Anthony Bourdain styles shows - omni or carioid lavs?

RCM - Ronan · 2nd February 2012

I am trying to do some research about miking on screen talent. For shows like Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations, are the Lavs usually omni or cardioid?

While I am asking, any recommendations on good modestly priced options?

Rolo 46 · 2nd February 2012

omnis are best

ToddP · 2nd February 2012

You probably don't really need rejection of ambient noise, so it is better to have the more consistent pattern of an omni for when the talent moves their head, arms, etc...

Lectrosonics is a great place to start for a system, IMO

philper · 3rd February 2012

I have some directional lavs, but have never been happy with their sound. They "hear" things like head turns and chin drops much more than an omni lav, and usually the offending noise on a set is not coming from below the talent, where the greatest rejection is. In a kitchen, the noise is everywhere, with the worst of it probably overhead (fans). Lavs help in those situations due to their proximity to the speaker's mouth. not because of their pattern.

phil p

RobAnderson · 3rd February 2012

Omni's are best.

Some of the better sounding elements (if there is music involved) would be Sennheiser MKE1 or 2, or the DPA 406x's.

Lectrosonics are popular in TV and film. Countryman B3 and B6 as well.

Obviously smaller is better if you need to hide the lav. The MKE 1's are pretty small; the B6's are really small.

DPA elements sound really good, but you need to buy pricey adapters to get them to mate with different RF systems.

mixerguy · 5th February 2012

in my experience - omnis

more consistent sound.

huub · 10th February 2012

I very much prefer cardioid lavs, and use those almost every time. However, this is for studio type TV shows, where you have at least some control over what happens and how people move, and there usually is a possibility to send in an assistant to adjust the mic.
For single camera (ENG) shoots, omni is the way to go, as placement is less critical, and usually getting a bit of ambient sound on the lav is okay/wanted.

Dpa 4060's do sound the nicest, but I prefer mke2's, because the dpa's are so damn sensitive, you hear everything on them, on mke2's I hear a little bit less ambient sound, and less clothing sound.
Trams are the standard here in Holland for ENG work, they sound fine too.

2nd February 2012	#1
RCM - Ronan Lives for gear Joined: Aug 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 4,414 Thread Starter	Anthony Bourdain styles shows - omni or carioid lavs? I am trying to do some research about miking on screen talent. For shows like Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations, are the Lavs usually omni or cardioid? While I am asking, any recommendations on good modestly priced options? __________________ Ronan Chris Murphy+ http://ronansrecordingshow.com Six Day Recording Boot Camps in Los Angeles July 16-21, 2012

2nd February 2012	#3
ToddP Gear maniac Joined: Nov 2003 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 286	You probably don't really need rejection of ambient noise, so it is better to have the more consistent pattern of an omni for when the talent moves their head, arms, etc... Lectrosonics is a great place to start for a system, IMO __________________ Todd Peterson Marketing Manager TransAudio Group www.transaudiogroup.com www.lasvegasproaudio.com Facebook (tm) How much easier it is to be critical than to be correct. - Benjamin Disraeli

3rd February 2012	#5
RobAnderson Lives for gear Joined: Jan 2007 Location: NY New York a wonderful town Posts: 725 16 Reviews written	Omni's are best. Some of the better sounding elements (if there is music involved) would be Sennheiser MKE1 or 2, or the DPA 406x's. Lectrosonics are popular in TV and film. Countryman B3 and B6 as well. Obviously smaller is better if you need to hide the lav. The MKE 1's are pretty small; the B6's are really small. DPA elements sound really good, but you need to buy pricey adapters to get them to mate with different RF systems. __________________ "Everybody gets so much information all day long that they lose their common sense." - G. Stein 1946 The reputation of a thousand years may be determined by the conduct of one hour. - Japanese Proverb "Look into his face and hear the music of the ages. Don't pay too much attention to the sounds--for if you do, you may miss the music." - George Ives http://www.andersonsoundrecording.com

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2nd February 2012	#2
Rolo 46 Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2011 Location: Stroud,Glos,UK Posts: 820	omnis are best

3rd February 2012	#4
philper Lives for gear Joined: Dec 2005 Location: San Francisco area Posts: 2,422	I have some directional lavs, but have never been happy with their sound. They "hear" things like head turns and chin drops much more than an omni lav, and usually the offending noise on a set is not coming from below the talent, where the greatest rejection is. In a kitchen, the noise is everywhere, with the worst of it probably overhead (fans). Lavs help in those situations due to their proximity to the speaker's mouth. not because of their pattern. phil p

5th February 2012	#6
mixerguy Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 4,002	in my experience - omnis more consistent sound.

10th February 2012	#7
huub Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2005 Location: amsterdam Posts: 1,208	I very much prefer cardioid lavs, and use those almost every time. However, this is for studio type TV shows, where you have at least some control over what happens and how people move, and there usually is a possibility to send in an assistant to adjust the mic. For single camera (ENG) shoots, omni is the way to go, as placement is less critical, and usually getting a bit of ambient sound on the lav is okay/wanted. Dpa 4060's do sound the nicest, but I prefer mke2's, because the dpa's are so damn sensitive, you hear everything on them, on mke2's I hear a little bit less ambient sound, and less clothing sound. Trams are the standard here in Holland for ENG work, they sound fine too.