some comments on it next week.
Zotz says they are selling a lot of them. Not a bad kit for $135 - microphone, wind screen, mount, two cables (mini and XLR), batteries, soft case and hard case.

I am looking at getting one with my GL2 from Zotz. It looks like a much better option than the DM-50, for nearly the same coin. This also could be used off the camera or on other camera's that don't have the GL2 smart shoe, which adds to its value for me.

Is this mic similar in quality to the ME66/K6 combo?

No. It's frequency range is not as good and it weighs more. But, it is also substantially cheaper. I'd have gone with the ME66 if I could see the budget for it on the horizon.....

Since I needed some better sound, and couldn't see getting an ME66 this year then the Schriber looked like a reasonable compromise. Only time will tell.

Great. Thanks for the input. How much heavyer is it? Also, I am worried that I will need a mic pre. with my GL2 and MA-300. I have bought 2 mics and they are BOTH about as good as a paper weight without the preamp. I would rather have a good mic work so I do not have to carry 1 more thing.

Any ideas?

You could talk to Tom over at Zotz Digital to see what he has to say. Otherwise, I'll be getting mine on Friday and should get out for at least a little while to test it over the weekend.

It all depends, I think, on what you are trying to record.

I will be recording Weddings, Bar Mitzvah's and other events. Have a MDA walk / run in Aug.

This is what I would recommend.

Low: Audio Technica 815b and 835b (like $210-240?)

Mid: Sennheiser K6 and ME-67 (long reach) or ME-66 (Medum) ($440?)

High: Sennheiser 416 (mono) 418 (Stereo) ($1K+ but sound GOOD)

RollsRoyce: Neumann USM 69i (Two independent capsules each with
its own pattern switch. Sounds almost like it did.) ($3300)

***No promises on the accuracy of the price quotes. Note: You will still need
an XLR adapter for camcorder input, and maybe even one that provides
phantom power to make some of these mics work :)

I think that the best bet for me will be the ME66 / K6. No phantom pwr needed, good sound.

Shotgun Mic
 

I just bought the SA-568, and it is a great buy. However I have a couple of concerns: first, it is a little too heavy. Second, it does not have a nice shock mount, so any camera handling is easily picked up by the sensitive mic. Also, at the hypercardoid setting, I hear some very audible hissing. This I assume is due to the unmatched impedance (I don't know much about this).

My main solution is to first get a Beachtek SLR adapter. Secondly, I am am actually going to exchange this mic for the slightly pricier ($220) Azden SGM-2X. This mic is a lot lighter, a little longer, and it has a nice shock mount. I will need an SLR cable though. I know people on this post rave about the ME-66, but I am not yet ready to spend that amount of money. I need to save some for a light. I also have the Li-10, which is the Canon 10W light, and it is really bright. But I am thinking of getting a more professional light, the Pag C-6 kit.

I hoped to have comments by the end of this weekend. Zotz did a good job of getting the microphone out the door but UPS put it on the truck and forgot about it. So, I won't have it for the long weekend :( and don\'t know when I\'ll get to try it out now. I\'m especially concerned about the hiss issue mentioned above.


UPS - When you really want to get it sometime but we won\'t say for certain when.