I've been doing research on buying 3 microphones setups for my HVR-Z1U, before I take the plunge, would you recommend anything else, this is what I decided on;

1. Sennheiser ME66/K6 - Super-Cardioid Short Shotgun Condenser Microphone Kit Includes: Universal Shock Mount XLR Right Angle Cable Windscreen

2. Rode NT3 - Hypercardioid Studio Condenser Microphone

3. Sennheiser Evolution G2 100 Series - Camera Mountable UHF Wireless Lavalier and Plug-On Bundle with EK100G2 Receiver, SKP100G2 Plug-On Transmitter, SK100G2 BodyPack Transmitter and ME2 Microphone (C 740-776 MHz)

I've been doing research on buying 3 microphones setups for my HVR-Z1U, before I take the plunge, would you recommend anything else, this is what I decided on;

1. Sennheiser ME66/K6 - Super-Cardioid Short Shotgun Condenser Microphone Kit Includes: Universal Shock Mount XLR Right Angle Cable Windscreen

2. Rode NT3 - Hypercardioid Studio Condenser Microphone

3. Sennheiser Evolution G2 100 Series - Camera Mountable UHF Wireless Lavalier and Plug-On Bundle with EK100G2 Receiver, SKP100G2 Plug-On Transmitter, SK100G2 BodyPack Transmitter and ME2 Microphone (C 740-776 MHz)

All three are good setups but you left out the critical component - just what you will be shooting? For example, the Rode would be a good mic on a stand in the studio but requires the strength of Hercules from a boom operator when used as a boom mic. The ME66 would be fine for ambience and outdoors (though a bit harsh shounding) but wouldn't sound good for dialog recording indoors or capturing wedding vows from the camera position.

Dear Yung,

Personally, I have been avoiding the Sennheiser "C" frequencies, 740-776 MHz, due to the uncertainty of the future use of this portion of the frequency spectrum. This applies only if you are located in the US.

I would recommend a "A" or "B" version, depending on your location.

The Sennheiser Frequency Finder is a very useful tool:

http://www.sennheiserusa.com/newsite/mat_dev/frequencyfinder/Freqfinder-ew.asp

All three are good setups but you left out the critical component - just what you will be shooting? For example, the Rode would be a good mic on a stand in the studio but requires the strength of Hercules from a boom operator when used as a boom mic. The ME66 would be fine for ambience and outdoors (though a bit harsh shounding) but wouldn't sound good for dialog recording indoors or capturing wedding vows from the camera position.

I want to general shooting such as Wedddings, do you any recommendations for mics?

I want to general shooting such as Wedddings, do you any recommendations for mics?

For weddings etc there's nothing I would object to in your mic selection as long as you use them for the approriate circumstance. I wonder, however, what you're planning to use the NT3 for? I suggest adding a hand-held dynamic like a Shure or an EV-RE50

I bought the ME66 because it's what I used in art school, but in retrospect I wish I had bought just about anything else. I liked the idea that it's modular, but I can't see myself buying another capsule for it. A good short shotgun (there are tons of recommendation threads here) will work well for certain things when you're outside, but I can't imagine it being a "must have" for weddings.

The Rode also might be a little bulky -- if you're trying to pack small and light, there are a lot of small hypercardioid condensers out there.

For weddings etc there's nothing I would object to in your mic selection as long as you use them for the approriate circumstance. I wonder, however, what you're planning to use the NT3 for? I suggest adding a hand-held dynamic like a Shure or an EV-RE50

What about the
AT4053a
Hypercardioid Condenser Microphone

instead of the NT3

I'll let you know in a few days -- I have one coming in the mail. :)

What about the
AT4053a
Hypercardioid Condenser Microphone

instead of the NT3

It isn't a Schoeps, but should be a lot easier to use and sound better than the NT3.

Regards,

Ty Ford

What about the
AT4053a
Hypercardioid Condenser Microphone

instead of the NT3

Better choice on a boom, as Ty said.

I don't know where the NT3 as boom mic idea got started. Maybe as a locked down boom with no one holding it. Given its weight and form I can't imagine anyone hand holding it on a boom.

Regards,

Ty Ford

I don't know where the NT3 as boom mic idea got started.

Somebody here on the forum mentioned that they had used the NT3 on a boom and liked the sound of it. For some reason that thread must have lead others to thinking that it was the way to do it (it's not).

Wayne

1. Sennheiser ME66/K6 - Super-Cardioid Short Shotgun Condenser Microphone Kit Includes: Universal Shock Mount XLR Right Angle Cable Windscreen...

I'm definitely not a fan of the ME66.

Not knowing what your bugdet is...I would recommend that you try to find something better that still fits in your price range.

I'm definitely not a fan of the ME66.

Not knowing what your bugdet is...I would recommend that you try to find something better that still fits in your price range.

