How far away should a shotgun mic be?
The most expensive shotgun mics can only capture audio from a distance of six to ten feet, while more affordable mics sound their best at a distance of three to four feet away. Interviews are typically shot from about seven to ten feet away from the subject.
What direction should my mic be?
Once you find the sweet spot, place the cardioid mic with its capsule pointing perpendicular to your palm toward the sound source. This is effective with all cardioid-type mics and works fairly well with bidirectional mics as well.
What is the purpose of a shotgun mic?
Uses. A shotgun is commonly used in applications where only the sound in front of the microphone is expected to be captured and all other noises to be reduced. Such scenarios include talks or speeches in meetings, conferences, and lectures where the speaker does not need to hold a microphone and speak into it.
How do I improve my shotgun mic?
Five tips to record better quality sound with your shotgun…
- Wear good headphones. It’s not always possible to wear headphones all the time while filming, particularly if you’re vlogging.
- Set the right levels.
- Proximity.
- Microphone placement.
- Pad your room.
When would you use a shotgun mic?
What do you plug a shotgun mic into?
Just plug it into a portable power source using the included microUSB cable for non-stop recording. Some shotgun mics run on batteries too, and this is perfect for situations where phantom power is not available.
What should I look for in a shotgun mic?
Most shotgun mics are reasonably good at capturing on-axis audio, but for the best shotgun, it’s important to look for low-self noise and high sensitivity in conjunction with a natural on-axis sound and uniform off-axis rejection. This will ensure the best audio overall.
How does a shotgun mic improve directionality?
While the series of frequency cuts produced by the slots in the tube is sure to improve the ratio of on-axis to off-axis sound, it may not sound very natural. To put it another way, there is often a sonic trade-off in quality for improved directionality with shotgun microphones.
What should the frequency range of a shotgun mic be?
Since most shotgun microphones are designed to pick up the human voice, frequency range will likely only be a concern when shopping for a mic to fit a particular use case. Keep in mind that longer shotgun mics are better at rejecting lower the off-axis frequencies.
What is the directivity index of a shotgun mic?
The directivity index graph below compares the VP89S (short), VP89M (medium), and VP89L (long) shotguns. Notice how the cardioid pattern stays uniformly directional with frequency, while the shotgun mics become increasingly directional at lower frequencies proportional to the length of their interference tubes.
Why are shotgun microphones better than cardioid microphones?
They are more directional than a typical cardioid or supercardioid microphone. This means that they reject unwanted sounds coming at the microphone from the sides, thus allowing clearer pickup of the desired sound source at which the microphone is pointed, or the “on-axis” source.