How to Get the Most Out of a Cheap DSLR Shotgun Microphone
Elvin from the Audio Blog, Audioneer.com, comes into the studio to give us a little tutorial on how to get the best quality audio from an inexpensive microphone. We are using the Scheops CMC6-U as our benchmark microphone and we are using a Cheap DSLR Shotgun Microphone as our less expensive comparison mic. We recorded the exact same sample into the Zoom H4N digital recorder on two separate tracks simultaneously, as we wanted the test to be as fair as possible with few added variables.
Right away we can hear that the Scheops microphone has more low frequency response since we hear that the bass reproduction sounds better than what the Cheap DSLR Shotgun Microphone was able to reproduce. By using the EQ in Pro Tools, Elvin was able to boost the levels of the bass from the audio sample of the cheap mic in order to get it to sound as similar to the much more expensive Schoeps CMC6-U. The Schoeps also had a more crispy, or brighter sound to it than the less expensive microphone so he also brought up the gain by about 4dB to mimic the sound that the Schoeps reproduced.
The Cheap DSLR Shotgun Microphone also has a low gain. To compensate for this, we would need to boost the preamp, consequently, this will also create more floor noise. In order to remedy this issue, Elvin shows us how by using a de-noiser plugin, he was able to eliminate some of the audio artifacting in our sound clip.
Although Elvin was using Pro Tools, keep in mind that there are other audio editing software options available that will produce similar results. In fact, the video editing software that you may be using should already have a built-in EQ plugin. Floor noise from a less expensive microphone is much more likely to be picked up in quiet environments. In noisy or very controlled settings, this isn’t as much of an issue since the background noise, for example, can cover up the hiss created from boosting the preamp. This is where the de-noise plugin comes in handy. In making your decision to purchase a microphone, take into consideration the mic’s robustness, versatility and the microphone’s longevity. For our tests we used a $17 microphone, this really goes to show you that there are creative ways to work around a shoestring budget.
The Scheops CMC6-U is a balanced output stage and +12 to +48V phantom power supply for the Schoeps Colette series modular capsules. The transformer-less output stage ensures low-noise and pristine audio reproduction throughout. The CMC6-U is terminated with a standard balanced 3-pin XLR connection for use with standard microphone inputs and preamplifiers.
Scheops CMC6-UEM-320 DSLR Shotgun Microphone Specs:
Uni-Directional System For Long And Short Distance
Sensitivity: Short Distance:-45dB, Long Distance:-38dB
Output Impedance: Short Distance: 1kΩ, Long Distance: 2.3kΩ
Frequency response: 100Hz-16KHz
Power Source: DC 1.5V
Color: Black
Weight: 547g
Olivia:
Great stuff as always. My comments:
– Would be nice to add the Rode NTG2 into the mix for comparison…I think you own one. That way you would have used the entrylevel, the mid and the pro.
– You touched on a big point. If you are using the cheap mic, you probably aren’t using Pro Tools or an expensive plug in. I think it would have been more useful to do the post work you did in Audacity, which is free but has equalization.
– I find I get much better results with the H4N when I use a separate preamp or other gain tool such as the JuicedLink or the Cloudlifter. You can use shotguns with the Cloudlifter as long as they do not require phantom power.
Thanks and Happy Holidays, Olivia
@Brian Hey, thanks for the feedback. It really helps out when I hear what you guys want to see!
There’s a lot more to a mic’s character than can be emulated with some modeling plug ins. However, I don’t think this is the point you’re after.
The Scheops mic you are using is a supercardiod setup and is $2000. It’s a great benchmark for evaluating mics but I can’t agree with trying to correct an entry level mic based on the differences between frequency response curves. While that might be viable for trying to cut together disparate mics it’s not a good idea to just EQ a mic to make it sound like a more expensive mic. In my experience that just leads to more problems.
All that said, getting familiar with what an EQ does is a phenomenal idea and as you said, tweaking room tone to listen for artifacts is an excellent way to evaluate problem spots in a mic.
@Robert Thank you for your comments. Elvin and I are fully aware that the polar patterns of the 2 mics are slightly different. Also, there certainly are other variables in our setup that could be argued to deem our comparison inaccurate. However, our main objective is to help our viewers learn how to compensate for some (not all) shortcomings of any low entry level microphones. The EQs we’ve applied are mostly enhancements, not surgical. Trying to match the overall sound of the more expensive mic will only lead you into a failed situation, as you said- I agree. Your point and observation are well taken and as it shows, the expensive microphone serves a purpose. We want to convey to everyone that for those who can’t afford an expensive mic and are limited to using an entry level microphone, that there are ways to improve the sound quality with a few tweaks. Anything is better than using that godforsaken built-in mic from your camera, right?
