Why I Don't Like Recommending Mics & Using Sound To Point Your Camera: Sound Speeds Podcast 20

[@handcoding]

As a side thing-and whether in a comment here or in a separate video-I’d love to hear your thoughts on Bandrew’s tests relating to potentially using a shotgun mic indoors? kzbin.info/www/bejne/fV6ZYYR3rNqjr6Msi=NO_G3wcnewRWBD2q

[@SoundSpeeds]

He and I spoke about this a couple weeks ago and I told him my thoughts. What I'm curious about is how Curtis's thoughts compared. My main takeaway is that he recorded in his studio. It's pretty nonreflective in there so it's a better case scenario. Many people that record wouldn't get good results using a shotgun mic at their desk unless it was fairly treated. In a booth, for example, an MKH-416 is very popular but if you're in an untreated room, it's not great. It's all about reflections and what it brings into the capsule. Comb filtering certainly plays a part in it too as does reach but signal to noise ratio is always key. If audio reflections bounce back too early, they will be too loud and counter the desirable sound essentially becoming noise that the signal has to compete with. Even worse though, quite often those reflections are slightly mistimed up to completely out of phase with the primary signal while maintaining the same frequencies which means it'll be difficult to process out if it's even possible. The louder someone is, the more sound will travel and bounce off of more surfaces so the farther you are from untreated walls, the better. In an untreated concrete warehouse that's 200 x 200, you won't detect many reflections in your recording unless you scream and then you may hear echoes or reverberations coming back - again, volume. He'd probably have different results if he used those mics in different environments like at a front door in a wood floored apartment or at a rustic, wooden dinner table.

[@handcoding]

@@SoundSpeedsThose are all fascinating insights, and I really appreciate your chiming in about all that!

[@SoundSpeeds]

@handcoding Sure thing

[@QuestionMan]

Yup. Once again, the answer to "what is best" is always "it depends." At which point, it becomes a balance between how much time both parties want to burn/invest going down that rabbit hole.

[@SoundSpeeds]

Agreed

[@Podcastage]

Really a great episode! I totally get the not wanting to give mic recommendations. But hey, what shotgun mic should I get for use in my bathroom recordings?

[@Podcastage]

And Boo Yah!!!

[@SoundSpeeds]

You should use the longest mic possible and eat it.

[@QuestionMan]

I love that tip! The brain is the best tech ever devised. Can't out-brain the brain.

[@SoundSpeeds]

😁

[@techmed-rainer]

Danke!

[@SoundSpeeds]

Dude, thank you!

[@QuestionMan]

I love that I can watch this 'on the can'.

[@SoundSpeeds]

😎

[@dannepedersen]

Hallelujah, very true… And the same can apply to speakers… for example Yamaha NS10 that everyone like them, but you have to “learn to mix with them”. I was really hate them and still do….

[@SoundSpeeds]

😆

[@everydaysamething]

I know this video's not about recommending mics but I'll ask anyway. 😂 Can you recommend a shotgun mic for wildlife videography to isolate the calls of birds/animals from around 800-1120mm in focal range? Anywhere from a distance of 10 feet to 75 feet away? Picking up some ambient noise isn't a huge concern for me as the echoes in the forest/nature are unconcerning. I'd just like to get a crisp and clear sound from whatever animal I'm pointing my camera at. Is it unrealistic to think I can pick up their foot steps/wing flaps/breathing/scratching from that distance? Always wondered how the nature docs do it. 🙏

[@SoundSpeeds]

Get a parabolic. That's an ideal use for one... birds.

[@redjrjames]

I personally don't mind, creators recommending certain products because it "keeps me in the loop" so to speak. For example, Curtis made a video on the Rycote SC-08. I saw the video and I was like.. "Wow I didn't know that mic even existed AND it's $500 MSRP??" I have been looking for a pencil microphone to use indoors for film that isn't really expensive, I'll put it on my radar so when I do go to buy when I have microphones to compare. But that's just it, I take things with a grain of salt until " I " do the research behind it. Most people, especially beginners don't have a reference point to make judgements on so they just ask and aspect the recommendation to be on put.

[@SoundSpeeds]

I'm releasing a review of the Rycote mics soon.

[@redjrjames]

@@SoundSpeeds Then I shall keep my channels open. I'm always gathering more information on potential mics to use for my gigs.

[@SoundSpeeds]

👍

[@DansplainingVideo]

Beginners want someone with experience to tell them which mic to buy. The reality is, beginners need to invest time and money to learn what mic will produce the results they want.

[@SoundSpeeds]

And I don't mind giving them somewhere to start but it's just like how Bandrew, Curtis, Mike DelGaudio and I constantly say... spend money treating your recording environment with most of your budget because spending your money on a really good mic will shut reveal how bad your recording environment is.