I've been looking at shotgun mics and I knew they were more "focused" than others, but this was by far the best explanation that I've heard yet. Thank you for simplifying this!
Sound waves do not actually move up down, the graphic on it is often confusing people. Rather you can understand sound "waves" when you imagine a straight line, and on this straight line, you will have repeatedly zones where there is low air pressure, and zones where there is high air pressure. The distance where each of these sound repeat is what makes the frequency. Now the reason why the graph is a wave because the height of the line is showing the pressure or amplitude which is going from high to low to negative and back. As a visual representation on a 2d plane, a sound wave would look more like this, the closer lines are high pressure, the more distant lines are lower air pressure, the arrows show the direction. -> |||||| | | | | | | | | | ||||| | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||| | | | | | | | | | ||||| | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||| | | | | | | | | ||||| | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||| -> Another thing is, the bass increase is not mainly caused by the phase cancellation you described, yes the phase cancellation that happens from the reflections will cause sound issues, but only partly an increase in bass. Mostly you will rather get thinning of certain frequencies. This is also very dependant on the room size. The reason why shotgun mics cause a boomy voice is due to the "Proximity Effect", which basically means, the closer you get to a microphone that has any pickup pattern other than omnidirectional, the more bass you will hear. Oversimplified, this happens because lower frequency have longer wavelengths, and therefore dont have as much difference in phase. So the ups and downs will be closer to eachother and not cancel eachother out as effectively. Now this is as said rather simplified, but I just thought I'd add these things on to rid possible wrong understandings. Shure has a good readup on this: service.shure.com/s/article/why-does-proximity-effect-occur?language=en_US
This is my favorite comment ever. Yeah, as I dove into my research for this video I learned a ton and was struggling with how deep to go. As a nerd, I'm infatuated with those details, I just thought I'd end up losing people by going too deeply into the woods. Thanks for taking the time!
@@ShaunHautly Oh I'm so glad I scrolled down! Just found your channel and was about to take issue regarding this, but see it's been addressed. The wave form is just a measure of the compression/rarefaction over time (as PhenizDj points out), and the movement of soundwaves through air is better depicted by 'Newton's Cradle'. Regardless, loved your comparo, thankyou! (I'm currently shopping for an NTG3 or NTG5, so I'm getting lots of recommendeds)
Yeah, after making this video (and expecting it to get the 20 views most of my videos get), I learned a lot more about sound waves and pressure. If I could remake it, I would!
I've never had an issue using a shotgun mic indoors. The solution for me is to be closer / more on axis to the source and use the low cut filter to limit the proximity effect. Indoors, there will always be some level of phase cancellation-which is likely to cause "thinning" of certain frequencies-at wavelengths coincident with the room dimension and mic placement. But this shouldn't be so pronounced as to ruin your takes... Mic placement (finding the sweet spot) and having a good signal-to-noise ratio matters more.
Do you reckon it can reduce the empty room feel, by canceling some reverberations? I can't seem to tream my room enough. As long as diction is understandable I don't care about the exact sound. I am recording language lessons.
I concur, if sound of street goes from windows (and reflects from walls indoor) it's more important to filter it off by paying the price of worsening the voice than to catch it and ruin your work. Those jumping sounds are nightmare, such as barking dogs. You can't remove them easily with software, only manually. This is why I use Sennheiser 8070 indoors. It helps alot.
Sound waves don’t actually move up and down, they move in and out, compressing the air like a the wind. But we represent them as up and down on graphs to visualize the compression wave. Great vid!
Yeah, I’ve learned a ton more about all this since making the video and I’m excited to revisit it with all the extra things I’ve learned about pressure and stuff. Thanks for the love!
Truthfully, compressed air (sound) moves outward from the source in ALL directions forward from the source as well as behind to an extent. This is why when you move speakers closer to a boundary, the bass increases and imaging starts to suffer. Microphones differ in how they receive this compressed air and convert it to a digital signal that’s then fed to a digital audio converter and converted back into compressed air so our inner ear parts can vibrate and help our brain interpret it as “sound”. Pretty wild stuff. What really should be addressed in this video is polar patterns OF small diaphram condenser mics. If indoors, you really should be targeting a supercardioid or hypercardioid pickup pattern as they will negate much of the room noise and target the talent rather than the environment. Too many of the small diaphram condensers in the more budget oriented range are actually cardioid polar patterns, which will NOT have the same effect.
Man this is such a valuable information which I had to learn the hard way, got NTG4 Plus, it completely sucked in my room, then had it replaced with a Lav mic which worked much better until I just decided to get a large diaphragm condenser mic (which my audience voted for for better sound quality even with its visibility in frame).
Hahahaha I was referring to interview setups for my video clients, but I didn’t pause to consider how funny it is that I keep my massive mic in frame as I say that.
@@ShaunHautly But it is different! Small lav mic = annoying, Massive studio mic = awesome! Ofc is should be in frame :D BTW Great video, I just bought a NX80 Camcorder and came across this video in my search for a mic for it. I thought a shotgun-mic was what I should have but maybe thats not the best. I will do filming both inside and outside. Any suggestions?
"you may sound deeper and beefier" just sold me on getting a shotgun mic after all. Not what you set out to do, but for my needs this is paramount. Thanks for that excellent description. I have a decent handle on physics of waves, but my working knowledge of how different types of microphones harness and use those waves is deplorable.
Haha. Well, depending on your location, a shotgun might be best. Otherwise you can get a good capture with another kind of mic and adjust your EQ in post to give you that deeper and beefier sound.
@@ShaunHautly my current plan is to get entry level shotgun and pencil mics, and see which gives me better results in my space. Then if I ever do find myself filming outside, or with a lot of background noise and need to focus the mic better, I'll have the former to play with too.
This is an excellent deep dive! A lot of other demos get stuck on the phase cancellation and don't even take into consideration the environment, the EQ effect of a shotgun mic, and why this may not be want somebody wants inside of a quiet room! Great explanation, great review!!!
Just one thing- all audio frequencies move at the same speed- 1100 meters per second, regardless of the pitch or frequency. The medium it is traveling through will affect speed. Very informative video- thanks!
Thanks for the info! I've learned SO much about all the science and physics I got wrong after making this video (I never knew it would get so many views!!!). Most of the things I've learned have been from happy commenters. Thanks for the note. I may end up making a revised version eventually and I'll make sure to credit the people who've helped clarify some things. Happy recording!
You make some good points. One problem with most pencil mics is that they are designed for instruments and made very bright to cut through the music mix. They are too shrill for most people's voices. So whether shotgun or pencil mic you are probably going to have to do some Eq-ing. I use a Sennheiser mk600 in a treated room and there is little need to eq.
I always end up having to brighten up my shotguns, haha. While my pencil seems "brighter" than my shotguns mics, I've used it for an orchestra musician demonstration for kids, and the it was great for the piccolo, Tuba, and Timpani. So there's a ton of range for pitch, probably more than the frequencies of human voice. So I've found the NT5 to be pretty true to life for me. But you're right, everything needs a little EQ. Thanks for the happy comment!
In what universe are most microphones perfect out of the box with no potential for improving their performance by equalization (or whatever)? If you're serious about the results, chances are quite high you're going to apply some processing to pretty much every microphone you have. My opinion? A bias toward high frequencies is far easier to correct than a bias toward bass frequencies.
The only disadvantages of pencil condensers are: Fast transients. You can account for that with a good shield, mic placement, and mixing. Self noise. It's harder to make smaller diaphragm mics with low self noise... but they are genuinely good now. Everything else is down to taste, EQ, and mic ethics. If you know how to use it. You'll be happy with it. Otherwise. They can do anything a large diaphragm mic can do. They're just as good with low frequency sources without having too much omni-directional character in the low end. They excel at close mic'ing (be careful with fast transients) and far. But yeah. Like Chuck said. You are probably going to run EQ on your sound source anyway and not having to worry about too much low frequency ER is going to be a life saver for some folks.
Bravo man, you did an excellent job explaining everything and dispelling some of the myths and misunderstandings with shotgun microphones. Phase issues become even more complicated, super complicated, with music or live event stuff. Especially when using more than 2 mics!
Thanks! I enjoyed researching this video to make it, and it changed how I approach sound for video production. The beast that is live event capturing is several levels of complication beyond this, and it's fascinating. Maybe next year I'll try to learn enough about it to make a video about it, too. But for now, I'm just in awe. Thank you for such a nice comment!
UA-cam recommended me your video to me and I have decided to return the Synco D2 shotgun microphone and I have placed an order for Audio Technica AT2021. I do not want to bother with installing acoustic panels in a temporary place. I have been doing a whole lot of research and I do not know about the disadvantage of shotgun microphones until UA-cam recommended me the video. Thank you so much for producing the video. I want a microphone that is out of frame and I don't want to deal with phasing delay or whatever it's called. I wish UA-cam would have recommended me your video before I bought a Synco D2, but hey, that mic that I have is going back in favor of AT2021. I just want a microphone that sounds good and that is important to me.
Well, I'm a strong believer in trying things and seeing what works. Shotgun microphones get misused CONSTANTLY, and many viewers and listeners don't notice or care. So if it's still not perfect with your 2021, remember that you can always return it, or just power through in your temporary space and focus on the content vs the technology. It's a lesson I have to remind myself to learn every time I record something.
There’s a human being who spent a lot of time making this video in hopes of helping someone out. A comment like this adds no value but hurts creators who are spending long hours making content just for folks to tear it down. It would do you no harm in just starting the video, realizing it’s not for you, and moving on.
@@RyanKemperinOhioNow you are hurting people who made an effort to sum it up. Just joking of course. STOP & Shotgun mic would have worked better with INDOOR & video sound in title. Otherwise one could think of it as a click bait praxis.Other than that, shotgun mic electroacoustic principle demystification might be considered a true value of this video.
