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Posted by Richard Crowley on 11/29/07 01:38
"Pre-Meltdown" wrote ...
> But some of the problems are 8' ceilings (ergo no booms), and given some
> occasional vigorous motion, a lapel/lavalier mic could be noisy, with
> rubbing etc.
Thousands (10,000s?) of vigorously moving people are
using effective microphones every week. Both live (at health-
clubs/gyms) and recorded (exercise videos, TV shows, etc.)
I can't imagine that use of your device would be any more
vigorous that some of the kinds of things they do every day.
There is a whole sub-culture of microphones and wireless
TX/RX systems specificaly designed for this kind of use.
The problems of movement, attachment, sweat, etc, etc.
have been effectively resolved over the last several years.
You should have no problem finding microphones and
wireless sytems that would perform perfectly for your
situation.
> Could I mount a couple of shotguns closer to me on tripods, just out of
> camera view? Mebbe velcro one or two to the ceiling?
No and No. What happens if the talker moves or turns
around or even turns their head? Not to mention the
acoustic nightmare of trying to shoot with a shotgun in
a small enclosed space. Fixed-position shotguns are
only effective if the person is just sitting in one place.
And shotguns indoors are problematical because they
depend on sound waves from ("off axis") to properly
discriminate the desired sound vs. ambience. But when
the ambient sounds are bouncing off nearby walls, floors,
ceilings, etc. Their effectiveness breaks down. That is
why professionals typically use "hyper-cardioids" indoors
vs. true shotguns outdoors.
> Someone suggesting taping a lavalier to skin, instead of clothing, to
> reduce noise.
Very slim (and nearly invisible) headset mics seem to
be one of the prefered methods for micing in this kind
of situation. Professional "lav" mics are also very tiny
(the size of your little fingernail). Places like Broadway
productions frequently hide them in the hairline.
> I imagine a wireless mic would be called for here?
> Any recs?
I got 7 hits on eBay searching for "aerobics wireless"
The big-gun professionals (such as people who do
sound for major Hollywood productions and prime-
time episodic television) have a lively discussion at
news:rec.arts.movies.production.sound From their
consensus over the last several years, their idea of
a decent wireless microphone starts at ~$1500. They
are willing to concede that some usable systems are
available as cheap as $500.
From personal experience (and reading the tales of
woe from others here on Usenet) wireless systems
<$500 are suspect as cheap, unreliable plastic toys.
You are better off renting a professional system than
wasting money on a cheap and unreliable toy.
That said, most of those hits I got on eBay were for a
Samson "Airline 77" model at ~$300 It might be worth
a try if you could get one from a local dealer with the
option of returning it if it doesn't work for your situation.
I'm not above using a wired lav (or headset) mic, either.
Unless your on-screen person is jumping around, etc.
strongly consider a wired mic. A modestly-priced wired
mic is much more reliable than even a $10,000 wireless
unit. I have even had good results with the cheap (~$25)
lav available at Radio Shack if you have the time to learn
how to use it to best advantage, etc.
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