budget boundary mic options

[Ken Wilkinson]

I've already blown out my budget on my new kit but would like to add a boundary mic for an upcoming submarine shoot. Can anybody recommend a decent affordable mic for this purpose? I'd love to pick up a cub but the really have to stop saying " oh it's only $xxx"... been doing that way too much lately

[Max Hirtenstein]

have any trams? try this. 

[studiomprd]

most any mic can be used as a boundry mic.

[Ken Wilkinson]

have any trams? try this.

no trams. b3's and mke-2's

most any mic can be used as a boundry mic.

is there a preferred polar pattern for a boundary mic?

[studiomprd]

" is there a preferred polar pattern for a boundary mic? "

there may be...

it depends...

Edited May 11, 2013 by studiomprd

[Ken Wilkinson]

" is there a preferred polar pattern for a boundary mic? "

there may be...

it depends...

smh...

[studiomprd]

" smh... "

 

you can do your own homework

[dfisk]

Shure makes a good boundary mic that is affordable, if I remember correctly.

[VM]

Have a look too on crownaudio website. There are very good infos about boundary mics.

[studiomprd]

" that is affordable, "

what is affordable ?

 

(and don't even go near "affordable housing"...   )

EV (now Telex) used to sell a "mic mouse"...

[Max Hirtenstein]

Senator is right, on a doc shoot recently I showed up to a room with 20 people around a conference table. The producer asked if we can possibly get everyone. I just taped 4 lavs evenly around the table and the results were acceptable. Boundary mics are generally omni.

[JamesB]

Before I owned CUB-01 mics I would use COS-11... if they are being placed against a soft surface, adding a reflective surface behind the mic, like a credit card or other small plastic square can help with the high end response.   You need to play with the space between the reflective surface and the mic, I found a small amount of space sounded better then taped directly to it. 

 

The CUB-01 is hemisphere cardiod... basically half of the cardiod pattern, which I find can be very helpful when doing automotive micing.

[TomBoisseau]

I really like the Audio technica Pro44's. They are relatively small, light weight, and inexpensive (under $100). They only problem is the pick up pattern is more like 90 degrees rather than 180, but that can be an advantage sometimes. I've used them quite successfully in car rigs. They have a very full sound with lots of low end.

I also use the Pro44's for live panel discussions. I have about 18 of them that I use in conjunction with an auto mixer. I found them to sound much better that the old Crown PCC 160's, even though the Crown's are 4 times the price.

One more thing. The Pro44's also have a really hot output, therefore less likely to hear any noise induced into the cable line.

Tom

[Jack Norflus]

I've never tried these but they are cheep

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11788766

they might be worth a try. But remember you get what you pay for.

Did you look into renting?

[Christian Spaeth]

you could try the DPA mount for their lavs. The MKE2 has the same size roughly. No idea how it sound though but at less than 20 dollars

a piece I think it's worth considering.

http://www.dpamicrophones.com/en/products.aspx?c=Item&category=128&item=24098

[stacysound]

THe TRAM thing works great.

[Philip Perkins]

The TRAM thing does work pretty well, better than it seems like it ought to.  I did a lot of recording with the predecessor to that Radio Shack boundary mic, which was a knockoff of a Crown design.  They were ok (could take huge SPL), but being unbalanced were prone to pick up crap in the line.  It might be worth it lookfor a used TRAM (or better, Sonotrim) to use for this purpose.

 

philp

[Jim Gilchrist]

The TRAM thing does work pretty well, better than it seems like it ought to.  I did a lot of recording with the predecessor to that Radio Shack boundary mic, which was a knockoff of a Crown design.  They were ok (could take huge SPL), but being unbalanced were prone to pick up crap in the line.  It might be worth it lookfor a used TRAM (or better, Sonotrim) to use for this purpose.

 

philp

Right with Phil on this. The SonoTrim does work better, at least to my ear. The BLM adaptor has served me well especially as audience mics. Also did a great job taped to the doorjam of a mobile home conversion's front door with an unbelievably low porch ceiling covering a long conversation in the doorway. Probably a better investment for those  that seldom require a boundary layer mic since Trams do very well and SonoTrims do extremely well for this application and both mics are solid additions to anybody's gear package.

Best regards,

Jim

[Ken Wilkinson]

Thank you guys this is great advice!

[jrd456]

I think you need a cub in your kit.I did a submarine movie and the cubs saved me.They have more reach than the cos 11's---------go ahead, it only hurts for a little while.

 

                                                                                              J.D.

[Ken Wilkinson]

I think you need a cub in your kit.I did a submarine movie and the cubs saved me.They have more reach than the cos 11's---------go ahead, it only hurts for a little while.

J.D.

finally the kind of answer I was looking for!

[jason porter]

My favourite JWSound saying- "Buy once, Cry once"

finally the kind of answer I was looking for!

[JonG]

I second the CUBs. I have a couple that are wired to work with my Lectros, as well as XLR adapters for them. They have come in super handy on many occasions, and I think everyone should have a pair in their kit. They may be expensive, but they are worth having. Before I had them I would use a lav mic like many here with varying results, but being omni (the CUB mics are Cardioid) they would pick up a lot of room noise and the dialogue would generally sound distant.

 

In the case of wiring up a car, using an omni mic will often give you that reflexion sound from the windshield that isnt very pretty sounding and people generally dont like. A CUB pointing away from the windshield and towards the cast member speaking will give you a clean and clear sound.

 

Its simple really, appropriate mics for different circumstances.