Thank you. This video was fun to make because it was really fun to learn about all this stuff. I'm glad so many people have enjoyed it. Thanks for the happy comment!
Hi thank you for the very great video I think that a good way to select a mic is to listen to it with a great mic amp through great closed headphones that isolate from the ambient noise it could be helpful to listen blindfolded It is impressive how it will be easier to pick details concentrating the senses on sound Like to see with the ears The sight can deceive in some situations shotguns are needed like when you want to capture a dialogue in a noisy envinronment But anything can be quite evident by just listening
@@ShaunHautly nothing yet, I noticed that my main issue is with the echo I have in my room, it’s big and fairly empty. So working on that for now before buying one :)
This video is amazing. Thank you so much for taking the time to explain this simply and clearly. I've often wondered why my NTG3 sounds SO BAD in doors. Now eying up the NT5. Thank you sir!
I can't say without knowing what kind of room you're primarily filming in. My studio has hard walls and makes a shotgun sound like it's under a blanket. Yours may be fine. Buy one, try one, return it if it doesn't work for you. That's my non-specific suggestion. :-)
You missed one thing .... You mentioned the NT5 being better for indoors.... but when it comes to outdoors , can it replace the other shotgun mics ????? When picking a mic for filmmaking, we surely need to consider outdoors use too.
"Replace" is such a tricky word. Different situations require different tools. I use my NT5 outside. It doesn't cancel off-axis noise QUITE as much, but I'd challenge any of my viewers to spot the difference. :-) Pick one, try it, and if it doesn't work, return it and try another!
Such a good video. I just got a Sennheiser MKE600 Shotgun Mic for a variety of scenarios and seeing this helps me understand why a Pencil mic is the best way to go indoors. Some sound absorbs and diffusers will help too 👌
Honestly? Thank you so much!! I recently bought a Rode NTG4 (for Video-Purposes) and two Rode M5 (for Orchestra-Recording-Purposes). I was absolutely fascinated by the sound quality of the M5 (a little bit under yours NT5 i guess) and when I tested the NTG4 I was really disappointed! My voice was way more dull then with the M5 and I had the feeling that the noise reduction of the NTG4 wasn't that much better than the M5. I couldn't understand why people were so pleased with the NTG4 or generally with shotgun-mics and I was about to send the NTG4 back. But then I stumbled upon your video and it so makes sense! I was testing both mikes in my reverberant work room, and I guess that is the exact wrong room for a shotgun-mic ;) So again: Thanks! I will try it outside soon.
Glad to help! I had the NTG4 as my only real mic for two years (then I upgraded to the NTG3). It's a fantastic mic, but yeah, in the wrong room it's going to sound awful. I also need to remind myself that these mics cancel noise by hearing it (more than once), so if the noise is AWFUL (wind, HVAC, etc.) it's still going to be in the signal and it's going to overpower other things. All too often I have to remind myself: Mics aren't magic...
@@ShaunHautly I see... So based on your experience: What is the field of application of a Shotgun mic? When could I use it? Just on the outside? I've seen so many videos of people using such mics inside and it sounded pretty good...
The shotgun mic's weakness is echo. So if you're shooting in a room with carpeting, furniture, and drapes, the shotgun is going to be fantastic because your echo is going to be absorbed by all of those soft surfaces. It's only when you're in a barren room with hard floors and blank walls. I filmed all around a school this past week. In all of the classrooms (larger rooms with rugs, curtains, couches, etc) I used my shotgun and got great results. It was only when shooting in a small atrium with tile flooring that I used the NT5. Large rooms, outdoors, rooms with sound dampening, those are all going to be great situations for the shotgun. For me, that's MOST of the places I shoot. However, I I wanted to make sure I had a tool for getting good sound when those conditions weren't ideal (my office for tutorials, for example).
I was looking at shotgun mics for gaming/streaming and the comparison in this video made me consider the shotgun mic even more, because it also removed the room echo. A bit of EQ to remove the bass and that's it. Very helpful this video and made me understand why and how they work
Mean no offense here, I've clicked on several of your videos and I see a guy wearing his hat cocked like a 16 year old and click away almost immediately thinking I couldn't take you seriously. Well I was really interested here and really glad that I didn't just click away, really great information and you were able to break this down so nicely. Thank you! Again, i didn't mean any disrespect, just wanted to say that I am sorry for judging a book by its cover. May be helpful you too to understand if you are seeing dropoff of viewership early in your videos. Great work!
Haha, yes. I find that- similar to the jimmy johns order tattooed on my forearm- my hat does a good job of testing client comparability. In the creative field, someone who gets bent out of shape by a hat or a tattoo is someone that is likely going to cause some headaches down the road. I’ve never lost a client or had any pushback on it yet.
For me, I SELDOM use the audio from a mic mounted on my camera. I use interview audio, voiceover, and audio recorded by taking my mic and recorder along for the ride. If you’re limiting the mic to mounting on the EOS R, it’s form factor may end up being a bother, but if you intend to use it OFF of the camera as well then let the quality be your guide.
Me using Pencil Condensers for absolutely everything. Wondering where this is going to go. (I used to think that large diaphragms were best and then I had a period of assuming that shotgun mics were king. But not anymore) Seriously though. Small diaphragm capsules are amazing. They are good for up close, far away, room capture, etc. But yeah. Shotgun mics have their place. You just gotta be really aware of room dynamics. This is really good, simple, and informative. Nice.
Thanks you so much, Shaun! I've been into sound for a long time, and this is one of the clearest explanations of sound recording technic & mics. Great, man :)
Awesome! Thank you! I'm JUST finishing (like literally uploading as I write this) my follow up video about which mics are best for which situations and the most common questions I answer. It definitely isn't a nerdy and fun, but hopefully it's useful!
I like how you mentioned the ambient sound of the environment when talking about bass sound. It makes a lot sense but I never thought about it. Nice view and nice video.
I love this stuff, too. You can always buy mics from a place that has a good return policy and try them yourself in your room and see what sounds best to you.
You can actually see this issue in microphone specifications when looking at polar pattern over frequency. In the NT5 datasheet, the 500 Hz, 1000 and 4000 Hz curves align almost perfectly (higher-end cardioid SDCs are pretty good at this), while the NTG3 ends up being much narrower at 4 kHz than it is at 500 Hz or 1 kHz. Thus when there is a lot of diffuse sound, the NTG3 will pick up substantially less of it in the high frequencies, causing the tonal balance to shift accordingly. (It will, however, also pick up less room reverb in general, which may still make using one with EQ worthwhile.) You can try a shorter, broader shotgun like the Deity S-Mic 2S indoors, which will have less of a narrowing pattern.
This is a lovely comment by the way. One of the kind of comments that I learn a lot from reading. Thanks for the information. As I think about mics in the future, I'll look into those specifications a bit more. Thanks again!
Just in case anyone was wondering, sound waves don't move up and down the way we graph them. They are longitudinal pressure waves that go in all directions. A local maxima of a 2d graph is just when the pressure is highest, and the minima is just when it is lowest.
I did a huge project for a science museum last year and we did a deep dive into sound and compression waves. It was fascinating, but everything I learned while making it made me think, "welp, that was wrong in my old microphone video." Thanks for some of this clarifying information. Turns out it's even more fascinating than I thought!
They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but I just learned something I had not heard before! The reason for that damn woofy/muffled sound is that I'm using a shotgun mic in a reverberating room. I have pencil condenser mics, but I save them for music performances. Well, no more. I'm going to experiment right now.
I know I'm probably so many years late to this video, but it's helped me out because I've been told that my video's are great but need to get a better microphone and I was looking at shotgun mic's, Thank's so much.
The minute you started talking I knew you weren't using the Audio-Technica AT2020. The sound is no way near as rich and bassy on other mics and for a second there I was wondering if you had forgotten to plug that mic and were using the camera audio. But I kinda see your point. Also, nice explanation you did there. I appreciate it.
This makes so much sense. Just shot an interview / voice lesson indoor and had so many issues with my shotgun mic as a boom mic. Definitely investing in the NT5
NT5 is a good one, but there's also a ton more that have great reviews. I just don't have experience with them. But try something and if it doesn't work, return it and try something else!
God it’s gonna be hard to unknow this now when trying to buy a microphone. I thought I had some selected but now I’ve got to go to the whole selection process again after the new information gain from your vid. Thanks.
I always have my 3 Sennheiser MKH mics depending on the set : MKH416 for outdoors or big rooms or when I can't put the mic close enough, MKH50 for indoors or even for some quiet outdoors, MKH40 for some indoors
I think you're talking about the AT2020. The AT2020 (at my face) is a "side address" microphone, meaning that you speak into the side of it, instead of the top. So, it's "pointing up" with its form factor, but if you were to speak into the top, it would sound weird. It's designed to be spoken into from the side. I hope that answered your question! Thanks for the happy comment!
Thank you for such lengthy yet very detail explanation that is easy to understand. I am on the stage where comparing different mics for different situation.
I use a pair of shotgun mics (Beyerdynamic MCE86II) for live music field recording. I've been to a lot of concerts where the sound in my ears was really boomy and muddy sounding, but listening to the recording later, sounds much better. They also cut out a lot of audience chatter. I was a little reticent when I first started using them, but I've been pleased with the results.
@@ShaunHautly Yes! Well, in small rooms I usually use cardioids, but anything holding a thousand or more I use the shotguns. Last thing I recorded was Dave Matthews Band at Blossom Music Center in Ohio, which hold about 20,000 total, in the covered amphitheater and lawn. There was a LOT of audience chatter to cut out.
Yeah. And with 1000 people, you won't gear nearly as much reverb and echo as you would in a small, relatively empty room. Most of my work is doing interviews and sound for video production. I HOPE I never have to have 20,000 people on set.
For my wifes stuff I like to use a simple pencil condenser out of shot if noise isn't a problem, if it is then either a xm8500 or sm58 in the shot which if you place them right can have a small visual footprint.
