Suresh

I've been using HM-701 by Oscar Soundtech for sometime now. I am quite pleased with them.

I use the invision with my 416 and Schoeps CMC, and love it. Anyway the rubber doughnut mounts have been discontinued.

I worked for them on a documentary almost 6 years ago. It was made by a friend. I surprised to see the budget they had sent her did not have any allocation for production sound. But she somehow managed to get some money out for sound. Which turned out to be a decent sum.

We all had to graduate in physics before we could take the entrance exam to the film school. Vinod has managed to retain most of the stuff, I, being older has let much of what I've learnt evaporate. Suresh Bombay, India

I am quite pleased with my single piece Pearl MSH10 for mainly documentary work. http://www.pearlmicrophones.com/index.php/products/microphones-by-application-film-video/msh10andmsh20-detail

I think KMR81 sounds more rounded. But I am still a 416 user. But I agree with Robert, I'd rather go with a MKH50, Schoeps CMC641, or a MKH 8040/8050. These are very different microphones and will add another dimension to your quiver.

EMW's are very good sounding microphones. I don't have them because of budgetary reasons, I really like the sound and have very good success in mounting them underneath clothing. Like Eric says I'd go for the shelved for standard use. I have the Sankens in my kit but I use the EMW's very often.

I've been a longtime Lectro user. Once I had to use a G2 and I was thoroughly umimpressed with the audio quality. Last year I needed to buy a system but could not afford a Lectro so bought a lowest in the Micron series (EXP-FK16ASDR ) and I am very impressed with sound quality and the range. It cost me about GBP 1000/- along with a Sanken wired for its TX. In fact I am thinking buying their top of the line system when I have the money.

Once I recorded a big Steel Pan orchestra in Trinidad & Tobago with a CMC 64, I thought I got a pretty decent sound. Since the whole ensemble was kind of large I decided to go with the caridiod capsule. If you can, add a figure of 8.

I'd say, Laphroaig or Lagavulin

I'd recommend the book, Sculpting in Time by Andrei Tarkovsky and of course his films too. If you can, see the documentaries of Emile de Antonio.

The only thing is, my T powered 416 takes a little time to come on, with both, my 302 and my 442. But once its on, it is just fine.

Jon, Pinknoise has them listed on their website.

Audix SCX1/HC Microphone is another under $500 option.

I had sent my Lectros for servicing to Rio Rancho and just got fixed. A friend of mine was in Arlington,VA on work and was retuning back soon and had agreed to carry them back for me. She was not in the office when the parcel reached. The person who received the parcel was a little freaked when he saw the Lectro tagline ’Made in the USA by a Bunch of Fanatics’on the outside of the parcel. He was not sure whether to accept the parcel or not. Anyway he did. But was still worried, and with a couple of others opened to see what was in it. When they opened and saw a it contained a couple of black boxes with a lot of ‘electronics’ the whole office went into a tizzy. They kept the parcel in an empty room and waited nervously for my friend to return. When she returned and saw the parcel she told them that the items in the parcel looked exactly like what she was expecting and there was nothing to worry. When she called and told me this and I could help laughing. I don’t think when Lectro came up with their tagline expected anything like this would happen.

I bought a couple of HM-701 their headworn microphones and very happy with the sound and the build quality.

Rado, Quite some years ago...I got talked into doing a short fiction film by the camera person on the film. I was reluctant in accepting the offer because I was told 'Since it was self-financed film they could not afford a boom-op'. But like I said since the camera person was a friend, I got talked into it. Except for a couple of scenes it was pretty simple. But those two were crucial scenes to the film and I could not do a good job of it. Yes the same people hired me again when they did a fully funded documentary. But I knew I did not (could not) do a good job. Though they hired me again, I wonder how many jobs I lost because there were other producers/directors who saw this film.

I have shopped with B & H many times, through their office here/online or couple of times personally at the shop. I don't shop there just for their prices (not that it is not important), I shop there for their service. I have shopped from mixers, recorders to that small special cable. Every time it has been a positive experience. They deliver by the time they promise and if they can't deliver with in a time frame they tell you at the outset. I am sorry to say I can't say same thing about about certain so called 'niche, speciliazing in our business' shops' I have dealt with. In fact I am going through a situation right now. I am waiting for delivery for over a month now. Not only that, it takes 3 emails of increasing irritation from my side to elicit one response and that too with incomplete information. I am kicking myself for not doing business with B & H. Sorry for the rant. I could not let go of the oppurtunity that David provided.

One of my favourite rums. Unfortunately not easily available here. Imbibed a few when I was in Jamaica for a gig. Suresh

Though not a exclusively audio shop like Gotham or Pro-Sound, there is www.talamas.com at Newton, MA. Sures Rajamani

This reminds me… …some years ago…I got a call from this guy asking if I had sound gear and if I rented them. I said I do but told him I am not a full fledges rental house but will rent it if I knew the soundie. He said there is no sound person on the shoot , I said then sorry I wont rent it. He said ‘Please, can I come and talk to you’. I said, ,ok. He came and after talking to him I realised all he needed was the my Rycote windshield. It was to be a prop in the hands of some paparazzi following Aishwarya Rai in an ad shoot for an diamond company (De beers I think). He said the production company was willing to pay X amount, which was 5 times what I usually charge for the windshield along with the 416. I said ‘sure, you can have it’.

Sankens are great but I'd maybe add a couple of EMW's and B6's. In certain situations these may work better. Suresh Rajamani Bombay, India

Fernando, Fernando, My standard microphones are the 416 and the Schoeps 541. In terms of sensitivity wise I’d say the M microphone of the MSH 10 is closer to the 416 but of course it does not match it. I was thinking of the Sanken CSS5 too. But since that outputs only L & R and sometimes I am asked to deliver discreet M & S and since I have a 442, 302 and 702T all of which can decode M & S if need be, I decided to go with the MSH 10. Suresh Rajamani Bomaby, India

Fernando, I own and use the MSH 10. I do sometimes record dialogue with the M (a shotgun) in doco situations and I quite like it. I have never used MS2/8 so can't compare. Suresh Rajamani, Bombay, India

Hi, I never had any direct contact with the guy. My friend was on email contact for a while and personally went to meet him on the 9th of December, when the dates were confirmed once again. He also gave my mobile number if he wanted to get in touch with me. This guy is not really a film maker but some kind of installation artist. When my friend asked him in ‘what format did he want to shoot’ all he could come up with was ’CCD’ camera. He had already been filming with some kind of Handycam before the formal shoot started. So he just decided he had enough material and why pay these guys. What if I had blocked their dates. I know law and its interpretation is different in different places. I am not talking legalese here, just basic decency. The cruel irony is I was supposed to go on a trip on the 19th of December since the work has been a bit dull I changed my dates to do this shoot and incurred flight cancellation charges. I have emailed him to tell him what I thought of him. Feeling a bit better after letting out some steam. Suresh Rajamani Bombay, India