Jump to content

Long shotgun advice


azw

Recommended Posts

AZW,

 

While many of us older sound folks have had great success over the years with the classic long shotgun microphone in various situations and environments, most would say that a basketball gymnasium is not one. If it’s an exterior court, you might have better success; but like all of us filmmakers, the frame pretty much dictates our ability to capture clear dialogue with a boom. 

In any case, I’d recommend a Schoeps. Despite having used just about every “shotgun” made over my career (Sennheisers, Neumanns, etc), nothing beats a CMC641 for natural clarity.

 

Best of luck,

 

Moe

Link to comment
Share on other sites

An indoor court would basically be a nightmare no matter what mic you have at the end of your boom, unless like stated above, you have something like an mk41 that’s nice and close to the coach. 
 

outdoors might be a different story. 
 

as far as long shotguns go, I’m a big fan of them. I recommend getting one that matches the mics you already have. If you’re a Schoeps guy, maybe get the Neumann 82i. If you’re using an mkh60 already, maybe go with the mkh70. I have the 82i, the mkh70, and the mkh815T, and love them all. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would second CS3e if you are on the sidelines, headturns will be a problem tho. I havent done basketball, but for football it can be worth considering putting a blimped shotgun on a low stand pointing towards the coach from below and hope for the best if you are not allowed to mic them. If you do this I would consider something that doesnt matter as much if it goes harms way, like a 416 or NTG3 sort of thing, but indoor acoustics and hard floors might make it less of an option again. Maybe a 50 if you can get it planted close enough? Still, I would be horrified to leave a MKH50/CS3e blimped close to the action.

 

Or you could have a chat with production to see if there is any way to put a wireless/track e (if the broadcaster prevents wireless) on him, it's going to be hard to match.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 years later...
On 2/16/2021 at 7:29 PM, JonG said:

 

as far as long shotguns go, I’m a big fan of them. I recommend getting one that matches the mics you already have. If you’re a Schoeps guy, maybe get the Neumann 82i. If you’re using an mkh60 already, maybe go with the mkh70. I have the 82i, the mkh70, and the mkh815T, and love them all. 

Jon, I see your post here about the long shotguns, and that you have a lot of experience with them.

 

I've been using a Rycote INV 7 HG MkIII mount for medium and short shotguns, but today I was using the mkh70 with a rycote softie that I just acquired and was realizing that I need a heavier duty mount than what Im using on the others, I could get by with it , but not ideal.  besides getting an entire zeppelin setup , just being out on a football field I want to use the mkh70 with a rycote softie to keep weight down, which mounts would you recommend?  I cant seem to find anything heavier in the invision line, or the cinela line for longer shoguns... I really dont want to have to get a zeppelin for this thing ....yet.  

 

Thx- 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, Constantin said:

Maybe try a parabolic dish mic? Schoeps sell a set with a Telinga dish, for example. They get used a lot in sports, although usually outside. Not sure how it wouls sound, but it might help you with a bit more range

 

Might be fun to try but I dont think Ill get much use out of a dish in the long run. I want to keep it on the boom pole, without a huge blimp ...

 

i found this INV-BH ($115) mount which I want to give a try, but realizing reading the specs tthat it maxes out at 500g ?

and from my calculations the mic and the rycote 29cm softie together would weigh over 600g so Im wondering how compliant the lyres gonna be ,

I see its grey colored in this photo, which I beleive is the heavier duty version.  

I could be wrong though I dont know., just pulling weight stats off of B&H website.   