Wow! I love this channel! I LOVE science 🧪 I’m studying to be a provider and study physics, biology, and complex topics on the human body, and so happy I came to watch this! I have a UA-cam channel and do most of my videos in my office. I am getting the Rode NGT5. I was going to get the Rode NGT3 but this video changed my mind. Thank you for this video sir! Am I making the right decision? 🙏🏼🤦🏽♀️🤯 (please reply..)
Depends on what your room is like! If it’s a room with carpeting, drapes, soft couches and chairs, you will likely get great results from the NTG5. If the room is hardwood floors, hard walls, etc., you may still get a muddy sound even from the NTG5. And I have a degree in biology, so I’m looking forward to the science content!
I like the sound of that AT2020! I haven't used that before. Also good explenation on Shotguns. I think it's important to note that there is no perfect mic. A shotgun mic will be a better choice in some situations. For general indoor boom micing, a SDC is often the best choice. I would perfer a Hypercardiod pattern over the NT5's Cardiod pattern.
Yeah, I think there's a couple mics I'd like to try. Like so many people, I approached this as a binary: I found a mic (NT5) that works more often than my NTG3. So I started using it more. There may be other mics that are better, but I settled into an "if it isn't broken...." mindset. :-)
Shaun, first let me just say that I love how clearly you teach these concepts for those of us who know nothing! I have been watching videos trying to solve a problem I'm having with our church microphones, and I''m wondering if our problem might be what you describe here. We purchased an Audio-Tehnica AT875R shotgun mic (after watching a YT video that suggested it for ambient church mics during congregational signing). The problem that we noticed is that the mic did excellent when it was just people singing, but when the piano played, the mic completely dropped all sounds coming into it, even the voices! Is this the same issue you are describing here? Thanks for awesome content, especially for someone like me, who doesn't understand all the tech speak, but learns well visually. Liked, subscribed!
That sounds like a really fascinating problem! I'm not sure why the addition of the piano's frequencies in the room would have an impact on the vocal frequencies (and everything for that matter). I would try using an omnidirectional microphone, which will pickup the voices as well as the ambience of the room. It will be echoey if it's an echoey room, but it should sound true to life. The best way forward is to try a few mics and return the ones that make life harder for you! Good luck! Shaun
Thanks, that sounds like good advice. I bought a Sennheiser MKH 416. Now I need to save up for a Sennheiser MKH 50 ha ha, or perhaps better a pair of MKH 8050s. Expensive but compact, more versatile with a matched pair ,- more speakers or stereo ambience options (110 degree axis separation is apparently optimum). But that's a top drawer approach.
The 416 is a great mic. If you get to shoot in great places, it'll last you forever. I just find my shotguns got muddy because I kept having to shoot in lame conference rooms and school rooms with block walls.
I am NOT an audio engineer but computer guy that has just gotten more into audio lately. I hadn't minded seeing the lavs in general, I feel like it's just a "hey, we're recording these people" BUT I got a Blue Yeti at the beginning of this pandemic thing and then was getting interested in keeping the mic off cam during video. Tried putting on mic arm off to the side but finally came to the realization there is something else that should be used. Long story short, discovered these shotgun mics and then your recommendation for the NT5. Thanks!
Oh, there are TONS of differences! A shotgun mic refers to its shape: a longer microphone. These are great for cancelling noise that’s not directly in front of the microphone. They can be problematic indoors as frequencies of natural echo can cancel out parts of someone’s voice. A “boom” mic refers to any mic that’s held out on a boom. Typically this is a mic that’s overhead, but you can also boom from below to different reasons (sound, framing, or sometimes the boom can cast a shadow if held above). Many times people say “boom mic” when they mean shotgun, but you can mount non-shotgun mics on a book just as easily (and I often do!). A condenser mic is a mic that uses an electrical current to operate. The alternative is a “dynamic” microphone. Dynamic mics are usually more rugged and have a more robust diaphragm, but lack some of the sensitivity of a condenser mic. This doesn’t mean they aren’t as good. Just different. For singing and speaking (when you can put the mic right up to someone’s mouth) dynamic mics are better because they’re not sensitive enough to pick up other noises in the room, etc. Cardioid and supercardioid refer to the pickup pattern of the microphone. Different capsules can create different pickup patterns. This basically controls which space around the mic that the mic will be able to hear. It’s tough to explain with words, but if you do an image search, you’ll see exactly what I mean for the different patterns. I use wider pattern microphones when I’m trying to mic multiple people with a single mic. I use a narrow pattern when I’m only trying to get one person on a mic.
@@ShaunHautly Thanks for the explanation! Did NOT expect a response with this video being almost 2 years old! If I'm in a open living room setting and unable to really dampen the area, what kind of mic should I be going with? I currently have both a cheap $10 lav mic, as well as the takstar sgc-598. I'm guessing the takstar would be better if I'm able to put it very close to me? Do you have a recommendation on what the "next step" mic to consider would be? Maybe in the sub $300 or so category?
Great video! I definitely learned some new things. I've worked audio for a while now, in various settings. I use a Sennheiser MKH 416 shotgun mic and it does very well in all types of situations. I can understand where you are coming from with the annoying sound you get indoors. I usually get it fixed in post but it's a lot of work. Thanks for the video, I am going to do a shotgun video soon as well, i'll make sure you reference your video.
Hey I just put out the video on shotgun mics. I gave your channel and video a shout out. Thanks for the info on phase delay, it helped put the video together! Here's the link if you wanna check it out: ua-cam.com/video/n_JD0cIei44/v-deo.html
Thank you! First video on mics I saw, where I could hear so good explanation on technical aspects of why specific mics work in their way. Phaze delay and noise cancelation are my new words of the day. Regards!
It's a great microphone, especially for the price. @RebelTech has done some great reviews of that mic and the other mics in the same cost-space. If you're in the market, check out his channel. ua-cam.com/video/50xzEeEgQzQ/v-deo.html
In theory, yes. In practice, no. The mics and their capsules are fine tuned. Altering the shape or length of the mic would change how the sound would hit the diaphragm and it would sound bad. I've done a test where I've covered the slits with a variety of materials and it just sounds awful. Even muddier than before.
And different frequencies all move the same speed. 761 MPH at STP. The difference in timing is the amount of pressure inversions over a given time. The time from one pressure maxima to the next is shorter when the wave peaks (local maxima) are closer together.
This was one of the best breakdowns I’ve seen on shotgun mics. Thanks for the really helpful info! You’ve got me rethinking if the shotgun mic i have is really the best tool for the job. I’m definitely in a small echoey room
This is a very well-explained explanation dude! You explained this more succinctly than my college profs in audio school! I've always preferred small-diaphragm condensers in the studio as well!
Thank you! I've definitely learned even more since making this, and there are a few mistakes sprinkled throughout the video, but I'm glad it made sense! Cheers!
Yes! Good explanation! This is also the reason we never use shotgun mics in the studio for recording music. I always use pencils as overheads for drumsets or choirs.
Thank you! Yeah, I think it's funny that SO many young filmmakers only use shotguns, but you see shotguns so infrequently on actual film sets, music studios, etc. I feel like I see them most frequently on local news stories.
Good chat. I'm always on a budget so I bought a matched pair of Behringer C-2 mics for drum overheads but found they work great for video work. I even use two of them to get a stereo capture of dialogue and include some of the "liveness" of the room so that the viewer can feel present. I still do AI noise reduction but I use it judiciously. these C-2 microphones are CHEAP and they sound great. Call it a "hack" if you will, but you don't have to break the bank to get pristine audio from these guys. It's the law of diminishing returns when it comes to spending money on mics. Your audience if not going to notice the difference by the time audio processing in post is factored in. I think it's pointless spending hundreds of dollars on a video mic unless it's for some niche function.
100%. The software is getting so good for cleaning up audio. I lean on FCP's Voice Isolation for almost everything now and it's REALLY reliable. On my little video mics and my more expensive mics, the audio is pretty consistent.
Great explanation . Do you have a video on mic placement? I have an AT2035 and find the way you place your AT2020 is interesting. Also I didn't know you could use a pencil mic on a boom, interesting.
I don't have a video about mic placement... yet. In general, for the side address condenser mics like the AT2020, AT2035, and AT2050 get your mouth as close as possible to it (or better yet, to a wind screen on it). I was backing off mine in this video a bit just so my face wouldn't be so obscured. It loses some of the bass by being off-axis, but it sounds OK for UA-cam.
Yes all correct and thank you... but there is another solution to reduce bass from VMNTG, NTG3 and NTG8... Turn low cut / high pass filter on. VMNTG has it built in. Zoom recorder has it. Sony K1M-XLR adapter has it. Sony URX Wireless transmitters have it. Sony calls it low cut. Rode calls it high pass. Same thing. NTG4+ already has less bass to begin with, even with all filters off.
Good call! That's what I ended up doing in post most of the time. However, all of those filters (zoom, Sony, RODE) are applied downstream in the signal, so there's no advantage to using the mic's HPF over applying it afterwards in post. And applying it in post gives the flexibility to adjust it to fit. The exception is for REALLY expensive mics which have a true HPF that is a physical circuit before the AD converter takes over. In most cases, I've been liking the sound of the short shotguns as a middle ground. Less tweaking, more flexible.
NT5 and AT2020 are cardioids, they are made to be close to the source and they get a lot of details. NTG3 is a supercardioid, that means you can put the NTG3 farther so you get camera shots without the microphone in it. The tube helps to reduce ambiante noise so the NTG3 don't pick the reverb of the room. If you want a very flat sound at recording you should try a stereo omnidirectionnel setup. There is zero boost in low frequency. Btw in your demo the NTG3 is way more louder 9:26
@@cyberneticorganism. I like the warm sound too. On my good speakers, it sounds great. When I listen on my computer speakers, the warm sound rattles and seems to clip on the tiny speakers. So trying to find that perfect middle ground is still a journey I'm on every day. Thanks for the comment!
