Microphone Madness

After recently adding some sound treatment to my new studio, I was curious to go back through my microphones to see which one sounded best on my voice in this new environment. I found that what sounded “best” depended on what I was playing the resulting audio through. I thought I’d share my results and observations with you, as well as solicit votes to see (hear?) what sounded best in your particular listening environment.

Review: Rode NTG-3 short shotgun microphone and Blimp windshield

Users of short shotgun microphones can be sorted into two categories. Those who complain about spending $250 to $500 on a mic, and those willing to spend $1000 to $2000 on one. Into the first category you can place students, hobbyists, many camera operators, and just about every producer. In the later you’ll find professional sound mixers and…well, that’s about it. So what mic choices do those restrictions translate to?

Hilarious. Also true.

Craigslist is a marvelous institution. There are editions for some 500 different cities, but you can still consider yourself lucky if you live near one. Among (lots of) other things, Craigslist has ads for temporary or permanent film/tv jobs. Some of those listings have more to do with a newbie director’s fantasies than anything real - no budget, no plans, no technique - but you learn to ignore them.

Wrong, wrong!

Olympics Researchers get their physics messed up, twice. Here’s why it matters to every filmmaker.

According to an article in yesterday’s New York Times, Olympic sprinters who are closer to the starting gun get better results. Researchers at the University of Alberta wondered why. They thought it might have something to do with the starting gun: obviously, the runners who are closer to the gun hear it louder than those farther away, and volume can affect neural response.

Q&A: Audio Queries

During the Post|Production World conference that ran alongside NAB 2008, I gave an extended session on audio connections, microphones, and other related issues. At the end, the attendees hit me with their individual problems. I thought the questions and their answers might be useful to others, so I decided to add them to the archives up here, amended with additional thoughts and research I’ve gathered since returning from NAB.

Note that essential companion reading to these comments include my previous article on audio wiring and connections, plus my blog on dealing with ground loop hum.

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