The Perfect RED MIC???

[KETCH ROSSi]

Hey guys,

searching for suggestions and advises in the purchase for a good plug and play MIC for the RED.

As when shooting any projects there will be a Sound guy, I don't concern my self with the Pro applications and channel splitting and the rest of the technicality that are well know to any Boom man on any set.

What I'm looking for is to find a good mic to self operate during screen tests, location scouting, for recording ambient noise on any given location, and when wanting to record any shoot done by one person.

Please only advise on products of proven functionality, as this will be the first time I ever use any mic myself and wish to avoid complications as much as possible, by gatering your advises before purchasing the wrong mike.

Thanks in advance for your kind participation as always.

Ciao

[BASSAM MSSALATIE]

Rode NTG2 self Pantom power mic

[Paul Hazlett]

Hi Ketch,

Good to meet you at NAB.

I would look at the sennheiser mkh 60 or 416 or sanken cs1 on the high end
and audio technica AT875R and the rode ntg2 as Bassam suggests on the economical end.

[createra]

I like the Neumann KMR81i and Earthworks SR30.

Review:

http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/right_mic_brockett.html

Audio-Technica AT875R
Audio-Technica AT4073a
Beyerdynamic MC 836
Neumann KMR81i
Oktava MK-012
Sanken CS-1
Sanken CS-3e
Schoeps CMC641
Schoeps CMIT5u
Sennheiser MKH-50
Sennheiser MKH-60

[KETCH ROSSi]

Thanks Bassam and Phaz for your suggestions, and Phaz it was also my pleasure meeting you at NAB, Createra I much appreciated the link to the extensive great review page of the various mic's, definitely seems that both the Shoeps and the senneheiser are very highly considered in the industry while on the lower end leaves me a bit more confused.

Thanks agin for your inputs and suggestions.

Ciao

[Kevin Halverson]

Hello Ketch,

If possible, I would recommend a self power mic (internal battery) or if you choose to use phantom powered, then consider an external phantom power source.

In microphone selection, there is a parameter that you can use to 'grade' your mic choice that will be very helpful when considering a pairing with a RED camera. The parameter is sensitivity and it is typically in units of mV/Pa (milli volts per Pascal). The higher the number, the more appropriate the pairing.

Here are a few mics that are well suited.

Audio-Technica
AT4071a (89 mV/Pa)
AT4073a (71 mV/Pa)

AKG
CK69/ULS (54 mV/Pa when in + 6dB mode)
CK61/ULS (40 mV/Pa when in + 6 dB mode)

Beyer Dynamic
MCE 86 II (30 mV/Pa)
MCE 86S II (30 mV/Pa)

Sennheiser
ME66 (50 mV/Pa)
MKH60 (40 mV/Pa)

This is just a partial list, but it should give you some good choices to work with.

Kevin Halverson

[KETCH ROSSi]

Thanks Kevin for this additional info, will be checking them out as well, and yes I do agree with you that the mic if all possible should be self powered.

I like to make it as simple as possible.

Ciao

[Ken Willinger]

Hey Ketch, it was great meeting you at NAB. I'll be using a Sennheiser ME80 self powered shotgun on the Red. I also use a Sennheiser 416 in my mixer audio kit. They make great mics that are on the higher end but not over the top expensive (like the Schoeps, even though they are great mics). Good luck in your shopping!

[Joel Kaye]

Thanks Kevin for this additional info, will be checking them out as well, and yes I do agree with you that the mic if all possible should be self powered.

I like to make it as simple as possible.

Ciao

Ketch, check out the Sennheiser ME66. It doesn't sound as good as the higher end mics to me, but I think it has it's own battery power. If so, it's a better fit for RED right now in your application because you can avoid RED's on board phantom power... which I've never seen anyone say they've gotten to work cleanly yet (someone PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong).

Perhaps the self powered RODE mentioned earlier would be OK also.

[KETCH ROSSi]

hey Getken, was a pleasure meeting you as well.

