This episode from the Blank Slate video series focuses on microphone selection. The 3rd Audiovisual Squadron demonstrates which microphone is best in different locations and a few tips for hiding the mic when necessary.
Most of us have a few options in our work centers when it comes to microphone selection, including:
- Onboard camera mics
- Shotgun mics
- Lavalier mics
- Large and small diaphragm mics
All of these may be available to you, but which do you use and why?
If we were interviewing at a controlled pace like a studio, think about what would make your subject most comfortable. You can have everything pre-positioned, including a super cardioid shotgun mic. This mic has a directional pickup pattern and will pick up whatever it's pointed at while reducing sound from around or behind. If you don't have a mic or a Century (C-stand) available, have a teammate hold the boom pole and position the mic just off camera, as close to the subject as you can get. Remember to keep the mic steady and limit hand movements on the pole because the mic will pick up those sounds. You don't want gripping sounds from the boom pole to be audible in your audio during an interview. Most of the time you're not going to have the luxury of a studio to conduct your interview. In fact, sometimes, you might be stuck in a tiny office.
Avoid conducting interviews in confined spaces like tiny offices if you can. But if you can't, a lavalier mic would make sense. Most lavalier mics are omnidirectional, which means they pick up sound from all directions. Very helpful if it's close to your subject, but you also have to be wary of any sounds your subject's clothes make. A simple online search will reveal many ways to rig a lavalier microphone. The best way is the one that offers the clearest sound while minimizing distractions for your viewer. If recording a broadcast news piece, where time is of the essence, clipping the mic on your subject, hiding the wires and leaving a nice, tidy loop is perfectly acceptable. You'll get clean audio and your audience is used to seeing mics in those situations already. When possible though, it's always best to hide the mic. When your audience sees the mic, they're reminded that a production is taking place around the sound bite, and you want your audience focused on the message, not the method. There are products online that can hide a lavalier microphone, but they may be hard for a unit to come by. There are a couple of low-budget ways to use things you have in your office or by making a quick trip to a neighborhood store. We can easily place a mic under a collar and secure it using gaffers tape. Gaffers tape doesn't leave a sticky residue behind but it's sticky enough to work for most applications. Once you have the mic where you want it, make two loose triangles from the tape and place them below the mic head. They'll act as a shock absorber for any potential movements a person might make.
If you need to hide a microphone on a person wearing a t-shirt instead of a traditional collar, you can tape the head of the mic using moleskin, which is found at most neighborhood drug stores. Cut a small strip and wrap the head of the mic, keeping the adhesive away from the mic. Run the mic from behind the shirt and then lay the mic inside the t-shirt collar. Use gaf tape as needed for extra support.
Regarding common pickup patterns, another thing to keep in mind is what type of mic you're using. Mics are often categorized as dynamic or condenser mics. Your shotgun and lavalier mics are usually condenser mics. They require a power source, and sound clean and clear, but are a little more fragile. Dynamic mics offer a warm tone, don't require power and can withstand the elements much better than condenser mics. That's why you see so many news reporters carrying dynamic mics.
Another topic is voiceover. You may have seen large diaphragm mics in radio studios and voiceover booths. Large diaphragm mics have a very detailed response and do a great job of picking up the subtle qualities of individual voices.
Be sure to research this material online, dig into your career development courses and watch other Blank Slate tutorials for help.