sonics wrote: ↑Tue Feb 07, 2023 4:20 pm
I'll echo some of what has been said WRT mic choice. The trend (thanks again, YouTube!) for radio-style dynamic mics that need to be used close to the mouth has led some to believe that they are "best" for everything. In an informal interview scenario they are your worst choice, especially with talent that is unused to being recorded.
You should be looking at using a small portable recorder, sdc or short shotgun mics, or lavalier mics.
For portable recorder, maybe you mean the ones I mentioned above, Tascam and Zoom?
Here's a link showing an example of using two lav mics. You can replace the recorder with an H1n or DR-05X and the lav mics with something like the Rode Lavalier Go, for example, as they mention. You could also consider using a cheap lav with a spare cellphone. That can work well for very little cost.
The link mentions the Audio-Technica 3350 with approval; a sentiment with which I concur.
BUT the 3350 is battery-powered; the Rode mic isn't, and requires 'plug-in power'.
sonics: Do you have personal experience of running two of the Rode mics into a recorder such as the H1? Was the recorder able to supply sufficient current to enable each mic to perform according to spec?
I've used two lavaliers/clip-ons frequently - though not as much as the single mic/handheld recorder option. However, I only use them into a machine where I can adjust gain individually for each mic before starting the recording. (XLR and phantom-powered mics). Hand-holding one mic/recorder and discreetly moving it to compensate for differences in interviewer and interviewee volume saves a lot of work in post trying to rebalance (or even rescue!) widely disparaging tracks when independent gain control has not been possible. And it's less intimidating for the interviewee... even clipping a mic on some people gives them the heebie-jeebies!
M_Rebux: Yes; the Zoom and little Tascam are fine for what you want to do, but also check out the Olympus LS-P1.
Mike Stranks wrote: ↑Tue Feb 07, 2023 10:07 pmsonics: Do you have personal experience of running two of the Rode mics into a recorder such as the H1? Was the recorder able to supply sufficient current to enable each mic to perform according to spec?
Only a single mic. All of my twin-lav work has been with powered mics or more expensive gear. I would hope that information might be available somewhere.
As for the least-intrusive method, that takes some experience to know, and will always be dependent on the interviewee and the situation, as I'm sure you know.
Mike Stranks wrote: ↑Tue Feb 07, 2023 10:07 pmsonics: Do you have personal experience of running two of the Rode mics into a recorder such as the H1? Was the recorder able to supply sufficient current to enable each mic to perform according to spec?
Closest I've come to this is running a shotgun and a lav (both needing phantom) from a Zoom H4n and it's handled it fine. It does absolutely eat batteries when doing this though so a power-supply is definitely recommended.
Mike Stranks wrote: ↑Tue Feb 07, 2023 10:07 pmsonics: Do you have personal experience of running two of the Rode mics into a recorder such as the H1? Was the recorder able to supply sufficient current to enable each mic to perform according to spec?
Closest I've come to this is running a shotgun and a lav (both needing phantom) from a Zoom H4n and it's handled it fine. It does absolutely eat batteries when doing this though so a power-supply is definitely recommended.
With phantom power, one should be on much firmer footing. Multi-mic inputs should be able to provide Phantom at the required current to each of those inputs.
Plug-in Power (PiP)on a single input, but with two mics connected, is a different ball-game. The theory is fine, but, personally, I'd like to be sure that such a setup is capable of delivering the required current to both mics before it's recommended as a solution to the OP.
(I've had a thought about PiP, but shall go do some digging before pronouncing - or not! )
Mike Stranks wrote: ↑Wed Feb 08, 2023 2:53 pm
Plug-in Power (PiP)on a single input, but with two mics connected, is a different ball-game. The theory is fine, but, personally, I'd like to be sure that such a setup is capable of delivering the required current to both mics before it's recommended as a solution to the OP.
The plug-in power mics that I've used have had much lower power requirements than phantom powered mics - usually just a few microamps.
I recommended investigating two PiP mics as a possible solution. As James says, due to the usually low power requirements, I think it may be a workable option. The OP seems to have a limited budget, too. A recorder with XLR input and suitable mics would blow that, I think.
Mike Stranks wrote: ↑Wed Feb 08, 2023 2:53 pm
(I've had a thought about PiP, but shall go do some digging before pronouncing - or not! )
My query was just how PiP is delivered to the mic from the electronics...
Not unexpectedly, Dr Robjohns provides the answer in this site's Glossary:
Plug-in (or Bias) Power is a method of providing power to the internal electronics of electret microphones, and is commonly used on consumer equipment. Plug-in Power is only ever provided on 3.5mm mini-jack input sockets as found on domestic sound recorders, 'phones, laptops etc. The format provides a low DC voltage of typically between 3 and 5V, with the positive side of the power supply connected to the unbalanced signal connection(s) in the mini-jack socket. So the tip connection for a mono input, or tip and ring connections for a stereo input. The negative return is via the sleeve connection.
So that's alright then...
I had a query as to whether PiP was delivered via tip and sleeve. If so, the two mics via splitter wouldn't have worked. But, current-provision permitting, Hugh's explanation shows that it would.
