Microphone for voice recording?

Archived from groups: rec.audio.tech (More info?)

My workplace wants to record a number of different people for use on a
web site voice-over. Additionally, we may want a microphone solution
for making short videos of people speaking from their desk.

It seems to me that a clip-on or mike-on-stand solution would work.
The former would probably be easeir to work with, but I don't want to
sacrifice much in quality.

I'd like brand and model recommendations for microphones that could be
used plugged either into a PC or a camcorder.

I'm also wondering if there is a quality difference between using a
PC's audio jack for input vs. a USB device to feed the audio, whether
it be a usb mike or an intermediary device that the mike plugs into.

Thanks
email replies appreciated:
tintintx@hotmail.com

Archived from groups: rec.audio.tech (More info?)

Richard Crowley wrote:
> Consider that 99.7% of all the "talking head" video you
> see on TV, from David Letterman to CNN to your local weather reporter
> are ALL using clip-on electret condenser mics.

Is that actually true? The boom has gone bust?

Personally, I hate putting mikes under the chin and would recommend
headset mikes if you care about sound quality but don't want to tie
folks to a fixed position. On the other hand, voice-over isn't usually a
highest-possible-sound-quality situation.

Archived from groups: rec.audio.tech (More info?)

"Joe Kesselman" wrote ...
> Richard Crowley wrote:
>> Consider that 99.7% of all the "talking head" video you
>> see on TV, from David Letterman to CNN to your local weather reporter
>> are ALL using clip-on electret condenser
>> mics.
>
> Is that actually true? The boom has gone bust?

Its hard to get good help, even at the network level.

And the quality of electret lapel mics has grown while
their size has concurrently shrunk. And good-quality
wireless TX/RX are within the budget of even the most
modest local station.

Watch carefully for the next month. Report back if you
see anything resembling a boom mic, boom shadow,
lack of body mic, etc.

Even "reality" shows out on desert islands have a dozen
wireless lavs, one for each contestant, etc. Go over to
news:rec.arts.movies.production.sound and lurk for a
while. Boom mics are pretty much relegated to full-length
feature (and TV) film production. (And some big-$$$
commercials, etc.)

They light/block/rehearse soaps so meticulously that maybe
booms are still used there? Dunno, haven't seen one in
several decades.

> Personally, I hate putting mikes under the chin and would recommend
> headset mikes if you care about sound quality but don't want to tie
> folks to a fixed position. On the other hand, voice-over isn't usually
> a highest-possible-sound-quality situation.

Voice-over is one thing. On-camera is a completely different
situation.

Archived from groups: rec.audio.tech (More info?)

"Kayte" <k.revitte@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1121961744.710214.252260@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>
>> Easily avoided by proper placement. This may mean
>> clipping on the subject's collar on the side, etc.
>>
>
> The interviewer does that, which is not always somebody trained in
> audio or video. In fact, one interviewer clicked her pen loudly
> throughout the whole interview. Bureaucracy usually prevents things
> being done how they should, unfortunately. Or even in a way that makes
> any sense.
>
>
>> But it would likely sound horrible. Try it sometime.
>
> How so? Given a decent mic, why wouldn't it sound as good as the lavs?

Distance from the source. Room acoustics.
Early reflections from the table-top, etc. etc. etc.

It wouldn't sound remotely as good as the cheapest
lav you can find. In fact, "remotely" may be the key
factor (pun intended :-)

Maybe OK for transcription purposes, but it would
never make it on the air unless you're interviewing
Elvis or something.

Try it sometime and see for yourself. You don't need to take
anybody's word for it.