Shot Gun Mic Selection

On Wed, 27 Oct 2004 00:10:39 -0400, Mitch Nixon wrote
(in article <2004102622093216807%mitchnixon@shawca>):

> New to this group, looking for info on everybody's fave shotgun
>
> If you could only have one, and it had to cover as many different
> situations a s possible, what would it be, or what are you using
> now and are you happy.
>
> I would rather spend $1000.00 on one great mike, than
> several inferior ones, trying to cover all bases.
>
>
> Thanks
>

Think of it more like how many golf clubs do you need to play golf. Sure you
could go around with a 1 iron and nothing else, but it would be a lot of work
and not much fun.

A putter, a 5 iron and a driver would be more fun, but you'd still be in
trouble if you ended up in a sand trap. So each setup may require something
different.

Unless you're working on a soundstage, doing features or doing out in the
wilderness, long shotguns are probably NOT what you want.

In the short shotgun range there are many god ones and price is often
reflective of quality. Having said that, the new AT 897 is pretty darn
reasonable. I'm not kicking my 416 out the door, mind you.

Sanken CS-3 also fits. Other will mention their favorites.

Regards,

Ty Ford

BTW, a shotgun is probably NOT what you want for most domestic and industrial
interiors. Try a hyper or lav first.



-- Ty Ford's equipment reviews, audio samples, rates and other audiocentric
stuff are at www.tyford.com
 >> Stay informed about: Shot Gun Mic Selection 

I cast my vote for the Sennheiser MKH 50 or 60. I have used them since they
were introduced and have never had to apologize for their sound. Very
natural, good rejection off axis plus excellent reach with the 60 and if the
need ever arises for a stereo recording , the 60 can be combined with the
MKH 30 in a Rycote suspension for a really nice setup.
Steve Osmon
"Ty Ford" <tyreeford.TakeThisOut@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:YtWdnS6tUIeoGuLcRVn-2g@comcast.com...
> On Wed, 27 Oct 2004 00:10:39 -0400, Mitch Nixon wrote
> (in article <2004102622093216807%mitchnixon@shawca>):
>
>> New to this group, looking for info on everybody's fave shotgun
>>
>> If you could only have one, and it had to cover as many different
>> situations a s possible, what would it be, or what are you using
>> now and are you happy.
>>
>> I would rather spend $1000.00 on one great mike, than
>> several inferior ones, trying to cover all bases.
>>
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>
> Think of it more like how many golf clubs do you need to play golf. Sure
> you
> could go around with a 1 iron and nothing else, but it would be a lot of
> work
> and not much fun.
>
> A putter, a 5 iron and a driver would be more fun, but you'd still be in
> trouble if you ended up in a sand trap. So each setup may require
> something
> different.
>
> Unless you're working on a soundstage, doing features or doing out in the
> wilderness, long shotguns are probably NOT what you want.
>
> In the short shotgun range there are many god ones and price is often
> reflective of quality. Having said that, the new AT 897 is pretty darn
> reasonable. I'm not kicking my 416 out the door, mind you.
>
> Sanken CS-3 also fits. Other will mention their favorites.
>
> Regards,
>
> Ty Ford
>
> BTW, a shotgun is probably NOT what you want for most domestic and
> industrial
> interiors. Try a hyper or lav first.
>
>
>
> -- Ty Ford's equipment reviews, audio samples, rates and other
> audiocentric
> stuff are at www.tyford.com
>
 >> Stay informed about: Shot Gun Mic Selection 

Ty Ford wrote:

