VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Jowillie · Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 5:10 am Post subject:

George, after all the responses (all good), the fact is we are all still looking for that golden fleece--a less expensive MKH416. or a smaller version of the same thing.
As you know in your experience, there's few like the 416. Many are close. None just like.
As a replacement, the new Rode NTG-3 is nice. It's still a longish shotgun, but similar in duty fullfillment to the 416. (Here's a test comparison).
There are many Small Diaphram Condensers available that sound great and many have been mentioned. But not exactly like a MKH416.
The search continues.
_________________
Wild Willie Edwards
www.hometowntvtoday.com
http://vomictest.blogspot.com

georgethetech · Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 8:49 am Post subject:

Thanks for that, Jowillie! Actually, not having had a chance to do my own test of the NTG-3, I had previously based my opinions on the sound of that mic on the very test you posted of Ty Fords, an excellent test indeed. I am going to start offering this mic to those who want that in-your-face shotgun mic sound on a budget. I think I will get my hands on the Audix 1280 setup and give it a comparison test myself, as there are no tests or reviews of this unusual little mic that I can find. I shall report back and let you know what I find.
_________________
If it sounds good, it is good.
George Whittam
GeorgeThe.Tech
424-226-8528
VOBS.TV Co-host
TheProAudioSuite.com Co-host
TriBooth.com Co-founder

Jowillie · Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 9:50 am Post subject:

Thanks, George. Looking forward to what you find. You know, I have been thinking of an altenative mic for the VO2Go package for a while.
Wouldn't it be great if something like the Naiant turned out to be the one?
_________________
Wild Willie Edwards
www.hometowntvtoday.com
http://vomictest.blogspot.com

georgethetech · Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 10:00 am Post subject:

I am developing a VO2GO "Mini" that I will have at VOICE 2008 based on the smallest components (within reason) I can find that still sound good and work reliably. Hopefully I'll have a M1280-S with me as well. What my client mentioned was someday being able to have a mic attached to a boom on the headphones that sounds good enough for VO, no mic stand required. Sure would make it tough to "work the mic", but it seems like it could be possible. That Naiant Mic looks nice, but is Omni.
_________________
If it sounds good, it is good.
George Whittam
GeorgeThe.Tech
424-226-8528
VOBS.TV Co-host
TheProAudioSuite.com Co-host
TriBooth.com Co-founder

Yoda117 · Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 10:29 am Post subject:

Hell, if we're going for small, why not a TECT UEM-88?

BTW: maybe it's me, but I still preferred the 416 over the NTG-2 and NTG-3. NTG is better with EQ than the NTG-2, but still doesn't do it for me in VO.

That said, when I have to use a mic that some might use a shotgun for, I just either use proximity effect and lower the gain, or just adjust the mic to a wide cardoid or hypercardoid pattern. In short, shotgun mics don't sound as nice to me on my voice (though I know others who use them with remarkable skill).
_________________
Voiceovers by Gregory Houser
Philadelphia based Voice Actor

Blog - A man, a martini, and a lot of microphones

georgethetech · Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 10:41 am Post subject:

That thing is cute, but 200-15K range? Surveillance yes, VO no. I am sure you posted that just for yucks anyhow!
Here's a pic of the Audix M1280-S with shotgun capsule.

And one for scale:

Small, huh??
_________________
If it sounds good, it is good.
George Whittam
GeorgeThe.Tech
424-226-8528
VOBS.TV Co-host
TheProAudioSuite.com Co-host
TriBooth.com Co-founder

Frank F · Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 12:18 pm Post subject:

Take a good listen to the Audix... hmmm? Great for talking heads or when I use the mic for a far field room effect or an "overhead"; when recording a piano or something similar.

The M1280 - S is a tad - er - a whole lot on the bright side. A lot of color and self noise is horrendous. Color is good for VO, not for musical recordings.

Pencil condensor tend to have a very wide pattern with minimum side rejection.

Consider a KEL HM-1 for your porta-rig. Phat sound and diminutive size (2" x 5"), great side rejection capabilities, cardoid pattern,, 30 - 20 kHz Freq. response. sounds nice on the human voice. I have used the KEL HM-1 along side an MKH-416 and had great results.

A shotgun microphone has it's place in certain situations, a hotel room for VO is not one of those places.

Since specified in the original post - a shotgun microphone - for road use I assumed that is what you desired. If you are just looking for a higher quality microphone which may be used for "VO-on-the-go" with a tiny footprint, there are s-o-o-o-o-o many microphones to choose from I cannot begin to list them here.

I have said it before and I will probably say it again: "Microphones are a personal choice, just like underwear, Each of our voices (and bodies) has/have unique qualities and at this point in time, there is NO one-size-fits-all microphone of which I am aware. Your choice for underwear should be a personal one, so should your choice for a microphone."

Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it.

Toodles

F2
_________________
Be thankful for the bad things in life. They opened your eyes to the good things you weren't paying attention to before. email: thevoice@usa.com

Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

One thing about shotgun mics...they have a narrow pattern/good off axis rejection. Great.

But then, they have a very very long throw...they won't pick up that rumble to your left but they'll pick up the reflection of that rumble as it scoots around the room over your shoulder.

I never found that the 416 won me any favors in lowering noise floor/ambient noise, eliminating low rumble or taking away the liveliness of the room. Usually quiet the opposite.

For hotel recording, I'd go with something like the KEL or dynamic mics.
_________________
Skype: globalvoiceover
and now, http://lanceblairvo.com the blog is there now too!

Yoda117 · Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 9:24 pm Post subject: