I need to pick up eight lavaliere mics for roundtable interviews and so on. Since I need so many of them I need to find something on the cheap end of the spectrum, preferably under $50. The lavs need to be XLR terminated and phantom powered. Any suggestions?

There are no lavaliere mics on the market for that price range with XLR connections. The cheapest begin at around U.S. $200.00 list. I would advise renting, $50.00 mics sound like crap regardless of the connection.

Dan

How about placing mics on the table instead?

In a bind, I actually bought a $25 lav (non-XLR) at Radio Shack and was pretty amazed at the quality. Test it out for yourself and see.

I think if there is one type of mic that is more forgiving than all others, it's a lav. Try Giantsquid.com too. They are known to be pretty good.

Yeah, I've already tried placing mics on the table and it worked okay. I do like Giant Squid, but I don't believe he makes XLR terminated lavs. I need a balanced connection and I'm not going to deal with adapters. I am considering more SM11s.

Shure | SM11-CN - Lavalier Microphone | SM11-CN | B&H Photo Video (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/68445-REG/Shure_SM11_CN_SM11_CN_Lavalier_Microphone.html)

I already have three of them, so it's fewer left to buy, but they are obnoxiously big and don't quite have as much output as I would like. I have to max out the gain to get a decent level.

The SM11 is a dynamic, and naturally has lower output. Probably handles higher SPLs though. May be great for a 'screamer' or working on a firearms show.

I wonder if they used that lav on Billy Mays?

Dan

Hey Rick, I'm not faulting the SM11. It does pretty much what it's supposed to. I dangled them in front of some guitar amplifiers over the weekend and they sounded great. I was just hoping to finding something that was a little hotter, a little smaller, and maintained a balanced connection. The only reason I'm asking a "cheap mic" question is that I need so many of the things.

How about a good PZM mic? A good quality PZM placed in the center of the 'round table' picks up the sound very well.

Nope. A PZM is not gonna cut it.

I have used a pair of them for 6 years, they really are good mikes. I believe they are made by A. T. for Radio Shack. I have been in pro audio (broadcast & recording studios) for 45 yrs.

In 2000-2003 R.S. had these lavs in a stereo pair for $30-; I recorded a symphony orchestra on my Akai mini disc everyone who has heard it thought it was a commercial recording.

With using R.S. products you have to know how to separate the truly good products from the rest of their line. I used to own Telefunken/Neuman U47's & Sony C37's when I had my on location recording service during the 60's, so I can easily tell if a mike is decent or not.

No sense spending money you don't need to.

When you say R.S., do you mean RadioShack? Is there a model number?

The Radio Shack mic is also known as the Audio-Technica ATR-35S. It is a cheap and dirty fix for having no microphone. I would not produce anything with it unless I had no choice. It is noisy and quite coloured sounding. It does not have balanced output.

I've use one of these for over a year. I have taped a person talking everywhere from the edge of a mountain rim with high winds to a quiet studio environment. It's been dropped in the dirt, stepped on, wadded up and thrown in a bag - I mean abused! Not intentionally, but stuff happens.

This IS the Radio Shack Mic: Hands-Free Tie-Clip Omnidirectional Electret - RadioShack.com (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102927&filterName=Type&filterValue=Microphones#)

Check out the reviews and specs. I know a whole lot of people using this from hobbyist to pros. For a cheap mic that can reasonably get the job done - it's tough to beat it.

Now, if you have hundreds to spend...sure spend more if you have to.

This IS the Radio Shack Mic: Hands-Free Tie-Clip Omnidirectional Electret - RadioShack.com (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102927&filterName=Type&filterValue=Microphones#)


Well if this is the mic being discussed it is different than the one I know of, so my comments are obviously off track.

Sorry for the confusion.

Over the years the Radio Shack mics, especially the lavs and the boundary layers have changed many, many times.
I still have a Radio Shack lav from 1986 that was really outstanding. Other than the fact it had an unbalanced mono mini connector and was powered by a button-cell battery in a tiny box in the spaghetti-thin cable, it was very well made and had very good sound. It was also very small, not much bigger than an AT899 today. Back then the devices I was hooking it to had mono mini inputs, so XLR wasn't a big deal. I think it cost about $40 then, but it does still work today just like it did originally.
I've seen and heard several of the newer models over the years and they seemed to be much lower quality. So like most Radio Shack items, it's a gamble on whether you're getting one of their good items or bad items.
Have you looked at Sound Professionals? I've never tried any of their lavs but I did buy some powerboxes to power computer headset mics for an intercom system.

