Best Value Shotgun Mic system

[TheRigaletto]

My company needs to revamp some of the on the street recordings (i.e. street interviews, short films) any opinions of a good shotgun mic/mixer setup?

[Remoteness]

Sorry to answer you with a question but, what kind of shotgun/mixer system are you using now?

[TheRigaletto]

man...Im actually trying to step in and fix a serious problem....they are using a mounted generic mic on cam and no mixer. Please help!

[Remoteness]

The Shure FP32 and FP32a come to mind. Those models replaced the FP33. These units have been (are) used in a lot of ENG work. A lot of the TV news gathering folks use (have used) these puppies. If you’re into the Shure flavor of mixers look for a used FP33. It was the standard for many years.IMO they're not the sweetest sound mixer out there but, much better than a generic camera mic and no mixer.

IMO, the Sound Devices 442 is a very good field mixer. There’s a less expensive Sound Devices 302 that you should checkout if the 442 doesn’t fit your budget.

Other brands that come to mind are Cooper (expensive) or used SQN. A low budget brand would be the Rolls MX422. It’s pretty cheap but, with that said, I’d spend more on the mixer and save your bread on the mics at first.

There are quite a few shotguns out there from economical to ouch!

AKG C390 w/ shotgun capsule (I forget the model)
AKG C480B w/ CK69
Rode NTG-2 (cheap)
Sennheiser K3U w/ ME80 (cheap)
Sennheiser MKH416 (the Standard)
Sennheiser MKH418S (stereo shotgun)
Sennheiser MKH60
Sennheiser MKH70

There are tons of other shotgun options out there from Beyer, Neumann and such.

Like I said before, IMO, spent your bread on a good mixer then build on your mic selection since you can always rent a slamming mic when it’s applicable.

I hope this helped.

[T.RayBullard]

Schoeps just released a shotgun system too, but I know that quite a few in the film industry use the MK41 hypers for film work. The wendt x4 mixers are phenomenal, very clean, low noise, battery powered...another film standard, like the cooper and SD units. Bob Wendt is a very nice guy.

I used one for a long time, mixing straight to 2 for classical concerts...loved that thing.

[pkautzsch]

A used 416 isn't that expensive anymore. And they're rugged and solid too.
Wendt mixers are great!!!
To me, the one I worked with last year was so much better than the standard SQN.
Same goes for the metering and the possibilites of the SD 302 I tried last week on a small student shot. Great: MS matrix, switchable Peak/VU metering, adjustable reference tone, ...only weak point are the not-so-stable looking pots. Nothing beats the SQN's knobs!
In a German forum last year we discussed the scandinavian Marenius gear which I haven't heard but which was said to be in the SQN league for a lot less money.
There was an interesting article in a German sound magazine about the Schoeps shotgun in a double-MS setup (for surround sound) with a CCM8 and a CCM41. Interesting: Schoeps for a long time denied the need for shotguns and said that the disadvantages of interference tubes would matter much more than the little bit of directivity in comparison to the (really very linear also off-axis) *41 hypercard capsule. I'd love to hear the Schoeps sometime.
OTOH: as long as there's T-power for my old 416T...

[Sound Sorcerer]

I use a Wendt X5 to mix four lectrosonics lavs and a Boom mic, there's also a 3 channel version the X3. For shotgun mic on a budget I recommend the Sanken CS1, is definitely my new favorite. My other shotgun mic is a Neumann kmr81, a bit pricey but sounds great. A lot of people like the Sound Devices 302 mixer, but Shure just came up with a new 2 channel mixer, the Shure FP24...

[TheRigaletto]

Anyone have any experience with the Senheiser K6 W/Me66 or 67 capsule?

[TheRigaletto]

Also one more quick question for you guys. What is the best signal chain? You can get mucho pricey on this one for me! You guys are awesome!

[pkautzsch]

I might have used a K6 once (at least it was a quite new Sennheiser modular shotgun), but don't actually remember anything good or bad about it.
To me, the best signal chain has only the devices that really are necessary.
Except in no-budget productions when I think they can't afford good post-production. Then I do a little tape compression on the Nagra.

[TheRigaletto]

Heh ok Ill stop beating around the bush...Whats IS the signal chain? I.e. Shotgun>Mixer>Camera and if there is anything in between. Thanks guys for helping out a newbie!

[Remoteness]

You nailed it...

Shotgun>Mixer>Camera and nothing else in between.

[Jim vanBergen]

Originally Posted by TheRigaletto

Anyone have any experience with the Senheiser K6 W/Me66 or 67 capsule?

I own two of these after using them for DECADES and always being happy with the result. Not as great as a 416, better than an 816 (to my ears, don't hate me) and a fraction of the cost of an MKH60 or MKH70 which run 2k these days- might as well get the Schoeps shotgun for that price.

The 416 is the most robust and dependable, they are also regularly stolen off broadcast shoots and camera mounts. ME66 is a solid inexpensive choice, and good sounding. I also like the AKG 390 w/ CK98 capsule way more than the Audiotechnica mics I see (and I embarrassingly own a few of... I NEVER use them since 1991, they really blow.) Wish I had bought more K6/ME66 back then instead of new single-piece A-T's.

Hope this helps!

[Remoteness]

I had a bunch of K3s with all kinds of capsules. I believe I had at least two of every possibility...

But, I had to throw most of them out after years of use (I really mean abuse.) They could not handle the everyday rough world of remote recording "Rock & Roll" style like the MKH416s can.

Those K3s not only got beat up but, they rusted out too... I wish we were kinder to those puppies. I believe anyone that owns the newer K6s should be very careful with them. They are not as robust as the MKH416s.

[TheRigaletto]

excellent info guys! I think im sold on the K6! How bout a mixer? What do I need to be looking for? Im looking around the 800 dollar range. Thanks guys!