Essential Boom Mic Techniques For Documentary Filmmakers

[@FilmshooterOH]

I just switched over to a shotgun for the majority of my interviews and am enjoying it. I never like having to fondle interview subjects when putting a lav mic on them. So far, so good.

[@austinmeyerfilms]

@@FilmshooterOH nice! That’s awesome that it’s working well for you 🙌

[@JLJ2]

Perfect timing with this video. I recently purchased my first shotgun mic (Sennheiser MKE 600). I haven’t used it on set yet, because I’ve been experimenting with the set up at home before dealing with a client. So your video is right on time!

[@austinmeyerfilms]

@@JLJ2 amazing! Love that the timing worked out perfectly. Good luck with using the mic on set. Let me know how it goes!

[@personallycatholic]

I just feel like the interviewee is just so much more aware they are on film with a boom mic hanging over their head. I get much more personal interviews when I put a small lav on them, put the camera just to my right or left and then tell them to forget about the camera and just look at me. It’s just worked. And to get a super personal interview is so much more important to me than small differences in sound quality. Plus I can just set up anywhere and go. All that said, I really do appreciate learning how other people are doing their work. I always learn something and this video is no exception to that rule. Thank you for breaking your approach down. Maybe what I’m doing is more like what you were doing in Africa.

[@austinmeyerfilms]

@@personallycatholic I hear you! I feel that way a lot of the time when a boom mic is used in scenes, but I haven’t had an issue with it being used for interviews. Love that the lav mic setup is working for you! I go that route often too

[@HighResponseMarketing]

Thank you!

[@austinmeyerfilms]

You’re welcome!

[@fireplaceinacozyroom2064]

I recently invested in a Sennheiser MKH 416 shotgun mic, and you’re right Austin, l feel the difference between this mic and my Rode lav. Great video as always!

[@austinmeyerfilms]

@@fireplaceinacozyroom2064 awesome! Glad to hear that you‘ve had a similar experience to me. Thanks for the support!

[@mcfrisko834]

Literally needed this on our set today. We had 2 guys doing run and gun while setting up some client interviews. My knowledge of audio is still limited so it was the only thing I was reeeeally skeptical about. I got home and put in the cards to check the sound results. I concluded that we’ll boom every time from now on. Fortunately we got lucky with our lav today 💯

[@austinmeyerfilms]

@@mcfrisko834 all good! It’s all a process of slowly investing in gear over time when it becomes clear that you have a use case for it. Hope this video helped see where it may or may not be useful!

[@BSRWeddingFilms]

Great info, been needing to add this gear to my kit. subscribed 👍

[@austinmeyerfilms]

Glad it was helpful! Let me know how you end up liking it

[@ezy.doesit]

fantastic info as i start my journey as a film maker! thank you

[@austinmeyerfilms]

@@ezy.doesit you’re welcome! Good luck 🙏

[@videographerstuff539]

Thanks for sharing this! I’ve been leaning more towards boom for a while now. I do spend the time to pop a good lav like the cos 11 on talent as well as having the boom. But if I’m really short on time I’ll happily just do the boom. Cheers

[@austinmeyerfilms]

Cheers! Thanks for sharing your experience. Keep crushing it

[@roryonabike5863]

Re the US$2360 Schoeps CMIT at 5:25... Schoeps has just launched the KMIT, which is a capsule version of the CMIT. If you already have a Schoeps amplifier, the capsule adds $1575, saving $800 over the CMIT, which has an integrated amplifier. Schoeps says that the sound is identical.

[@austinmeyerfilms]

@@roryonabike5863 thanks for the intel!

[@FisherPost]

You gotta work on the “over/under” mic cable wrapping !

[@austinmeyerfilms]

@@FisherPost that one is a lost cause at this point 😂

[@meirchaimo6960]

Check out the Boom Buddy boom holder, smaller, lighter, goes directly onto smaller light stand spigots (and includes an adapter pin for a grip head) but a bit more expensive. I love it.

[@austinmeyerfilms]

@@meirchaimo6960 thanks for the recommendation! Got a link so I can check it out?

[@roryonabike5863]

@@austinmeyerfilms See Allen Williams (Sound Speeds) on the Boom Swinger and the Boom Buddy, available from Trew and Gotham Sound.

[@Rheilffordd]

Hi Austin! Great video and I’m a firm believer as well of the boom mic setup for sit down interviews. Have you seen the Zacuto “Microboom” or even has a chance to use it? I’m curious of your thoughts as this is something that might work for me being a OMB that does alot of run and gun stuff. Cheers!

[@austinmeyerfilms]

@@Rheilffordd I looked the micro boom up online after reading your comments. Looks pretty wild to me! Haha. If they sent it to me, I’d give it a try, but it’s a little hard to see it fitting into my workflow based on the images. My mind is open though!

[@timdanyo898]

I’m upgrading from shotgun mics for interior interviews to hyper cardiod condenser mics like the Sennheiser SMH-50.

[@austinmeyerfilms]

@@timdanyo898 Nice! That sounds like a solid strategy

[@spetlafilm]

I bought a Chinese tripod with a boom arm and weight (I don't use it) for about $70. I've had it for a year and a half. When I'm not filming, I keep it in my car regardless of the cold and it's great with my interview microphone. For me as an individual it doesn't make sense to buy a boompole and put it on a tripod. Nice video btw.

[@austinmeyerfilms]

Thank you! Sounds like you have a solid system that is working for you. If you like the boom arm that you use, drop a link here so that the community watching can check it out if they're interested!

[@DylanReeve]

SmallRig make a good boom stand too - RA-S280A.

[@austinmeyerfilms]

@@DylanReeve thanks for the recommendation!

[@tedcoats4148]

Very good information. Overall, I enjoy your videos. At the end, you missed the opportunity to demonstrate the sound of the boom placement because you used a wireless lav vs the boom connected to your camera. Also, your audio cable is a mess. Since you are both an instructor and a filmmaker, I suggest learn the technique and importance of over-under cable wrapping. In any endeavor, you are only as good as then weakest link. In this case, it’s cable/connector quality and management.

[@austinmeyerfilms]

@@tedcoats4148 I prefer my audio cables to represent me: a mess 😜