@@ShaunHautly That's more a problem of the speakers, but i understand the point of view (or sound in this case) if you take into account the average listener and/or viewer.
Exactly. Unfortunately, with UA-cam, most people are watching on their phone speakers so I have to mix to the lowest common denominator. We just did a huge project about the physics of sound for schools and had to really dial back some of the frequency range as we know this will be shown on those TV carts that get rolled into a classroom and have TERRIBLE sound. So we wanted to make sure that someone would be able to hear things at the back of the room without blowing out a speaker. It's an interesting part of production.
Thanks for the love! This was one of my favorite videos to research and learn about as I did it. It continues to fascinate me. I'm glad you enjoyed it!
I'm not sure what you mean by Large Condenser, but it depending on which type of large condenser mic it could be a great solution. Some larger dialogue condenser mics need to be really close to pick up the sound well, and they'd have to be in frame (which might be fine), others don't offer the directional pickup pattern that a cardio pencil condenser does. But if you've got one, give it a shot!
Well I was about to buy the NTG-3 and now I’m pausing. I have a very small studio/room in my house with carpet but no other sound proofing or treatment, and I was going for the NTG-3 as I don’t have a low booming voice. Watching your fantastic explanation actually now makes me wonder whether I could save £500 and get the NT5. Another video I watched in a test the NT5 was the best sounding yet the final summary put it way down the list. Mmmmm lots to consider. Thanks
This is really cool! Im thinking about making my own live action short film so this is really helpful! Saves me the time of watching a million other vids about this mic stuff 😅
Hey Shaun... I love this...its great...well done, very informative, so after watching this I went to your UA-cam channel... and your intro video was so different but so good that I had to subscribed...lol that intro with the idea of share what you know is so important for the future I think..thank you, keep doing what you do..
Thank you! It’s fun to get to follow any interest to make a video and not be stuck in any particular subject. It’s also always great to see a positive comment. Thanks!
I used to think that "muddy sound" of my shotguns indoors sounded good. Then I heard what it was supposed to be. It was neat learning about how and why. I'm glad you enjoyed it!
11:00 just curious where the video you're talking about here is. I'd love to give It a watch but can't seem to find it. (really great video btw and gave me a lot to think about in terms of choosing the right mic)
I found the video I was referencing. It's at the bottom of this comment, BUT almost everything in it is no longer accurate. I'll make an updated version in the next week or two, but I use RODE M1 Microphones (usually) plugged into my Zoom F3 recorder. I record in 32-bit Float and bring the audio files into Final Cut Pro. Depending on the recording, I apply some assortment of three effects: 1) The Voice Isolation. Final Cut uses machine learning to do some WIZARDRY with noise canceling. I almost always turn this on. 2) Bass Reduction EQ. Just to avoid fighting with the rumbles. 3) The VO Enhance plugin in FCP. It adds compression, some EQ, and some volume normalization to be a shortcut to great audio. Like I said, I'll make a video walking through this in the next few weeks. Meanwhile, if you're bored, you can check out the old flow here: ua-cam.com/video/9T4UspRRaIs/v-deo.html
@@ShaunHautly Yo, thanks for the detailed response. Video and audio are always evolving and I'm trying to learn more and find my EQ and set up for VO so I appreciate the reply
I'm hesitant to give a recommendation just because I haven't tried many budget microphones. I use my Deity V-Mic D3 Pro ($199 USD) for a lot of stuff, and my RODE NT5 ($219 USD) for almost everything else. I just made a video about which TYPE of microphones to use for different situations which might be helpful. It really depends on whether or not you are allowed to see your mic in the shot. Heck, an iPhone next to your mouth can get VERY good sound. Which Mic: ua-cam.com/video/gUgsMMHoSNQ/v-deo.html Phone Audio Tips: ua-cam.com/video/uT7RIRCySCM/v-deo.html
Great point! As I say in far too many responses to comments: most of my videos get 30 views. If I had known this one would pop off, I'd have polished things up quite a bit more before publishing! Also, since making this, I've learned SO much about sound, physics, and so many of the things I've gotten wrong in this video. I'm also currently finishing up a big video series for an educational institution here in St. Louis that's all about the science of sound and I've learned SO much even though it's targeted toward fifth graders. Thanks for the clarification, I'm excited to see if any other video I make ever takes off like this one did. I'll be sure to iron it out a bit more this time. :-)
There is an identical compression applied to all three microphones throughout this video. There is no other noise reduction, EQ, except on the NTG3 when noted on the video 9:52.
@@ShaunHautly i’d be interested in those compression settings. If you are willing to share them, I think you made the audio sound very natural and good.
Sounds good! I'll make a compressor video in the next few weeks. I used my custom one when I made this video, but some new FCP advances have sped things up and I like my new sound even more.
Depends on the room the aquarium is in. A pencil contender would be a good choice, but if it's a room with carpet, drapes, and bedding, a shotgun like the NTG4 would do great. Even a lav up close would get some awesome sound. Try a few things and see what you think.
@@ShaunHautly it’s a small office space with carpet. I thought of buying a atr2500x as it can work for stream after and is plug and play. Or buying a rode podmic as it looks awesome but would need to buy the audio interface too. There are so many choices it’s overwhelming.
I've been looking at shotgun mics and I knew they were more "focused" than others, but this was by far the best explanation that I've heard yet. Thank you for simplifying this!
No problem, it was really fun to learn, myself.
I finally learned how a shotgun Mic works. Now I can make an informed purchase.
This is the only "before you" video I've seen that turned out to be extremely informative. Thank you so much!
Glad it was helpful! I'm always reluctant to make "clickbait" titles, but I'm glad this one lived up to the name (for you, anyway). Cheers!
Sound waves do not actually move up down, the graphic on it is often confusing people. Rather you can understand sound "waves" when you imagine a straight line, and on this straight line, you will have repeatedly zones where there is low air pressure, and zones where there is high air pressure. The distance where each of these sound repeat is what makes the frequency.
Now the reason why the graph is a wave because the height of the line is showing the pressure or amplitude which is going from high to low to negative and back.
As a visual representation on a 2d plane, a sound wave would look more like this, the closer lines are high pressure, the more distant lines are lower air pressure, the arrows show the direction.
-> |||||| | | | | | | | | | ||||| | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||| | | | | | | | | | ||||| | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||| | | | | | | | | ||||| | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||| ->
Another thing is, the bass increase is not mainly caused by the phase cancellation you described, yes the phase cancellation that happens from the reflections will cause sound issues, but only partly an increase in bass. Mostly you will rather get thinning of certain frequencies. This is also very dependant on the room size.
The reason why shotgun mics cause a boomy voice is due to the "Proximity Effect", which basically means, the closer you get to a microphone that has any pickup pattern other than omnidirectional, the more bass you will hear. Oversimplified, this happens because lower frequency have longer wavelengths, and therefore dont have as much difference in phase. So the ups and downs will be closer to eachother and not cancel eachother out as effectively. Now this is as said rather simplified, but I just thought I'd add these things on to rid possible wrong understandings.
Shure has a good readup on this: service.shure.com/s/article/why-does-proximity-effect-occur?language=en_US
This is my favorite comment ever. Yeah, as I dove into my research for this video I learned a ton and was struggling with how deep to go. As a nerd, I'm infatuated with those details, I just thought I'd end up losing people by going too deeply into the woods. Thanks for taking the time!
@@ShaunHautly Oh I'm so glad I scrolled down! Just found your channel and was about to take issue regarding this, but see it's been addressed. The wave form is just a measure of the compression/rarefaction over time (as PhenizDj points out), and the movement of soundwaves through air is better depicted by 'Newton's Cradle'. Regardless, loved your comparo, thankyou! (I'm currently shopping for an NTG3 or NTG5, so I'm getting lots of recommendeds)
Yeah, after making this video (and expecting it to get the 20 views most of my videos get), I learned a lot more about sound waves and pressure. If I could remake it, I would!
@@ShaunHautly That's the cool part about the comment section, where everyone can learn from eachother :P
LOL. Why do "sound engineers" always assume that everyone else wants to be a sound engineer? This was the right video for the audience.
Thanks mate. I never knew exactly how shotgun mics worked!
Crazy, right?! How did someone even think of that. Maybe that's the next video...
I've never had an issue using a shotgun mic indoors. The solution for me is to be closer / more on axis to the source and use the low cut filter to limit the proximity effect. Indoors, there will always be some level of phase cancellation-which is likely to cause "thinning" of certain frequencies-at wavelengths coincident with the room dimension and mic placement. But this shouldn't be so pronounced as to ruin your takes... Mic placement (finding the sweet spot) and having a good signal-to-noise ratio matters more.
Do you reckon it can reduce the empty room feel, by canceling some reverberations? I can't seem to tream my room enough. As long as diction is understandable I don't care about the exact sound. I am recording language lessons.
I concur, if sound of street goes from windows (and reflects from walls indoor) it's more important to filter it off by paying the price of worsening the voice than to catch it and ruin your work. Those jumping sounds are nightmare, such as barking dogs. You can't remove them easily with software, only manually. This is why I use Sennheiser 8070 indoors. It helps alot.
you are wrong. If you can't hear the problem - it doesn't mean it doesn't exist
"All i want is the perfect camera..."
Subscribed!!!
Haha, thanks for the love. Glad to have you on board!
I found this video from Camera Conspiracy. This saved me money from spending $$$ on shotgun mic. Thanks.
Sound waves don’t actually move up and down, they move in and out, compressing the air like a the wind. But we represent them as up and down on graphs to visualize the compression wave. Great vid!
Yeah, I’ve learned a ton more about all this since making the video and I’m excited to revisit it with all the extra things I’ve learned about pressure and stuff. Thanks for the love!
@@ShaunHautly looking for that content sir...
