Indoor booming in a noisy environment

[Aled Hughes]

I have a fascinating job coming up this weekend - a ‘run and gun’ coverage of a cage fighting event! Some dialogue/interviews will need to be recorded, and handheld mics in shot are not an option, so it will have to be boomed.

What would be the best option? I’m thinking a hypercardioid rather than a typical ‘shotgun’, but the only suitable candidate I have really is the Beyer 201. It might be an unconventional choice, but could well work? Main issue I can think is that it’s rather gain-hungry, but the SD Mixpre 10 that I’ll be using has plenty of gain a available.

Other option I have is a Sennheiser MKH40 cardioid, Beyer MC930 cardioid, a Rode NTG3 shotgun, or perhaps a Beyer M88. I could also probably rent/borrow a better shotgun than the Rode.

An ideal solution I guess would be an MKH50, but at the moment I’m inclined to go with either the MKH40 or the 201.

[Hugh Robjohns]

The M201 is quite a heavy mic at 228g — over twice as heavy as the MKH40 at 100g. That weight will not only seriously compromise your shock mounts, but will add considerably to the strain of booming.

So I'd definitely stick to the MKH40... and the slightly wider coverage (vs the MKH50) will probably be a benefit in the kind of situation you describe.

[Aled Hughes]

Thanks Hugh,

I didn’t think of the weight, which shows how often I do this kind of thing!

MKH40 it is. I also have Rycote Baby Ball Gags for them which might be useful too.

[Wonks]

I also have Rycote Baby Ball Gags for them which might be useful too.

Is it an S&M cage fight then?

[Aled Hughes]

I also have Rycote Baby Ball Gags for them which might be useful too.

Is it an S&M cage fight then?

glad you didn't miss the opportunity Wonks!

Having thought about it, I think I'll go with the Beyer MC930 tomorrow - the MKH40 isn't strictly mine, and I'm a bit wary of swinging it around in what could be a rather crazy, testosterone (and other substances...) fuelled event.