> On Wed, 27 Oct 2004 00:10:39 -0400, Mitch Nixon wrote
> (in article <2004102622093216807%mitchnixon@shawca>):
>
>
>>New to this group, looking for info on everybody's fave shotgun
>>
>>If you could only have one, and it had to cover as many different
>>situations a s possible, what would it be, or what are you using
>>now and are you happy.
>>
>>I would rather spend $1000.00 on one great mike, than
>>several inferior ones, trying to cover all bases.
>>
>>
>>Thanks
>>
>
>
> Think of it more like how many golf clubs do you need to play golf. Sure you
> could go around with a 1 iron and nothing else, but it would be a lot of work
> and not much fun.
>
> A putter, a 5 iron and a driver would be more fun, but you'd still be in
> trouble if you ended up in a sand trap. So each setup may require something
> different.
>
> Unless you're working on a soundstage, doing features or doing out in the
> wilderness, long shotguns are probably NOT what you want.
>
> In the short shotgun range there are many god ones and price is often
> reflective of quality. Having said that, the new AT 897 is pretty darn
> reasonable. I'm not kicking my 416 out the door, mind you.
>
> Sanken CS-3 also fits. Other will mention their favorites.
>
> Regards,
>
> Ty Ford
>
> BTW, a shotgun is probably NOT what you want for most domestic and industrial
> interiors. Try a hyper or lav first.
>
>
>
> -- Ty Ford's equipment reviews, audio samples, rates and other audiocentric
> stuff are at www.tyford.com
>
Good analogy Ty!
 >> Stay informed about: Shot Gun Mic Selection 

Mitch Nixon <mitchnixon.DeleteThis@shaw.ca> wrote in message news:<2004102622093216807%mitchnixon@shawca>...
> New to this group, looking for info on everybody's fave shotgun
>
> If you could only have one, and it had to cover as many different
> situations a s possible, what would it be, or what are you using
> now and are you happy.
>
> I would rather spend $1000.00 on one great mike, than
> several inferior ones, trying to cover all bases.
>
>
> Thanks

Hi Mitch,

If you are willing to spend on a premium quality microphone, rather
than a cheaper compromise (eg Audio Technica or Sennheiser K6), here
are your basic choices:

Sennheiser MKH-60 or MKH-416 (60 is warmer, 416 is slightly more
directional)
Neumann KMR-81i
Sanken CS-3e

They're all great mics. They have different frequency responses and
have subtle variations between them that come up in particular
situations, but they all basically serve the same overall function.
If you are trying to do everything with one microphone, being able to
optimize those variations for your situation is not an option for you.
Find a dealer, listen to them all, and see what sounds good to you.
Try taking them out for a demo or on a rental when you have a job and
using them in real-world situations -- it will be far more useful than
any sort of "one two" test you can do in the shop.

Regards,

Noah Timan

(working email is my name at earth link)
 >> Stay informed about: Shot Gun Mic Selection 

Hi Mitch, this one has been done to death and will be again, no doubt, check
dejanews...my favorite is the Schoeps MK41 capsule with whatever flavor FET
preamp they sell. Many will tell you the Sennheiser 416 or MKH60, some Audio
Technica 4073, some the CK1.

Best,
John

Mitch Nixon wrote:

> New to this group, looking for info on everybody's fave shotgun
>
> If you could only have one, and it had to cover as many different
> situations a s possible, what would it be, or what are you using
> now and are you happy.
>
> I would rather spend $1000.00 on one great mike, than
> several inferior ones, trying to cover all bases.
>
>
> Thanks
>
 >> Stay informed about: Shot Gun Mic Selection 

I go with the Sanken CS-3e - I've compared it with the 416 and, in my
opinion, it has better off-axis rejection, and it has a slightly
sweeter sound quality to it.

- Liquid Courage
 >> Stay informed about: Shot Gun Mic Selection 

stc213.RemoveThis@nyu.edu wrote in message news:<1099190110.557737.262920.RemoveThis@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com>...
> I go with the Sanken CS-3e - I've compared it with the 416 and, in my
> opinion, it has better off-axis rejection, and it has a slightly
> sweeter sound quality to it.
>
I tested the CS3e on the floor @ AES, and was very impressed at its
directionality in so small a package, and its lack of a rear sensitivity lobe.
Nice alternative, between hypercard and long shotgun.

Philip Perkins CAS
 >> Stay informed about: Shot Gun Mic Selection 

MKH60
On Wed, 27 Oct 2004 04:10:39 GMT, Mitch Nixon <mitchnixon.DeleteThis@shaw.ca>
wrote:

>New to this group, looking for info on everybody's fave shotgun
>
>If you could only have one, and it had to cover as many different
>situations a s possible, what would it be, or what are you using
>now and are you happy.
>
>I would rather spend $1000.00 on one great mike, than
>several inferior ones, trying to cover all bases.
>
>
>Thanks
 >> Stay informed about: Shot Gun Mic Selection