Truthfully, compressed air (sound) moves outward from the source in ALL directions forward from the source as well as behind to an extent. This is why when you move speakers closer to a boundary, the bass increases and imaging starts to suffer. Microphones differ in how they receive this compressed air and convert it to a digital signal that’s then fed to a digital audio converter and converted back into compressed air so our inner ear parts can vibrate and help our brain interpret it as “sound”. Pretty wild stuff.
What really should be addressed in this video is polar patterns OF small diaphram condenser mics. If indoors, you really should be targeting a supercardioid or hypercardioid pickup pattern as they will negate much of the room noise and target the talent rather than the environment. Too many of the small diaphram condensers in the more budget oriented range are actually cardioid polar patterns, which will NOT have the same effect.
Man this is such a valuable information which I had to learn the hard way, got NTG4 Plus, it completely sucked in my room, then had it replaced with a Lav mic which worked much better until I just decided to get a large diaphragm condenser mic (which my audience voted for for better sound quality even with its visibility in frame).
Visible mics always make good sound easier. Glad you found something you like!
Which one did you choose finally?
"I don't like seeing the lav mic most of the time"
has a microphone covering half the screen
Hahahaha
I was referring to interview setups for my video clients, but I didn’t pause to consider how funny it is that I keep my massive mic in frame as I say that.
@@ShaunHautly But it is different! Small lav mic = annoying, Massive studio mic = awesome! Ofc is should be in frame :D BTW Great video, I just bought a NX80 Camcorder and came across this video in my search for a mic for it. I thought a shotgun-mic was what I should have but maybe thats not the best. I will do filming both inside and outside. Any suggestions?
HAHAHAHAHA
And after clicking "read more" to see the other half of your comment, I get an option for "Show less." touche
"you may sound deeper and beefier" just sold me on getting a shotgun mic after all. Not what you set out to do, but for my needs this is paramount. Thanks for that excellent description. I have a decent handle on physics of waves, but my working knowledge of how different types of microphones harness and use those waves is deplorable.
Haha. Well, depending on your location, a shotgun might be best. Otherwise you can get a good capture with another kind of mic and adjust your EQ in post to give you that deeper and beefier sound.
@@ShaunHautly my current plan is to get entry level shotgun and pencil mics, and see which gives me better results in my space. Then if I ever do find myself filming outside, or with a lot of background noise and need to focus the mic better, I'll have the former to play with too.
This is an excellent deep dive! A lot of other demos get stuck on the phase cancellation and don't even take into consideration the environment, the EQ effect of a shotgun mic, and why this may not be want somebody wants inside of a quiet room! Great explanation, great review!!!
Incredibly informative my man. Loved it. Subscribed!
Thank you!
Just one thing- all audio frequencies move at the same speed- 1100 meters per second, regardless of the pitch or frequency. The medium it is traveling through will affect speed.
Very informative video- thanks!
Thanks for the info! I've learned SO much about all the science and physics I got wrong after making this video (I never knew it would get so many views!!!). Most of the things I've learned have been from happy commenters. Thanks for the note. I may end up making a revised version eventually and I'll make sure to credit the people who've helped clarify some things. Happy recording!
@@ShaunHautly No worries! I learned a lot from your video- thanks!
You make some good points. One problem with most pencil mics is that they are designed for instruments and made very bright to cut through the music mix. They are too shrill for most people's voices. So whether shotgun or pencil mic you are probably going to have to do some Eq-ing. I use a Sennheiser mk600 in a treated room and there is little need to eq.
I always end up having to brighten up my shotguns, haha. While my pencil seems "brighter" than my shotguns mics, I've used it for an orchestra musician demonstration for kids, and the it was great for the piccolo, Tuba, and Timpani. So there's a ton of range for pitch, probably more than the frequencies of human voice. So I've found the NT5 to be pretty true to life for me. But you're right, everything needs a little EQ. Thanks for the happy comment!
In what universe are most microphones perfect out of the box with no potential for improving their performance by equalization (or whatever)? If you're serious about the results, chances are quite high you're going to apply some processing to pretty much every microphone you have. My opinion? A bias toward high frequencies is far easier to correct than a bias toward bass frequencies.
The only disadvantages of pencil condensers are:
Fast transients. You can account for that with a good shield, mic placement, and mixing.
Self noise. It's harder to make smaller diaphragm mics with low self noise... but they are genuinely good now.
Everything else is down to taste, EQ, and mic ethics. If you know how to use it. You'll be happy with it.
Otherwise. They can do anything a large diaphragm mic can do. They're just as good with low frequency sources without having too much omni-directional character in the low end. They excel at close mic'ing (be careful with fast transients) and far.
But yeah. Like Chuck said. You are probably going to run EQ on your sound source anyway and not having to worry about too much low frequency ER is going to be a life saver for some folks.
Bravo man, you did an excellent job explaining everything and dispelling some of the myths and misunderstandings with shotgun microphones. Phase issues become even more complicated, super complicated, with music or live event stuff. Especially when using more than 2 mics!
Thanks! I enjoyed researching this video to make it, and it changed how I approach sound for video production. The beast that is live event capturing is several levels of complication beyond this, and it's fascinating. Maybe next year I'll try to learn enough about it to make a video about it, too. But for now, I'm just in awe.
Thank you for such a nice comment!
You got my vote for breakdown of the year award🥇.
Amazing! When do the winners of that award get announced?
UA-cam recommended me your video to me and I have decided to return the Synco D2 shotgun microphone and I have placed an order for Audio Technica AT2021. I do not want to bother with installing acoustic panels in a temporary place. I have been doing a whole lot of research and I do not know about the disadvantage of shotgun microphones until UA-cam recommended me the video. Thank you so much for producing the video. I want a microphone that is out of frame and I don't want to deal with phasing delay or whatever it's called.
I wish UA-cam would have recommended me your video before I bought a Synco D2, but hey, that mic that I have is going back in favor of AT2021. I just want a microphone that sounds good and that is important to me.
Well, I'm a strong believer in trying things and seeing what works. Shotgun microphones get misused CONSTANTLY, and many viewers and listeners don't notice or care. So if it's still not perfect with your 2021, remember that you can always return it, or just power through in your temporary space and focus on the content vs the technology. It's a lesson I have to remind myself to learn every time I record something.
Don’t use a shotgun inside. I saved you 13 minutes
Thanks a lot
Yeah seriously, I was like, wait a second, the title is incomplete!
Something I learned long ago... Shotgun inside is a killer but doesn't need 13 minutes to say why
There’s a human being who spent a lot of time making this video in hopes of helping someone out. A comment like this adds no value but hurts creators who are spending long hours making content just for folks to tear it down. It would do you no harm in just starting the video, realizing it’s not for you, and moving on.
@@RyanKemperinOhioNow you are hurting people who made an effort to sum it up. Just joking of course. STOP & Shotgun mic would have worked better with INDOOR & video sound in title. Otherwise one could think of it as a click bait praxis.Other than that, shotgun mic electroacoustic principle demystification might be considered a true value of this video.
Dude
..perfect explanation of the inner workings of the shotgun microphone... awesome job
Thank you. This video was fun to make because it was really fun to learn about all this stuff. I'm glad so many people have enjoyed it. Thanks for the happy comment!
@@ShaunHautly yes sir you are more than welcome. Keep up the good work
You just saved me a lot of time! Thank you so much!
Glad I could help!
So that's the purpose of those grills. Nice!
Hi thank you for the very great video
I think that a good way to select a mic is to listen to it with a great mic amp through great closed headphones that isolate from the ambient noise
it could be helpful to listen blindfolded It is impressive how it will be easier to pick details concentrating the senses on sound Like to see with the ears
The sight can deceive
in some situations shotguns are needed like when you want to capture a dialogue in a noisy envinronment
But anything can be quite evident by just listening
100%
My go to advice is usually, buy a mic, try it. If you like how it sounds, keep it. If you don't, try a different one.
Was about to buy a shotgun mic, this helped me understand what I need! Thanks alot
What did you end up getting?
@@ShaunHautly nothing yet, I noticed that my main issue is with the echo I have in my room, it’s big and fairly empty. So working on that for now before buying one :)
@@ShaunHautly however I already have Rode VideoMicro
Thanks!
Whoa!!! Thank you!!!
This video is amazing. Thank you so much for taking the time to explain this simply and clearly. I've often wondered why my NTG3 sounds SO BAD in doors. Now eying up the NT5. Thank you sir!
You're very welcome! Good luck!
Smart explanation so what you suggest sir ?
I can't say without knowing what kind of room you're primarily filming in. My studio has hard walls and makes a shotgun sound like it's under a blanket. Yours may be fine. Buy one, try one, return it if it doesn't work for you. That's my non-specific suggestion. :-)
this was a suuuper informative video man, top notch information
Thank you! This was one of those videos that was fun to learn as I did my research to write it. Glad you enjoyed it!
@@ShaunHautly hi Shaun nice video, did you require to cancel noise in post after using the NT5 ??
You missed one thing .... You mentioned the NT5 being better for indoors.... but when it comes to outdoors , can it replace the other shotgun mics ????? When picking a mic for filmmaking, we surely need to consider outdoors use too.
"Replace" is such a tricky word. Different situations require different tools. I use my NT5 outside. It doesn't cancel off-axis noise QUITE as much, but I'd challenge any of my viewers to spot the difference. :-) Pick one, try it, and if it doesn't work, return it and try another!
awesome. I didnt know that was how shotgun's worked. awesome
Such a good video. I just got a Sennheiser MKE600 Shotgun Mic for a variety of scenarios and seeing this helps me understand why a Pencil mic is the best way to go indoors. Some sound absorbs and diffusers will help too 👌
Totally! The 600 is a great mic, just not in every situation. :-)
Thumbs up camera conspirators!
I feel famous! Thanks for coming by.