I haven't made the purchases yet, but getting everybodies advice, before I do make the purchases, I appreciates all the help, because I only want to buy once, if I have to spent more money so be it.

What would you sugest for a shotgun mic, within reason
Thanks

My advice would be to take a long look at why you think you need a shotgun at all... If I had it to do over again, I'd save a few hundred bucks and not buy one.

Hi Yung.
Have you thought about the Rode NTG - 1, I use this on my Z1 with a dead cat for more windy days and this sounds great.The only problem is if mounted on the Z1 the end of the dead cat comes through on the top right hand side of the picture, so you would need to mount it back a bit with some sort of extender mount which i'm looking into as i write.

Cheers
Simon

So, back to square 1.

Why do you think you need a shotgun. Please provide a lot of details.

Regards,

Ty Ford

In terms of details:

Will you be shooting both indoors and outdoors?

Or will you be shooting outdoors only?

Shotgun micrphones generally do not work well indoors but work well outdoors when there is nothing to cause the sound to be reflected back to the microphone.

Supercardiod or Hypercardiod generally work well indoors and outdoors.

There is a Shotgun Shock Mount for the Z1U that will help push the mic up higher. It's called the RODE SM5.

It's also threaded for 3/8" and 1/4"-20 if you ever wanted to use it at the end of a boom pole. http://dvcreators.net/rode-sm5-shockmount/

Shotgun, on-camera... this is just asking for trouble. There's no point in investing a bunch of money in a setup that will sound worse than the stereo mic built in to your camera.

If you need to do wedding interviews, get a good handheld condenser or dynamic mic. If you need to get the vows, grab some lavs. A hypercardioid will be good for sit-down interviews and narrative/scripted work. It all depends on what you mean by "general shooting."

Shotgun, on-camera... this is just asking for trouble. There's no point in investing a bunch of money in a setup that will sound worse than the stereo mic built in to your camera.

If you need to do wedding interviews, get a good handheld condenser or dynamic mic. If you need to get the vows, grab some lavs. A hypercardioid will be good for sit-down interviews and narrative/scripted work. It all depends on what you mean by "general shooting."

I plan to use a shotgun strictly for outside, I will doing personal stuff like a hot balloon documentary, concerts, outdoor venue stuff, auto races.

Wireless lav, self explanetory, it's a given

I was hoping to use a hypercardiod on camera to basically replace the on camera mic system, any thoughts on this. Wedding interviews, etc.

I plan to use a shotgun strictly for outside, I will doing personal stuff like a hot balloon documentary, concerts, outdoor venue stuff, auto races.

Wireless lav, self explanetory, it's a given

I was hoping to use a hypercardiod on camera to basically replace the on camera mic system, any thoughts on this. Wedding interviews, etc.

Unless you plan on shoving the camera right into your subject's face, whether you put a gun or a hyper on the camera just doesn't matter - it'll sound bad either way. When recording dialog or interviews, etc, the mic needs to be very close to the subject - short guns 2 to 3 feet, maybe 4 if you have a top-shelf mic and you're lucky, hypers 18 to 24 inches, as general rules of thumb. That's almost never going to be anywhere close to where the camera needs to be for good images. While there are situations where an on-camera mic fulfills the bill, they are far fewer than one might hope. For example, if you're interviewing the pilot of a hot air ballon while aloft with him, you'll be close enough to an on-camera mic to have a shot. But if you're interviewing the same guy on the ground standing beside the basket before launch, your camera position will probably be too far away from him for an on-camera to sound very good.

Unless you plan on shoving the camera right into your subject's face, whether you put a gun or a hyper on the camera just doesn't matter - it'll sound bad either way. When recording dialog or interviews, etc, the mic needs to be very close to the subject - short guns 2 to 3 feet, maybe 4 if you have a top-shelf mic and you're lucky, hypers 18 to 24 inches, as general rules of thumb. That's almost never going to be anywhere close to where the camera needs to be for good images. While there are situations where an on-camera mic fulfills the bill, they are far fewer than one might hope. For example, if you're interviewing the pilot of a hot air ballon while aloft with him, you'll be close enough to an on-camera mic to have a shot. But if you're interviewing the same guy on the ground standing beside the basket before launch, your camera position will probably be too far away from him for an on-camera to sound very good.

What in your opinion would be a good over all mic to be use on the camcorder, or should I stay with the onboard mic.
Thanks

What in your opinion would be a good over all mic to be use on the camcorder, or should I stay with the onboard mic.
Thanks


That's really hard to say - depends on your budget. If you are interested in Sennheiser, I'd look to spending the extra bucks to move to a 416 over the ME66. If the >kilobuck area is too pricey, you might want to A/B compare the Rode NTG-1 to the ME66 - even though it's cheaper, some people like its sound better. Whatever you get engrave on the back of your glasses the limitations of on-camera mics in general and use it appropriately.