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Shotgun microphone to record lectures?

S

Shohreh

Junior Member
Hello

I need to record lectures and conferences where I'll be seating in the audience, ie. I'll have to pick up sound from loudspeakers.

The built-in microphone on the entry-level JVC camcorder I borrowed is OK when seating right under a loudspeaker, but that won't always be possible.

Since camcorders that accept an external microphone are a bit expensive for home use, I'm thinking of getting a good shotgun microphone and a good-enough digital recorder, and combining the video/audio tracks on my PC with whatever application is recommended.

Provided this is a good idea, which brand + model would you recommend for shotgun microphones for that purpose?

For instance, Amazon has a lot of items for condenser microphones and dynamic microphones.

Thank you.
 
Well, you'd need to get the ok to record them first of all. Which at conferences I'd guess would not be ok. I'd check that out first before blowing money on something you can't even use. Or look for something covert...
 
Permission is granted to record lectures.

If someone has researched entry-level shotgun microphones recently, which brand + model would you recommend?

I saw those mentioned:
  • Audio Technica AT897
  • Audio Technica ATR 6550
  • Audio Technica AT 875 R
  • SENNHEISER ME 67
  • RODE NTG 1
  • RODE NTG 2
  • MXL AC-404
  • CAD u7
  • Samson Go Mic

Thank you.
 
Yeah - lectures are usually OK - but conferences are another matter. There are many more issues involved - sometimes non-attribution comments, etc.
 
Permission is a non-issue in this case.

So, which shotgun microphones are recommended in that price range ($/€ 50-200)?

Thank you.
 
Gotta love AT, the only forum where you can ask a question and spend pages debating the moral, ethical, and legal issues that you already have covered and yet no one answers your question.
 
Shohreh said:
Permission is granted to record lectures.

If someone has researched entry-level shotgun microphones recently, which brand + model would you recommend?

I saw those mentioned:
  • Audio Technica AT897
  • Audio Technica ATR 6550
  • Audio Technica AT 875 R
  • SENNHEISER ME 67
  • RODE NTG 1
  • RODE NTG 2
  • MXL AC-404
  • CAD u7
  • Samson Go Mic

Thank you.
Click to expand...

that list is a pretty wide array of prices and functions.

Generally speaking, are you looking for something simple where you can just plug it in and go? something like the sennheiser ME 67 will need additional parts/hardware/cables.

Do these conferences involve music or nature sounds that need to be recorded in reasonable fidelity or do you just need the frequency range of the human voice? If you're just recording someone speaking, you can get away with a lesser mic.

I'd probably get a miniature camera mount style shotgun if it's just for spoken stuff. Sennheiser MKE 400 or similar. Small, internally powered (no preamp / extra cables needed), and can feed the mic in of a DSLR if desired.
 
I believe the Rode mics are pretty good for the money. Shotgun mics are kinda huge so that's something you should consider. Also, the distance to the source is far more important than the quality of the mic.
 
Dubb said:
If you're just recording someone speaking, you can get away with a lesser mic. I'd probably get a miniature camera mount style shotgun if it's just for spoken stuff. Sennheiser MKE 400 or similar. Small, internally powered (no preamp / extra cables needed), and can feed the mic in of a DSLR if desired.
Click to expand...

Yes, it's just to record lectures and conferences, so we're talking human voice range.

I'll add the Sennheiser MKE 400 to the list. Does DSLR stand for "Digital single-lens reflex"? Lectures can last over 2h, and I read cameras don't have enough memory to record that long, and batteries are another issue. Ideally, I'd like to record the whole thing in one go, without having to swap memory card and/or battery.

bgstcola said:
I believe the Rode mics are pretty good for the money. Shotgun mics are kinda huge so that's something you should consider. Also, the distance to the source is far more important than the quality of the mic.
Click to expand...

Yes, I read about the Rode. Since it'll be handled instead of screwed onto a camcorder, I guess I should be looking at the NTGx series.

I'll try to sit as close as possible to a loudspeaker and aim the mike in that direction.

JohnnyRebel said:
I can't give you a recommendation from personal experience, but the Sennheiser MKE 400 has been in my Adorama wish list for some time and was chosen as the result of a lot of research I did last year.
Click to expand...

Looks like the MKE 400 is a really good mike. I'll add it to the mix and see if I go for this or something more basic like the AudioTechnica.

Thanks guys.
 
Shohreh said:
Yes, it's just to record lectures and conferences, so we're talking human voice range.

I'll add the Sennheiser MKE 400 to the list. Does DSLR stand for "Digital single-lens reflex"? Lectures can last over 2h, and I read cameras don't have enough memory to record that long, and batteries are another issue. Ideally, I'd like to record the whole thing in one go, without having to swap memory card and/or battery.
Click to expand...

Yeah, those kind of DSLR mics. The MKE 400, several rode mics, and many others. They're intended to sit in the flash shoe of a camera. But they work as stand alone mics, and are generally pretty good for the price level. I probably wouldn't hand hold it, get a cheap flash shoe base and turn it into a table top mic.

like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Camera-Plastic...2815452&sr=8-1
 
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