Honestly? Thank you so much!! I recently bought a Rode NTG4 (for Video-Purposes) and two Rode M5 (for Orchestra-Recording-Purposes). I was absolutely fascinated by the sound quality of the M5 (a little bit under yours NT5 i guess) and when I tested the NTG4 I was really disappointed! My voice was way more dull then with the M5 and I had the feeling that the noise reduction of the NTG4 wasn't that much better than the M5.
I couldn't understand why people were so pleased with the NTG4 or generally with shotgun-mics and I was about to send the NTG4 back. But then I stumbled upon your video and it so makes sense! I was testing both mikes in my reverberant work room, and I guess that is the exact wrong room for a shotgun-mic ;) So again: Thanks! I will try it outside soon.
Glad to help! I had the NTG4 as my only real mic for two years (then I upgraded to the NTG3). It's a fantastic mic, but yeah, in the wrong room it's going to sound awful. I also need to remind myself that these mics cancel noise by hearing it (more than once), so if the noise is AWFUL (wind, HVAC, etc.) it's still going to be in the signal and it's going to overpower other things. All too often I have to remind myself: Mics aren't magic...
@@ShaunHautly I see... So based on your experience: What is the field of application of a Shotgun mic? When could I use it? Just on the outside? I've seen so many videos of people using such mics inside and it sounded pretty good...
The shotgun mic's weakness is echo. So if you're shooting in a room with carpeting, furniture, and drapes, the shotgun is going to be fantastic because your echo is going to be absorbed by all of those soft surfaces. It's only when you're in a barren room with hard floors and blank walls. I filmed all around a school this past week. In all of the classrooms (larger rooms with rugs, curtains, couches, etc) I used my shotgun and got great results. It was only when shooting in a small atrium with tile flooring that I used the NT5.
Large rooms, outdoors, rooms with sound dampening, those are all going to be great situations for the shotgun. For me, that's MOST of the places I shoot. However, I I wanted to make sure I had a tool for getting good sound when those conditions weren't ideal (my office for tutorials, for example).
@@ShaunHautly Alright, thanks again for the hints, you're doing a great job :)
I was looking at shotgun mics for gaming/streaming and the comparison in this video made me consider the shotgun mic even more, because it also removed the room echo. A bit of EQ to remove the bass and that's it.
Very helpful this video and made me understand why and how they work
Shotgun mics do not remove echo. However, you should buy a mic and try it. If you like how it sounds, keep it!
I always wondered why the mics on my Zoom H5 are in the XY pattern, and now I know. Thank you! P.S. found your channel through Camera Conspiracies.
Camera Conspiracies?? I'm unfamiliar, but intrigued!
@@ShaunHautly Oh my, you are in for a treat. A very strange, treat!
Mean no offense here, I've clicked on several of your videos and I see a guy wearing his hat cocked like a 16 year old and click away almost immediately thinking I couldn't take you seriously. Well I was really interested here and really glad that I didn't just click away, really great information and you were able to break this down so nicely. Thank you! Again, i didn't mean any disrespect, just wanted to say that I am sorry for judging a book by its cover. May be helpful you too to understand if you are seeing dropoff of viewership early in your videos. Great work!
Ha, thanks for the honest comment! I’m aware that my hat is greeted with skepticism on UA-cam and when I show up for meetings. Glad you stuck around!
@@ShaunHautly You go to meetings with that thing..?
Haha, yes. I find that- similar to the jimmy johns order tattooed on my forearm- my hat does a good job of testing client comparability. In the creative field, someone who gets bent out of shape by a hat or a tattoo is someone that is likely going to cause some headaches down the road. I’ve never lost a client or had any pushback on it yet.
@@ShaunHautly I still can't decide if I want the MKE600, nothing seems to beat it in its price range however it's massive on my EOS R.
For me, I SELDOM use the audio from a mic mounted on my camera. I use interview audio, voiceover, and audio recorded by taking my mic and recorder along for the ride. If you’re limiting the mic to mounting on the EOS R, it’s form factor may end up being a bother, but if you intend to use it OFF of the camera as well then let the quality be your guide.
The plot twist when you revealed that you were not recording on the audio technica at2020 was a real shock for me
I'm glad to "hear" that! Thanks for the happy comment. This was a fun one to make.
Me using Pencil Condensers for absolutely everything. Wondering where this is going to go. (I used to think that large diaphragms were best and then I had a period of assuming that shotgun mics were king. But not anymore)
Seriously though. Small diaphragm capsules are amazing. They are good for up close, far away, room capture, etc.
But yeah. Shotgun mics have their place. You just gotta be really aware of room dynamics.
This is really good, simple, and informative. Nice.
Yeah. I'm pulling out my shotgun less and less. I'm habitually impressed with what my little NT5 can create.
Thank you for the lovely comment!
I don't remember the last time I left a comment on a UA-cam video. Thanks very much Sean. Excellent work; very informative.
Thanks for saying so! I'm glad your first comment in a while was such a happy one. Cheers!
Thanks you so much, Shaun! I've been into sound for a long time, and this is one of the clearest explanations of sound recording technic & mics. Great, man :)
Thank you for the happy comment! I appreciate that!
My 8 year old son and I both found this video to be incredibly interesting and informative. Thanks for sharing. Subscribed!
Awesome! Thank you! I'm JUST finishing (like literally uploading as I write this) my follow up video about which mics are best for which situations and the most common questions I answer. It definitely isn't a nerdy and fun, but hopefully it's useful!
I like how you mentioned the ambient sound of the environment when talking about bass sound. It makes a lot sense but I never thought about it. Nice view and nice video.
Thanks for the happy comment!
To be frank I was a bit skeptical in the beginning, but the phase shift info really intrigued me!
I love this stuff, too. You can always buy mics from a place that has a good return policy and try them yourself in your room and see what sounds best to you.
You can actually see this issue in microphone specifications when looking at polar pattern over frequency. In the NT5 datasheet, the 500 Hz, 1000 and 4000 Hz curves align almost perfectly (higher-end cardioid SDCs are pretty good at this), while the NTG3 ends up being much narrower at 4 kHz than it is at 500 Hz or 1 kHz. Thus when there is a lot of diffuse sound, the NTG3 will pick up substantially less of it in the high frequencies, causing the tonal balance to shift accordingly. (It will, however, also pick up less room reverb in general, which may still make using one with EQ worthwhile.) You can try a shorter, broader shotgun like the Deity S-Mic 2S indoors, which will have less of a narrowing pattern.
I've wanted to try to 2S for years. I've had some issues with Deity Mics lately and their support, though. So I'm steering clear for now.
This is a lovely comment by the way. One of the kind of comments that I learn a lot from reading. Thanks for the information. As I think about mics in the future, I'll look into those specifications a bit more. Thanks again!
Just in case anyone was wondering, sound waves don't move up and down the way we graph them. They are longitudinal pressure waves that go in all directions. A local maxima of a 2d graph is just when the pressure is highest, and the minima is just when it is lowest.
I did a huge project for a science museum last year and we did a deep dive into sound and compression waves. It was fascinating, but everything I learned while making it made me think, "welp, that was wrong in my old microphone video."
Thanks for some of this clarifying information. Turns out it's even more fascinating than I thought!
They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but I just learned something I had not heard before! The reason for that damn woofy/muffled sound is that I'm using a shotgun mic in a reverberating room. I have pencil condenser mics, but I save them for music performances. Well, no more. I'm going to experiment right now.
Good luck!
I know I'm probably so many years late to this video, but it's helped me out because I've been told that my video's are great but need to get a better microphone and I was looking at shotgun mic's, Thank's so much.
You're not late! This one lasts FOREVER! Ha, good luck!
Fantastic, and I’ve been around audio all my life. Wonderful presentation, good guy, and great information.
Wow, thank you! This comment made my night! Cheers!
The minute you started talking I knew you weren't using the Audio-Technica AT2020. The sound is no way near as rich and bassy on other mics and for a second there I was wondering if you had forgotten to plug that mic and were using the camera audio. But I kinda see your point. Also, nice explanation you did there. I appreciate it.
Haha, I can’t fool everyone. Thanks for watching and commenting.
This makes so much sense. Just shot an interview / voice lesson indoor and had so many issues with my shotgun mic as a boom mic. Definitely investing in the NT5
NT5 is a good one, but there's also a ton more that have great reviews. I just don't have experience with them. But try something and if it doesn't work, return it and try something else!
God it’s gonna be hard to unknow this now when trying to buy a microphone. I thought I had some selected but now I’ve got to go to the whole selection process again after the new information gain from your vid. Thanks.
Glad I could help!
I always have my 3 Sennheiser MKH mics depending on the set : MKH416 for outdoors or big rooms or when I can't put the mic close enough, MKH50 for indoors or even for some quiet outdoors, MKH40 for some indoors
That's the way to do it!
Crystal clear explanation. The visual illustrations are helpful. Like to know why your mic points up
I think you're talking about the AT2020. The AT2020 (at my face) is a "side address" microphone, meaning that you speak into the side of it, instead of the top.
So, it's "pointing up" with its form factor, but if you were to speak into the top, it would sound weird. It's designed to be spoken into from the side.
I hope that answered your question!
Thanks for the happy comment!
@@ShaunHautly Thanks for the apt responses.
Excellent vid! Simple explanation + clear recommendations + cool dude who helped me avoid buying the wrong mic.
Glad I could help! And thank you for recognizing how cool I am... B-)
Thank you for such lengthy yet very detail explanation that is easy to understand. I am on the stage where comparing different mics for different situation.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for the happy comment!
I use a pair of shotgun mics (Beyerdynamic MCE86II) for live music field recording. I've been to a lot of concerts where the sound in my ears was really boomy and muddy sounding, but listening to the recording later, sounds much better. They also cut out a lot of audience chatter. I was a little reticent when I first started using them, but I've been pleased with the results.
Good to know! What sort of spaces are you in for these concerts? Small rooms or bigger halls or outdoor venues?
