Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (
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Richard Crowley wrote:
> IMHO, neither. No microphone of any size or price will
> produce acceptable results at 50 ft indoors. Even a shotgun
> mic the actual length of a real shotgun is questionable at 20
> ft. Nothing you hear on radio, TV, movies, etc. was miked
> that way.
>
> If what you are trying to do actually worked, you wouldn't
> see the crowd of microphones around the newsworthy person
> every evening on the TV news.
>
> I would consider a wireless solution. Or else sit on the
> front row with one of your mini-"shotgun" mics.
I basically agree -- if we're talking about "professional quality" audio.
But I'm assuming this guy just wants to be able to play a lecture back for
himself and understand it, not come away with "good audio."
A wireless, relatively close-mic'ed solution would be ideal, but it's the
rare lecturer who would be amenable to that. When I was a student, no
recording of any kind was allowed in even the most ridiculously large,
un-reinforced lecture halls. Apparently some progress is being made in
students' favor...?
Outdoors I was quite surprised how far and how clear the little AT-55 would
shoot, despite its self-noise and Handicam electronics. For instance, I
picked up my dad speaking normally at 40 feet with low level but crisp
audio. He was even intelligible at 100 feet when speaking up. Suburban
West Funroe is a semi-rural setting, tho.
A noisy lecture audience is likely to be more problematic, but I still say
there's a good chance he'll come away with mostly-intelligible audio. A
wireless PZM or lav would be a dream come true. Then comes the mid-lecture
pee break and the prof's still wired....<G>
Jeff Jasper
Jeff Jasper Productions, West Monroe, La.
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