Parab mics & mini radio mics for Sports TV Production...

huub · 29th October 2007, 10:35 PM

Hiii all.

I have been trying out parab mics for a bunch of (sports tv) productions,
Am kind of dissapointed, can't get a better than sennheiser 816 sound..
Tried omnis,cardiods, hell, even a 416 in there..

Can anybody tell me what's most essential for getting good parab sound?
is it

-experienced and motivated operators (which we haven't in europe im afraid)
-mic placement/distance
-or can't I expect more directivity than a senn 816?

On a similar note; I know espn uses super miniature mics/transmitters for the x-games,
does anybody know what they use? haven't seen anything like em on a european AES or in trade magazines...

Thanks all!

**Remoteness** · 30th October 2007, 05:02 PM

I cannot help you on this, but there are a few TV sports engineers aroiund these parts.

Perhaps this bumpage will help them see this post.

Besides the Sennheisers what brand of mics have you used already?

huub · 30th October 2007, 11:52 PM

Tried mke2 omni's, km 140 cardiods and 416's..
More bumpage

Jim vanBergen · 31st October 2007, 02:07 AM

For me, a good parab sound is all about pairing the RIGHT parabolic collector with the right microphone in the reflector.

I have better luck using 2' parabolics some applications, and 4' for others, and for some applications I use omni mics in the parab and sometimes cardioid. It's VERY application specific, and I won't use them unless I have lots of time to try them.

816s and 416s (as well as MKH60 & MKH70, and the Neumann KM82ii mics are pretty darn excellent shotgun microphones.

Can you be more specific about what you are trying to do?

JvB

huub · 31st October 2007, 09:06 AM

Thanks Jim,
This is for a new european field hockey league.
The producer wants to get real close field sounds, what I've tried is two parab operators (left and right side of the field).
There's another round this weekend in belgium, and I'm thinking of just putting out more field mics, and having just one parab to experiment.

Jim vanBergen · 31st October 2007, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by huub

There's another round this weekend in belgium, and I'm thinking of just putting out more field mics, and having just one parab to experiment.

I think that is an excellent approach. Put out what will be consistent, and use the one parab as a test to see if you can get something better! I have found an A2 with a boom can be better than a parab op, but they HAVE to have a monitor path in either situation.

Cheers!

bjornson · 1st November 2007, 04:31 PM

On the Fox NFL stuff I do, They use a combination of neumann cardioids and omnis in the parabs. If they ask you to switch out at halftime it's because
1) you were doing really good, or
2) really bad....

huub · 2nd November 2007, 10:47 PM

Thanks dave,
do you mean either a neuman or omni?
Do you switch between em during the game?

huub · 3rd November 2007, 09:36 PM

Am getting very good results this weekend with large parabs, omni dpa's fairly deep into the dish, detailed sound all over the field! (two parabs and a buch of 416's)

Jim vanBergen · 3rd November 2007, 10:09 PM

I'm not answering for Dave, but in my position, YES, it's carry both the Cardioid & Omni version of a mic (such as DPA 4007 & 4011) and use one or the other.

I'm so glad things are working better for you this time around! Parabs can be great, but they sure are particular about...well, about EVERYTHING!

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29th October 2007, 10:35 PM	#1
huub Gear addict Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: amsterdam Posts: 431	Parab mics & mini radio mics for Sports TV Production... Hiii all. I have been trying out parab mics for a bunch of (sports tv) productions, Am kind of dissapointed, can't get a better than sennheiser 816 sound.. Tried omnis,cardiods, hell, even a 416 in there.. Can anybody tell me what's most essential for getting good parab sound? is it -experienced and motivated operators (which we haven't in europe im afraid) -mic placement/distance -or can't I expect more directivity than a senn 816? On a similar note; I know espn uses super miniature mics/transmitters for the x-games, does anybody know what they use? haven't seen anything like em on a european AES or in trade magazines... Thanks all!

30th October 2007, 05:02 PM	#2
Remoteness Super Moderator Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: NYC Posts: 4,919	I cannot help you on this, but there are a few TV sports engineers aroiund these parts. Perhaps this bumpage will help them see this post. Besides the Sennheisers what brand of mics have you used already? __________________ Steve Remote AuraSonicLtd.com the home of ASL Mobile & Location Production Remoteness on the Linkedin Network Remoteness on Myspace

1st November 2007, 04:31 PM	#7
bjornson Lives for gear Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Pittsburgh Pa Posts: 533	On the Fox NFL stuff I do, They use a combination of neumann cardioids and omnis in the parabs. If they ask you to switch out at halftime it's because 1) you were doing really good, or 2) really bad.... __________________ www.davebjornson.com

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30th October 2007, 11:52 PM	#3
huub Gear addict Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: amsterdam Posts: 431	Tried mke2 omni's, km 140 cardiods and 416's.. More bumpage

31st October 2007, 02:07 AM	#4
Jim vanBergen Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: New York Friggin' City Posts: 2,296	For me, a good parab sound is all about pairing the RIGHT parabolic collector with the right microphone in the reflector. I have better luck using 2' parabolics some applications, and 4' for others, and for some applications I use omni mics in the parab and sometimes cardioid. It's VERY application specific, and I won't use them unless I have lots of time to try them. 816s and 416s (as well as MKH60 & MKH70, and the Neumann KM82ii mics are pretty darn excellent shotgun microphones. Can you be more specific about what you are trying to do? JvB

31st October 2007, 09:06 AM	#5
huub Gear addict Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: amsterdam Posts: 431	Thanks Jim, This is for a new european field hockey league. The producer wants to get real close field sounds, what I've tried is two parab operators (left and right side of the field). There's another round this weekend in belgium, and I'm thinking of just putting out more field mics, and having just one parab to experiment.

2nd November 2007, 10:47 PM	#8
huub Gear addict Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: amsterdam Posts: 431	Thanks dave, do you mean either a neuman or omni? Do you switch between em during the game?

3rd November 2007, 09:36 PM	#9
huub Gear addict Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: amsterdam Posts: 431	Am getting very good results this weekend with large parabs, omni dpa's fairly deep into the dish, detailed sound all over the field! (two parabs and a buch of 416's)

3rd November 2007, 10:09 PM	#10
Jim vanBergen Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: New York Friggin' City Posts: 2,296	I'm not answering for Dave, but in my position, YES, it's carry both the Cardioid & Omni version of a mic (such as DPA 4007 & 4011) and use one or the other. I'm so glad things are working better for you this time around! Parabs can be great, but they sure are particular about...well, about EVERYTHING!