@@ShaunHautly Yes! Well, in small rooms I usually use cardioids, but anything holding a thousand or more I use the shotguns. Last thing I recorded was Dave Matthews Band at Blossom Music Center in Ohio, which hold about 20,000 total, in the covered amphitheater and lawn. There was a LOT of audience chatter to cut out.
Yeah. And with 1000 people, you won't gear nearly as much reverb and echo as you would in a small, relatively empty room. Most of my work is doing interviews and sound for video production. I HOPE I never have to have 20,000 people on set.
For my wifes stuff I like to use a simple pencil condenser out of shot if noise isn't a problem, if it is then either a xm8500 or sm58 in the shot which if you place them right can have a small visual footprint.
Love it! That's basically my go to setup as well!
Wow! I love this channel! I LOVE science 🧪 I’m studying to be a provider and study physics, biology, and complex topics on the human body, and so happy I came to watch this! I have a UA-cam channel and do most of my videos in my office. I am getting the Rode NGT5. I was going to get the Rode NGT3 but this video changed my mind. Thank you for this video sir! Am I making the right decision? 🙏🏼🤦🏽♀️🤯 (please reply..)
Depends on what your room is like! If it’s a room with carpeting, drapes, soft couches and chairs, you will likely get great results from the NTG5. If the room is hardwood floors, hard walls, etc., you may still get a muddy sound even from the NTG5.
And I have a degree in biology, so I’m looking forward to the science content!
Finally an HONEST shotgun mic vjdeo THANK YOU!! I have a RODE NTG 4+ works great with my TScam 701b 4 channel recorder
Nice! I loved my NTG4 for years. Great mic.
Such a bloody good explanation of phase-delay (well, at least, it made sense to me)!
Thank you for such a lovely comment! I'm glad the video was helpful, I learned a lot while making it, and I've learned a lot more since making it.
I like the sound of that AT2020! I haven't used that before. Also good explenation on Shotguns. I think it's important to note that there is no perfect mic. A shotgun mic will be a better choice in some situations. For general indoor boom micing, a SDC is often the best choice. I would perfer a Hypercardiod pattern over the NT5's Cardiod pattern.
Yeah, I think there's a couple mics I'd like to try. Like so many people, I approached this as a binary: I found a mic (NT5) that works more often than my NTG3. So I started using it more. There may be other mics that are better, but I settled into an "if it isn't broken...." mindset. :-)
Shaun, first let me just say that I love how clearly you teach these concepts for those of us who know nothing! I have been watching videos trying to solve a problem I'm having with our church microphones, and I''m wondering if our problem might be what you describe here. We purchased an Audio-Tehnica AT875R shotgun mic (after watching a YT video that suggested it for ambient church mics during congregational signing). The problem that we noticed is that the mic did excellent when it was just people singing, but when the piano played, the mic completely dropped all sounds coming into it, even the voices! Is this the same issue you are describing here? Thanks for awesome content, especially for someone like me, who doesn't understand all the tech speak, but learns well visually. Liked, subscribed!
That sounds like a really fascinating problem! I'm not sure why the addition of the piano's frequencies in the room would have an impact on the vocal frequencies (and everything for that matter). I would try using an omnidirectional microphone, which will pickup the voices as well as the ambience of the room. It will be echoey if it's an echoey room, but it should sound true to life.
The best way forward is to try a few mics and return the ones that make life harder for you!
Good luck!
Shaun
Thanks, that sounds like good advice. I bought a Sennheiser MKH 416. Now I need to save up for a Sennheiser MKH 50 ha ha, or perhaps better a pair of MKH 8050s. Expensive but compact, more versatile with a matched pair ,- more speakers or stereo ambience options (110 degree axis separation is apparently optimum). But that's a top drawer approach.
The 416 is a great mic. If you get to shoot in great places, it'll last you forever. I just find my shotguns got muddy because I kept having to shoot in lame conference rooms and school rooms with block walls.
I am NOT an audio engineer but computer guy that has just gotten more into audio lately. I hadn't minded seeing the lavs in general, I feel like it's just a "hey, we're recording these people" BUT I got a Blue Yeti at the beginning of this pandemic thing and then was getting interested in keeping the mic off cam during video. Tried putting on mic arm off to the side but finally came to the realization there is something else that should be used. Long story short, discovered these shotgun mics and then your recommendation for the NT5. Thanks!
I just recorded another flight by of videos with the deity D3 pro overhead and off screen. It’s just so natural looking.
The drastic change to the NTG3 was so obvious! What are the differences (if any) between shotgun, boom, condenser, cardioid/supercardioid, etc?
Oh, there are TONS of differences!
A shotgun mic refers to its shape: a longer microphone. These are great for cancelling noise that’s not directly in front of the microphone. They can be problematic indoors as frequencies of natural echo can cancel out parts of someone’s voice.
A “boom” mic refers to any mic that’s held out on a boom. Typically this is a mic that’s overhead, but you can also boom from below to different reasons (sound, framing, or sometimes the boom can cast a shadow if held above). Many times people say “boom mic” when they mean shotgun, but you can mount non-shotgun mics on a book just as easily (and I often do!).
A condenser mic is a mic that uses an electrical current to operate. The alternative is a “dynamic” microphone. Dynamic mics are usually more rugged and have a more robust diaphragm, but lack some of the sensitivity of a condenser mic. This doesn’t mean they aren’t as good. Just different. For singing and speaking (when you can put the mic right up to someone’s mouth) dynamic mics are better because they’re not sensitive enough to pick up other noises in the room, etc.
Cardioid and supercardioid refer to the pickup pattern of the microphone. Different capsules can create different pickup patterns. This basically controls which space around the mic that the mic will be able to hear. It’s tough to explain with words, but if you do an image search, you’ll see exactly what I mean for the different patterns. I use wider pattern microphones when I’m trying to mic multiple people with a single mic. I use a narrow pattern when I’m only trying to get one person on a mic.
@@ShaunHautly Thanks for the explanation! Did NOT expect a response with this video being almost 2 years old!
If I'm in a open living room setting and unable to really dampen the area, what kind of mic should I be going with? I currently have both a cheap $10 lav mic, as well as the takstar sgc-598. I'm guessing the takstar would be better if I'm able to put it very close to me?
Do you have a recommendation on what the "next step" mic to consider would be? Maybe in the sub $300 or so category?
Great video! I definitely learned some new things. I've worked audio for a while now, in various settings. I use a Sennheiser MKH 416 shotgun mic and it does very well in all types of situations. I can understand where you are coming from with the annoying sound you get indoors. I usually get it fixed in post but it's a lot of work. Thanks for the video, I am going to do a shotgun video soon as well, i'll make sure you reference your video.
Sweet! Share the link when you do, I’d love to see it.
Hey I just put out the video on shotgun mics. I gave your channel and video a shout out. Thanks for the info on phase delay, it helped put the video together! Here's the link if you wanna check it out: ua-cam.com/video/n_JD0cIei44/v-deo.html
Thank you! First video on mics I saw, where I could hear so good explanation on technical aspects of why specific mics work in their way.
Phaze delay and noise cancelation are my new words of the day.
Regards!
Those are good words of the day! Thanks for the happy comment. Good luck on your mic selections!
One of the best shotgun mic video on UA-cam. Quite informative. Thanks so much.
Thank you! If you think of any other looming questions, let me know. I never know what people will find useful or interesting.
@@ShaunHautly great, will be on it
Incredibly informative, and now also makes me want an AT2020 because how clean and crisp those mids sound haha.
It's a great microphone, especially for the price. @RebelTech has done some great reviews of that mic and the other mics in the same cost-space. If you're in the market, check out his channel.
ua-cam.com/video/50xzEeEgQzQ/v-deo.html
@@ShaunHautly That's awesome, I'll be sure to check it out. Appreciate the response and keep up the great content!
8:42 Does that mean that if someone made the phase delay extension of the tube on a shotgun removable then a shotgun could double as a pencil mic?
In theory, yes. In practice, no. The mics and their capsules are fine tuned. Altering the shape or length of the mic would change how the sound would hit the diaphragm and it would sound bad. I've done a test where I've covered the slits with a variety of materials and it just sounds awful. Even muddier than before.
And different frequencies all move the same speed. 761 MPH at STP. The difference in timing is the amount of pressure inversions over a given time. The time from one pressure maxima to the next is shorter when the wave peaks (local maxima) are closer together.
Your explanation is fantastic! So cool seeing you spread your knowledge on here. Keep it up!
First time here! You were so clear and I could follow you the whole way. I felt like I was back at music school :)
Be well and stay groovy
Awesome! Thank you very much for the love. Cheers!
@@ShaunHautly My pleasure! Be well :-)
This was one of the best breakdowns I’ve seen on shotgun mics. Thanks for the really helpful info! You’ve got me rethinking if the shotgun mic i have is really the best tool for the job. I’m definitely in a small echoey room
Thanks for the happy comment! Maybe try a different mic and return it if it doesn't work better for you. Good luck!
This is a very well-explained explanation dude! You explained this more succinctly than my college profs in audio school! I've always preferred small-diaphragm condensers in the studio as well!
Thank you! I've definitely learned even more since making this, and there are a few mistakes sprinkled throughout the video, but I'm glad it made sense! Cheers!
Yes! Good explanation! This is also the reason we never use shotgun mics in the studio for recording music. I always use pencils as overheads for drumsets or choirs.
Thank you! Yeah, I think it's funny that SO many young filmmakers only use shotguns, but you see shotguns so infrequently on actual film sets, music studios, etc. I feel like I see them most frequently on local news stories.
