It's all about distance

This last week I've been testing a couple of microphones in our new video studio in preparation for recording a new LensWork Visual Workshop. Rather than hassle with a lapel mic, I thought I'd try a desk mic — sort of like Johnny Carson's old desk set up. (For you youngsters, he's the old Jay Leno.) The idea of a desk mic has always appealed to me because once it is set, you don't ever have to move it or do any re-testing; just sit down and start talking. It's a lovely theory.

Unfortunately, there is just no getting around the old rules of thumb. Just like in photography, it's all about distance. The closer the source is to the recording device, the better the resolution of details and the better the fidelity. Period. After four hours of testing and re-testing both the desk mic and the lapel mic, the comparisons of the two made the decision easy. We've decided to stick with a lapel mic.

Listen for yourself:

Deskmic

Lapelmic

Not a debate. A modestly-priced lapel mic at 5-inches from my mouth is simply better — by audible amounts — than a more expensive desk mic positioned 16-inches away. You can fuss all you want, but the distance is the determining factor. Four hours out of my life because I keep forgetting that some rules simply cannot be broken without a consequence.

I remember once spending days trying (and failing) to make a decent 11x14" print from a crop of about half of a 35mm negative — all because I didn't get close enough to the subject. That was in 1970. Forty years later and I'm still learning the same lesson.

Comments

[Darren Henderson]

Myself and a collaborator are about to purchase a microphone for recording and syncing audio with video, so I found this blog entry particularly illuminating. Keen to learn from your experience and currently in a position where I’m about to research the specs and feature sets of what will now be a lapel microphone purchase; what lapelmic did you do your testing with and what attracted you to this particular model?

Brooks, thank you for your continued contributions to the various mediums in which you provide considered content and personal excellence. Thank you also for being a worthy authority and above all a clear communicator.

[Brooks Jensen]

The lapel mic that has been one of the industry standards for quite a while now is the Audio Technica AT831. It's on the more expensive side of the scale, but it's a true work horse. I've used them for as long as I can remember and found them to be terrific. Very frequently available on ebay.

Here is the AT page with their current lavalier-type mics.
http://www.audio-technica.com/cgi-bin/product_search/wired_mics/mics_by_type.pl?product_type=Microphones%3A+Lavalier

If you already own a power module, all you'll need is the AT831C version. If not, the 831b includes the power module.

Also, note that these are what would be characterized as "professional" mics — meaning that they use XLR plugs rather than the 3.5mm headphone type plug. XLR plugs are grounded and typically plug into more sophisticated audio equipment or cameras.

For 3.5mm plug lapel mics, check out The Sound Professionals offerings. I own several of their mics, too, and have found them to be very good. http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/category/140/mics

Unfortunately, when it comes to mics with the 3.5mm plug, the best mic I ever heard and used is not longer made. It was produced by a small Canadian company called Reactive Sounds that is now, I believe, out of business. It's virtue was that the mic module was floating and thereby insulated from rustling sounds if the mic housing rubbed against clothing while the speaker moved. It was also very good at isolating the pickup module from "P-pops". I wish they could still be had, but I haven't seen them anywhere for a couple of years.

Hope this helps.