I don't know. I just googled it and it's the same one I've had for over a year. It was recommended to me by pro's on another board. I went to their videos (where they used them) and was impressed...plus I could actually afford it.

Of course, they don't have XLR connections so the point may be mute.

Like I mentioned, I have used them in everything from terrible conditions (weather, wind, rain, thunder) to a dead silent studio room. The omni lav will pick up ambient sound so you have to take that into consideration. As with all microphones you have to use them within their limitations.

Well, at that price, maybe I'll give it a shot. I really would like a balanced connection and not have to have an attached DC powered box, but there don't seem to be any options. I suppose I should really just bite the bullet and get Countryman B3s or something.

I'm about to put up on ebay an Audio-Technica AT831B Lavalier Microphone for $82 but that might be out of your price range.

edit: It already has sold.

Marco
Just out of interest. How are you planning to record from 8 mics? Will you have an eight channel mixer and mix them down to one, or keep them separate and mix them in your NLE.
I'm curious in case I ever want to do the same thing.

You would use an 8 channel mixer that would output the mixed audio to your camera (assuming your filming it).

Eight channels mixed down to four (feeding two cameras).

Thanks Pete, but I need eight matching lavs.

Hi hear good things about this guy. He builds lav mics. He might be able to help...at least might be worth a try.

Giant Squid Audio Lab: Miniature Microphone Specialists Stereo - Mono - Cardioid - Omnidrectional Giant Squid Audio Lab (http://www.giant-squid-audio-lab.com/)

Yah I figured it was too cheap.

Will I be able to use a mini type plug with my XLR inputs on my camera?
How will the mics be powered? My camera has phantom power, but I don't think this will go through the mini plug

I've used the cheap RadioShack lav mic in a pinch and it sounds infinitely better than the most expensive mic too far away. If I had to get a bunch of lavs for a one-off project like this, I would certainly consider the Radio Shack things. I believe there is a "headset" version for roughly the same price ($25-30)

I'm no expert but have 6 GiantSquids which I've run to irivers and find them great...and price is one of the great things about them!

You can check this

Samson | QL5-CL Cardioid Condenser Lavalier Microphone | SAQL5CL (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=cart&A=details&Q=&sku=378064&is=REG)

I have the ATR35s for use with a minidisc recorder and it works surprisingly well.

Apparently the model number has been changed to the ATR3350. Sound Professionals sells it with an optional XLR plug for $35.

USB Microphone, Stereo Microphone, Preamplifier, Digital Recorder, Custom Cables and more at Rock Bottom Prices from The Sound Professionals - Great deals on Microphone, Preamplifier, Digital Recorder, Cable and more! (http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/category.cgi?item=ATR35S&source=froogle)

John

Recently I bought a Audio Technica AT803 lav mic from Guitar Center for $160.

I have to say that I overall, I think it works great for its intended use. This mic won't fool anyone into thinking it sounds like a $2000 mic. But you get what you pay for. It feels rugged, takes batteries or phantom power, and puts out pretty darn good sound quality for the price. I am sure you can find it somewhere online for cheaper too.

I used it for an interview and it did a great job of minimizing the unwanted room noise sounds.

All in all, I am happy with it (my reasonable expectations were met) and I am wondering if other people have anything to compare it to or comments they would like to share.

I also want to thank all of the users and experts that contribute to this site. I have learned a lot from reading the posts by this community. Thank you all!

Eric

I bought an AT803 as well. It's a great bargain for a wired lav. The sound is very good.

It's larger than most lavs, and it's that size that makes it able to capture good sound for a low price. I think its especially good for male voices as it has a strong bottom end.

For a battery/phantom powered lav with an XLR output, it's a great value, if the large size isn't a problem for the application.

Giant Squid is known for decent lavs at great prices:

Miniature Microphone Specialists Stereo - Mono - Cardioid - Omnidrectional Giant Squid Audio Lab (http://www.giant-squid-audio-lab.com/)