 

 

Rycote Rycote 041123 INV-BH Microphone Suspension

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I hated the sound of the dishes indoors, they made it all worse in every way.  You have to tell the filmmakers that if you can't get a mic on the coach you aren't going to be able to record what he says a lot of the time.  If you can be in close with a boom mic that's good for part of the time (a small part) but being close enough to hear him well (in speech vs yelling) would be much more distracting for everyone (and mess up the shots of other cameras) than getting a wire on him.  Don't forget to freq coordinate with the venue/team/broadcasters etc!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

15 hours ago, soundtown said:

I've been using a Rycote INV 7 HG MkIII mount for medium and short shotguns, but today I was using the mkh70 with a rycote softie that I just acquired and was realizing that I need a heavier duty mount than what Im using on the others, I could get by with it , but not ideal.  besides getting an entire zeppelin setup , just being out on a football field I want to use the mkh70 with a rycote softie to keep weight down, which mounts would you recommend?  I cant seem to find anything heavier in the invision line, or the cinela line for longer shoguns... I really dont want to have to get a zeppelin for this thing ....yet.  

I don’t really have any advice for you in this regard. Every long shotgun that I’ve purchased has come with its own zeppelin since I’ve managed to get them used. They’re designed for outdoor use and therefore would require wind protection. You could use the mount without the basket, but know that the mount will also clip on the interference tube so that would make using any lighter wind protection difficult. I think you’ll have to bite the bullet and get a zep as I don’t see any other made to order options. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Pretty much repeating what Jon just said. I have an 816 and also the long 816 softie ... longer and heavier than the 70 granted but similar physics. The only suitable ‘tail end’ grip I ever found for the 816 (thus allowing use of the softie) is the original MZS 3inch tube thing - which provides ‘enough’ ‘top grip’ to somewhat counter the droop effect. Better for stand use than boom (unless combine with eg Ambient Floater).

 

 I have however seen a rycote lyre that must have been designed principally for the 70: it was maybe a double grip combined with a triple lyre system?

 

 If you wanted to DIY I would look at making a counterbalance at the suspension end of the mic just by the xlr. This would obviously significantly increase the overall weight but lessen the droop (and include the softie weight into the balance if you do this).

 

But for boom movement use with a shotgun nothing substitutes the long zep. Being able to have a balancing lyre/hoop towards the front makes so much difference. And getting a Rycote WS8 or 7 modular and an additional jammer WJ4 to the WJ8/7 makes an all round great flexible kit for shorter shotguns when just having to choose between.

 

Jez

Addendum: re reading your OP I expect the Invision 7 HG Mk III was what I’ve seen: if so, attempting a counterweight or upgrading to zeppelin (dougal in my language) are your options!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 7/9/2023 at 2:00 AM, The Immoral Mr Teas said:

 I have however seen a rycote lyre that must have been designed principally for the 70: it was maybe a double grip combined with a triple lyre system?

This is not necessary. Go to the rycote website and search for MKH70, they point to the standard WS6 kit with 2 single lyre 82 mounts (see pic). Link: https://mymic.rycote.com/products/windshield-solutions/modular-windshield-kit/modular-windshield-ws-6-kit/  I use exactly this for my MKH70 and it works great. I've seen a lot of long and even short shotguns mounted in the double, double invision mounts which is so stiff they offer little shock dampening. 

Large_040149_040150_040151_Suspension_Large_UniversalLyre82_XLR-3F.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The issue there Jason is that the OP, soundtown, is trying to get away without using the blimp, just a softie, so the front lyre is in the way. I think we’re all agreed that using a shotgun outside on a pole requires a full zepp, and that allows proper balance as well as suspension dampening and full shielding: bite the bullet and you won’t look back. Putting a softie on a long mic I can only really recommend for fixed stand use (sit down interviews or plants) and I would choose a rigid clip not a suspension clip. If one must compromise with softie and pole try dampening with eg a Floater not lyre system and experiment with a counterweight at the xlr.

J

Link to comment
Share on other sites

To keep the profile low at NFL games I use a 70 in a softie and and old KTek suspension. Works a treat. KTek used to make a suspension that was a series of clips that would hold the mic from the side. Unfortunately they don't make this anymore. I think it was the KNS3 Nautilus. If you find an old one hanging about grab it.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...