I am in search of a good quality microphone for a video interviewing.?

Question

I am in charge of our schools senior video, and I need a high quality microphone. The interviewees who will be handling it will have no interviewing experience.

I really need one that can capture great volume from a decent distance, about chest level. I need absolutely no hissing or other background noise

most of the interviews will be done in a studio to minimize noise reduction.

Any suggested microphones? i need a 1/4 size plug-in thingy.... im not too microphone savvy, but I am camera/video savvy hence the authority.

Answer 1

A "high quality microphone" will use XLR connectors - not 1/4" or 1/8".

What will you be plugging the mic into that uses 1/4"?

If you are plugging into a consumer-grade camcorder, they typically use 1/8".

What is your budget?

Will the mic be visible or will it be outside the video frame?

If you are connecting to a camcorder, and the camcorder has manual audio control that's great - if you use it. If the camcorder has only automatic audio leveling, you will get a "whooshing sound" when there is no noise in the studio. That can be edited out - but you need to know this is a camcorder issue - not a mic issue.

If you do not want the mic to be visible and you can be relatively close to the person speaking, a shotgun mic will work. It is directional - basically picks up the audio in front of the mic and rejects most (not all) the audio from the back and sides. If you are within about 5 feet of the person speaking, this will work great.

NRG Research has the SA-568 that will do "normal" and "tele" mode. It can use either XLR or 1/8" connectors and if you have to, you can get a 1/4" adapter from Radio Shack.

Audio Technica makes the ATR 25 and 55 (the 55 is better).

All three of these mics are available from Amazon.com.

You can mount the mic on the camera (with a camera bracket if needed)

http://www.amazon.com/Bower-Shoe-

Video-Light-Bracket/dp/B000NL5X5

S/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=photo&qid

=1202509302&sr=1-6

(you need to remove the returns in the above link.)

or you can put it on a mic stand or be hand-held... or get a mic boom and a longer cable and have the "boom-ops" person point the mic - and stay out of frame.