Which microphone for near field?

[gevorg]

Looking for a microphone for skype and video voice over, but want it to function in a near range only and suppress sounds/noise from 2ft+ away or so. Is this even possible? What kind of mics do this? Any suggestions?

 

[vbuggy]

There's a thread a few lines down in which I recommended the Samson C01U. It's a very directional mic as I also commented, and if you hold it up close it should quite nicely reject any noise behind and above the element.

Like this - you talk to it flat-on, not from above (or the wrong side, as I've seen some Youtube 'reviews' do).


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What you basically want is a broadcast / podcast mic on a plausible stand for your particular use so that it's up fairly close - there are lots about, though they vary in capability and cost. I use Blue Mouse's among others - the Mouse is my primary voice mic for VoIP and gaming - and I use it upside down so that it hangs down from the anglepoise mount, so that I can have it hanging up and over the monitor fairly close to my head. The Mouse has a repositionable element so that I can angle it for best pickup tone from that position.

My usual gaming + VoIP "headset" arrangement
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In one use case I face a window with a bit of traffic noise, and while I'm talking it does reject the noise quite well. The same would go with any cardioid mic.

 

[gevorg]

Thanks, very informative! Looks like I need a cardioid microphone. I didn't mention in OP, but I would prefer a microphone that works with a 3.5mm jack so that I can also use it with DSLR. Does the XLR version of that Samson, the C01 model, requires an amp to be used with standard computer 3.5mm port? Or can I just plug it in straight through an adapter?

 

[taq8ojh]

Thanks for the first picture! I looked through all the papers in the box and couldn't find this information anywhere. I was pretty surprised, because it's NOT as obvious as it might seem. Some audiophiles and youtube teenage nerds would probably laugh at me for not knowing this, but seriously, how is one supposed to know?

 

[vbuggy]

Thanks, very informative! Looks like I need a cardioid microphone. I didn't mention in OP, but I would prefer a microphone that works with a 3.5mm jack so that I can also use it with DSLR. Does the XLR version of that Samson, the C01 model, requires an amp to be used with standard computer 3.5mm port? Or can I just plug it in straight through an adapter?

A cardioid mic that would work well for voice-work wouldn't work as a DSLR mic: You'll need a 'shotgun' - an example would be the Rode Videomic. The Samson is a USB mic - plugs directly into a free USB socket.

 

[vbuggy]

Thanks for the first picture! I looked through all the papers in the box and couldn't find this information anywhere. I was pretty surprised, because it's NOT as obvious as it might seem. Some audiophiles and youtube teenage nerds would probably laugh at me for not knowing this, but seriously, how is one supposed to know?

Well, with studio mics (ones which don't have a 'balloon / bullet shaped' pickup assembly as with a stage mic) it's pretty normal practice to use them flat-on.

Mics you're supposed to / can talk into than at have an uninterrupted top, even some studio mics - like the pretty much industry standard (and my backup to the Mouses) RE20.

I guess the potential issue with the C01 is that apart from the telltale strip running across the middle of the pickup assembly (meaning don't talk into it - well you can, but you'll get a much more 'harder edged' sound), it's a bit stage-mic-shaped as well as studio-mic shaped, especially for people who haven't held a 'proper' mic before?

In either case, cardioid mics quite noticeably alters in terms of pickup of your voice with their relative position to you - so it's up to you to choose the best position. It's just that most people don't have an incredibly basso profundo voice, so the position optimal for the cardioid studio mic (in most cases the 'flat-on' position) would afford the most full-range pickup, meaning the richest possible voice. What you'd do if you wanted to give yourself a scratchier tone or if your voice is too booming is to move the mic so that it's rejecting part of your voice.