Good chat. I'm always on a budget so I bought a matched pair of Behringer C-2 mics for drum overheads but found they work great for video work. I even use two of them to get a stereo capture of dialogue and include some of the "liveness" of the room so that the viewer can feel present. I still do AI noise reduction but I use it judiciously. these C-2 microphones are CHEAP and they sound great. Call it a "hack" if you will, but you don't have to break the bank to get pristine audio from these guys. It's the law of diminishing returns when it comes to spending money on mics. Your audience if not going to notice the difference by the time audio processing in post is factored in. I think it's pointless spending hundreds of dollars on a video mic unless it's for some niche function.
100%. The software is getting so good for cleaning up audio. I lean on FCP's Voice Isolation for almost everything now and it's REALLY reliable. On my little video mics and my more expensive mics, the audio is pretty consistent.
Great explanation . Do you have a video on mic placement? I have an AT2035 and find the way you place your AT2020 is interesting. Also I didn't know you could use a pencil mic on a boom, interesting.
I don't have a video about mic placement... yet. In general, for the side address condenser mics like the AT2020, AT2035, and AT2050 get your mouth as close as possible to it (or better yet, to a wind screen on it). I was backing off mine in this video a bit just so my face wouldn't be so obscured. It loses some of the bass by being off-axis, but it sounds OK for UA-cam.
Yes all correct and thank you...
but there is another solution to reduce bass from VMNTG, NTG3 and NTG8... Turn low cut / high pass filter on. VMNTG has it built in. Zoom recorder has it. Sony K1M-XLR adapter has it. Sony URX Wireless transmitters have it.
Sony calls it low cut. Rode calls it high pass. Same thing.
NTG4+ already has less bass to begin with, even with all filters off.
Good call! That's what I ended up doing in post most of the time. However, all of those filters (zoom, Sony, RODE) are applied downstream in the signal, so there's no advantage to using the mic's HPF over applying it afterwards in post. And applying it in post gives the flexibility to adjust it to fit. The exception is for REALLY expensive mics which have a true HPF that is a physical circuit before the AD converter takes over.
In most cases, I've been liking the sound of the short shotguns as a middle ground. Less tweaking, more flexible.
@@ShaunHautly well I certainly appreciate your assessment and presentation. Keep up the excellent vids.
NT5 and AT2020 are cardioids, they are made to be close to the source and they get a lot of details.
NTG3 is a supercardioid, that means you can put the NTG3 farther so you get camera shots without the microphone in it. The tube helps to reduce ambiante noise so the NTG3 don't pick the reverb of the room.
If you want a very flat sound at recording you should try a stereo omnidirectionnel setup. There is zero boost in low frequency.
Btw in your demo the NTG3 is way more louder 9:26
I prefer the NTG3 sound in this video, great warm sound.
@@cyberneticorganism. I like the warm sound too. On my good speakers, it sounds great. When I listen on my computer speakers, the warm sound rattles and seems to clip on the tiny speakers. So trying to find that perfect middle ground is still a journey I'm on every day. Thanks for the comment!
@@ShaunHautly That's more a problem of the speakers, but i understand the point of view (or sound in this case) if you take into account the average listener and/or viewer.
Exactly. Unfortunately, with UA-cam, most people are watching on their phone speakers so I have to mix to the lowest common denominator. We just did a huge project about the physics of sound for schools and had to really dial back some of the frequency range as we know this will be shown on those TV carts that get rolled into a classroom and have TERRIBLE sound. So we wanted to make sure that someone would be able to hear things at the back of the room without blowing out a speaker. It's an interesting part of production.
Excelent info, delivery and examples by changing mics on the fly. Very informative!
Thanks!
Thank you so much for clarifying this, stumbled across this video and best thing I've heard for audio recording.
Great to hear! Thanks for the happy comment. Good luck out there!
Mate, you've blown my mind and totally taught me something new. This is great. Thanks so much for making this video.
Glad you liked it! Thanks for the happy comment!
This video is so informative and helpful. You saved me a lot of time and money...thank you!!!
Glad it helped!
That was some audio schooling right there! Great Job.
Thanks for the love! This was one of my favorite videos to research and learn about as I did it. It continues to fascinate me. I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Nice video man! But why use a Pencil Condenser mic when you can just use a Large Condenser Mic for Indoor?
I'm not sure what you mean by Large Condenser, but it depending on which type of large condenser mic it could be a great solution. Some larger dialogue condenser mics need to be really close to pick up the sound well, and they'd have to be in frame (which might be fine), others don't offer the directional pickup pattern that a cardio pencil condenser does. But if you've got one, give it a shot!
Saw title. Rolled eyeballs. Watched video. Learned something. HAHA!
Ha, yeah, sorry for the clickbait. But I'm glad to hear it paid off!
I loved this video. I am a visual learner and not a Professional sound engineer, so this was super helpful
Glad you enjoyed it! It was fun to research and make.
Nicely done and very helpful. Was looking for a shotgun and your headline caught my attention. Now seriously looking into the pencil. Thanks!
My pleasure! I hate playing the "Clickbait Game," but I'm glad I did for this one.
Well I was about to buy the NTG-3 and now I’m pausing. I have a very small studio/room in my house with carpet but no other sound proofing or treatment, and I was going for the NTG-3 as I don’t have a low booming voice. Watching your fantastic explanation actually now makes me wonder whether I could save £500 and get the NT5. Another video I watched in a test the NT5 was the best sounding yet the final summary put it way down the list. Mmmmm lots to consider. Thanks
My advice: buy one. Try it. Return it if it's not right for you.
@@ShaunHautly good shout !! Thanks
This is really cool! Im thinking about making my own live action short film so this is really helpful! Saves me the time of watching a million other vids about this mic stuff 😅
Glad it was helpful! Let me know what you end up getting.
Hey Shaun... I love this...its great...well done, very informative, so after watching this I went to your UA-cam channel... and your intro video was so different but so good that I had to subscribed...lol that intro with the idea of share what you know is so important for the future I think..thank you, keep doing what you do..
Thank you! It’s fun to get to follow any interest to make a video and not be stuck in any particular subject. It’s also always great to see a positive comment. Thanks!
Hey Shaun - if I wanted to contact you for some advice - how could I reach you personally!?
Check the description. My websites with contact forms are there (I’ll respond from there!)
Such valuable info. Thank you for educating all of us. Using a pair of NT55s and 416s but ignorant me I didn’t know the difference.
I used to think that "muddy sound" of my shotguns indoors sounded good. Then I heard what it was supposed to be. It was neat learning about how and why. I'm glad you enjoyed it!
11:00 just curious where the video you're talking about here is. I'd love to give It a watch but can't seem to find it.
(really great video btw and gave me a lot to think about in terms of choosing the right mic)
I found the video I was referencing. It's at the bottom of this comment, BUT almost everything in it is no longer accurate.
I'll make an updated version in the next week or two, but I use RODE M1 Microphones (usually) plugged into my Zoom F3 recorder. I record in 32-bit Float and bring the audio files into Final Cut Pro. Depending on the recording, I apply some assortment of three effects:
1) The Voice Isolation. Final Cut uses machine learning to do some WIZARDRY with noise canceling. I almost always turn this on.
2) Bass Reduction EQ. Just to avoid fighting with the rumbles.
3) The VO Enhance plugin in FCP. It adds compression, some EQ, and some volume normalization to be a shortcut to great audio.
Like I said, I'll make a video walking through this in the next few weeks.
Meanwhile, if you're bored, you can check out the old flow here: ua-cam.com/video/9T4UspRRaIs/v-deo.html
@@ShaunHautly Yo, thanks for the detailed response. Video and audio are always evolving and I'm trying to learn more and find my EQ and set up for VO so I appreciate the reply
What small diaphragm mic do you recommend for a spoken word scenario on a budget?
I'm hesitant to give a recommendation just because I haven't tried many budget microphones. I use my Deity V-Mic D3 Pro ($199 USD) for a lot of stuff, and my RODE NT5 ($219 USD) for almost everything else. I just made a video about which TYPE of microphones to use for different situations which might be helpful. It really depends on whether or not you are allowed to see your mic in the shot. Heck, an iPhone next to your mouth can get VERY good sound.
Which Mic: ua-cam.com/video/gUgsMMHoSNQ/v-deo.html
Phone Audio Tips: ua-cam.com/video/uT7RIRCySCM/v-deo.html
Point of clarity: 6:47 different frequencies do NOT travel at different speeds. Sound waves travel at constant velocity in a given medium.
Great point! As I say in far too many responses to comments: most of my videos get 30 views. If I had known this one would pop off, I'd have polished things up quite a bit more before publishing!
Also, since making this, I've learned SO much about sound, physics, and so many of the things I've gotten wrong in this video. I'm also currently finishing up a big video series for an educational institution here in St. Louis that's all about the science of sound and I've learned SO much even though it's targeted toward fifth graders.
Thanks for the clarification, I'm excited to see if any other video I make ever takes off like this one did. I'll be sure to iron it out a bit more this time. :-)
Very interesting video. Never knew this amount of detail about shotgun mics.
Fascinating, right? And to think they started making shotgun mics DECADES ago. Smart people do pretty awesome things.
Did you process any of the NT5 audio?
There is an identical compression applied to all three microphones throughout this video. There is no other noise reduction, EQ, except on the NTG3 when noted on the video 9:52.
@@ShaunHautly i’d be interested in those compression settings. If you are willing to share them, I think you made the audio sound very natural and good.
Sounds good! I'll make a compressor video in the next few weeks. I used my custom one when I made this video, but some new FCP advances have sped things up and I like my new sound even more.
@@ShaunHautly 💯👌👍
What type of microphone would you use to record the sounds of water over a home aquarium?
Depends on the room the aquarium is in. A pencil contender would be a good choice, but if it's a room with carpet, drapes, and bedding, a shotgun like the NTG4 would do great. Even a lav up close would get some awesome sound. Try a few things and see what you think.
@@ShaunHautly it’s a small office space with carpet. I thought of buying a atr2500x as it can work for stream after and is plug and play. Or buying a rode podmic as it looks awesome but would need to buy the audio interface too. There are so many choices it’s overwhelming.