Olivia,
I really like that you are helping educate viewers on the techniques of video creation, and not just focusing on expensive equipment. Yes, all of us would love to have $30,000 to go shopping for all the audio/video/lighting gear that would make our videos look professional. No, many of us can’t do that.
I believe there is value to learning how to perform a task well despite the quality of the equipment. As a hobbyist, I have watched you and Emm cater to the budget minded viewers such as myself. With your tutorials, and Emm’s equipment deals, I have now learned enough to actually start selling my services. I would have never been able to learn this much if you only suggested $5000 rigs and $2000 microphones. Bravo to you!
Keep up the good work and thank you.
@Scott Thank you for watching and reading along!
50% of video is audio! So this is one issue that should be taken very seriously.
+1 to adding NTG-2. Maybe even NTG-3 and Sennheiser MKH416, so as to have a “low-budget microphone shootout” of sorts. And maybe have different locations (streets, internal rooms, woods, sound-booth etc).
I’m also wondering, when you were recording with EM320E,did you have it on Normal mode or Tele mode? I use Tele most of the times and then remove the hiss in post.
I would also like to see a tutorial on how to effectively remove the hiss (in Audacity and Pro Tools or some of the Adobe CS6 apps)
@karapetian We had the mic set to tele.
The Schoeps CMC6 is only the body of the microphone and the cap which is interchangeable is the actual microphone.
Typically referred to as the Schoeps CMC641 – ( CMC6 body and MK41cap ) the Schopes collette series microphone is arguably considered the best microphone for interior dialogue.
I think a better comparison would be microphones or complete location sound kits for different budgets or within a specific price range. The Rode NTG-2 and NTG-3, Sennheiser ME-66 / K6P and the relatively newer MKE-600, Audio Technica 897 and BP 4073 for example for the low to middle price range. You could also limit yourself to just the best bang for buck location kits consisting of recorder, mixer and microphone for a specific budget like a (relatiively) low budget – Tascam DR-40 + Rode NTG-2 and a mid range budget Tascam DR-100 or Zoom H4N + Sound Devices MixPre-D and Rode NTG-3 package for example. Another suggestion could be the “best” lightweight location sound package consisting of a Sound Devices MixPre-D or 302 with a recorder like a Tascam DR-100 (with line level inputs unlike the instrument level inputs of the Zoom H4N) or a Zaxcom ZFR-100 plus STA-150 for backup recording with a Sennheiser MKH-8060 microphone or Sanken CS3E, Sennheiser MKH-416 which are popular choices of short shotgun microphones that can in a pinch do as well with reverberant interior spaces as they do with exteriors.
You could also add some Sennheiser wireless mics to the mix with different wireless mics (Tram, Sanken, Countryman, Oscar Sound Tech) and do a video tutorial called “Talking Head Interview Audio Workflow” where you wire a person up with a lav as well as record with a boom for both interior and exterior locations and after, where post production chooses which ISO track (from boom mic or lav) to use for the final mix.
Will I be able to record in stereo If I buy an XLR to 3.5 mm cable? Or do I need to get an adapter?
@Emil If you are plugging a microphone with a 3.5mm cable into an XLR adaptor, you will need to be able to connect the XLR connector into either a supporting camera or a preamp. You will have balanced configuration, but NOT stereo. You cannot turn a mono microphone into a stereo mic. You must buy a stereo microphone for this. However, you can buy an adaptor to send the signal to both the left and right channel.
If you’re shooting on a budget and want to do away with all of the adapting and preamp business, you can copy the audio files into the left and right channel in post to make the audio recording stereo.
But is the Cheap DSLR Shotgun Microphone/EM-320E a stereo or mono mic?
The cable that comes with the mic is mono, but will this cable or this adapter help or should I just do it in post when I’m on a budget?
@Emil No, neither of those will work. This 3.5mm Stereo Male to 3.5mm Mono Female Adapter is what you’ll need. Read the reviews, okay. I have never used this but have heard that it works like a charm. Let me know how it goes if you go this route!
Why use the XLR to 1/4″ mic cable + 1/4″ to 3.5mm adapter + 3.5mm Stereo Male to 3.5mm Mono Female adapter instead of XLR to 1/4″ mic cable + 3.5mm Stereo Male to 1/4″ Mono Female adapter?
A stereo cable won’t work because the mic is mono?
I’m just a little confused, but i will try Googling around or just buy the adapter you linked to:)
I have bought the mic, thanks for the help and the blog post!
After reading THIS ARTICLE, it all made sense!
Now I just need to buy an adapter and a mount.
Thanks again!