As I go true the various Mic suggested here I rwalize that most of them are Phantom Power, and after speaking with with one of the guys that will be involved in the Pre-Casting, Screen tests and location scouting, He told me not to go creasy on a MIC which will only be used for this purposes, as when on set there will be a professional Pack for recording most likely provided by the Sound guy Him self.

Also He said that it would be much better to get a self powered mic, something that connects directly to the camera and has no other cable hunging any were else.



EDIT*

Okay this is what I was thinking on getting for on camera MIC, at list for the applications above described.

The Sennheiser ME67,


Ciao

[Paul Hazlett]

The 67 is really long and might be a bit of a hassle as a camera mic. I would switch to the 66.

here is a kit price http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/423592-REG/Sennheiser__ME66_K6_Super_Cardioid_Short.html

[KETCH ROSSi]

Thanks phaz, then if every one else agrees Ill get the ME66.


Would this Blimp windscreen be overkill or even necessary for my current applications?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=cart&A=details&Q=&sku=79536&is=REG


If you considered a necessity or must have, would it fit in this shockmount?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=cart&A=details&Q=&sku=398316&is=REG


or would only fit, and there for need this one?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=cart&A=details&Q=&sku=79556&is=REG


Also would this Boom Pole be a good one?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/497595-REG/K_Tek_KEG_88_KEG_88_Traveler_Carbon_Fiber.html

Thanks guys for your help, again never bought a mic before and wanted to get the right one.

Ciao

[Marcus Struzina]

I have the Rode NTG2 which is not a bad self powered mic when used on most gear, but on the Red camera I'm currently using with build 15 it has a discernable high pitched whine ( a clean whistle like constant tone at a low level ) after much communication with red I still haven't worked out why ( the mic is fine on other gear.)

[KETCH ROSSi]

Thanks for sharing that cyclotron.

I'm mostly sure I'll go with ME66 and later upgrade to the MKH-416 or the MKH-60.

ciao

[HD Hildebrand]

I have the 416 (as do millions of others). It's a great mic. I love using it. But on camera it is too directional. If you slightly pan off axis your audio will change dramatically. A simple mic that blows me away even in noisy environments is the ME64. It picks up the sound your after, you can pan off axis and you'll still have a usable track in the end.

[KETCH ROSSi]

Now you guys are giving me to many choices to choose from, hehe.

planetheart, in a replay by Barry, on DVXUSER,

http://dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=21576

as I understand it, he says that the ME66 it is better fit for on camera use as the ME64 is better fit for Pole operation.

I think that I will end up getting the MKH-416 later on for on pole operation and for when the camera will not move away from the subjects filmed, but I still not understand very well the Phantom Power and RED, if I get this unit

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=275816&is=REG

Would it be all I need to power the Mic?

Also I say that this mic is for no commercial applications but I still do want to get a good and very usable quality sound out of it, so if any thinks that the 416 is at list THREE times much better then the ME66, then I'll deal with the Phantom Power and pay almost triple to get the 416!

ciao

[HD Hildebrand]

ME64 has a wider pattern. You don't want to go too narrow on camera, especially for solo shooter and/or doc stuff. I remembered a story about a guy using the ME64 in a casino so I did a quick google. You'll find his comment in one of these posts:

http://www.2-popforums.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-56092.html

You can also look here for some comments:

http://www.sonyhdvinfo.com/showthread.php?t=3906&page=1&pp=10

This guy (Alan Barker) made a great blimp for the ME64 from a Sure Windfoam. I have it and it works great. Don't remember the model, but you had to pull out one of the inner foams and it created a hollow cavity around the mic and is great in wind, small profile and inconspicuous.

[KETCH ROSSi]

Thanks planetheart, enjoy the reading and now leaning towards the ME64, as I also see that Barry had pick up one and like it better as well, for my purpose at last this seems to be the best choice, and I'll order one with out further delays.

Thanks so much for the help as all ways.


ciao

[Paul Hazlett]

You don't need a power supply for the k6-66 or 64 the k6 module holds a AA
for your battery so the psc ps is not needed at this time.

I like a little more direction on camera but the 64 is also a fine choice and
you can use the k6 with either head.

for wind screen get a rycote softie. they are light weight and kill most noise.

thats if you have not already ordered