WHAT MIC SHOULD I GET? [LOCATION]

Here’s the latest in a series I’m posting to answer the question I so frequently hear: “What mic should I get?” In this particular entry, we’ll take a look at mics for location recording. Here we cover situations where you’re taking a portable rig somewhere for interviews or documentation of some kind.

As in each entry, it’s essential to get familiar with the intro/ index of the series to get a foundation for our inquiries. To reiterate, there are intersecting ideas in each entry, so I recommend digesting the entire series, and following up for more info with some robust online searches.

This is, admittedly, the most challenging entry in the series for me to put together, since I work primarily in post these days and do very little location recording. But from previous experience and the advice of some friends, I’m as confident as ever that I can pass along some good knowledge here.

Boom mics are the long “shotgun” mics you’ll see someone holding over the action on a film set (as in the photo accompanying this article). Audio Technica, Sennheiser, and Rode are commonly used brands in a decent price range.

For low-cost lav mics, the Deity W-Lav Pro is a good way to go.

As far as affordable wireless mics, the Sennheiser g4 ew100 sets and Deity BP-TRX sets are good choices. In a higher price range,  Lectrosonics is a good option.

Though a tad off-topic, we might as well get into field recorders as well, since you’ll want to be sending your mic signal somewhere. As far as that goes, the Sound Devices Mix Pre series is a stable of workhorses with many options to choose from, and Zoom makes a wide variety of field recorders. As of this writing the Sound Devices MixPre 3 and MixPre 6, as well as the Zoom F6 and F8N Pro, receive high marks. Both companies are putting out new lines all the time, so see what’s new when you’re nearing acquisition.

Once again, let this guide be one of many info sources you consume. Good luck!

Thanks to Jared Elkin and Carly Zuckweiler for their recommendations.

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