Audio equipment comparison

cost options:'' [lowcost] [medium][expensive]  quality options: [low] [medium][high][highend] '' '  ==Hypercardioid Mics ==

Recommended for indoor recording. This is usually your to go mic.

There are 3 capsules available for this mic. price new: $250.00  price: [low]  quality: [high]  Hypercardioid Studio Condenser Mic price new: $500.00  price: [medium] quality:[higher]  Includes SE300B Power Module and CK93 Hypercardioid Capsule price new: $478.00  price: <font color="Orange">[medium] quality:<font color="Orange"><font color="YellowGreen">[higher]  Miniature Condenser Hypercardioid price new: $900.00  price: <font color="Orange"><font color="Red">[expensive]  quality:<font color="PaleGreen">[highend] <font color="Orange"><font color="YellowGreen">  price new: $1'200.00 price: <font color="Orange"><font color="Red">[expensive]  quality:<font color="PaleGreen">[highend]
 * Oktava MK012 with the hypercardioid capsule ("MK-012-01 black Movie Set" which also includes a windscreen)
 * Audio-Technica AT4053a
 * AKG Blueline Series Microphone Kit
 * Neumann KM185
 * Sennheiser MKH 8050

==Shotgun Mics ==

Recommended for outdoor recording. Works like a scalpel to cut out background voice.

price new: $600 costs: <font color="YellowGreen">[low] quality:<font color="YellowGreen">[high]  price new: $699  price: <font color="YellowGreen">[low] quality: <font color="PaleGreen">[highend]  <font color="Orange"><font color="Magenta">[recommended]  <font color="PaleGreen"><font color="LemonChiffon">  Best bang for the buck currently.
 * Audio-Technica AT4073A - Line/Gradient Shotgun Condenser Capacitor Microphone
 * Rode NTG-3 Precision RF-Biased Shotgun Microphone (wider pick up pattern as sennheiser 416)

price new: $1,099.00price: <font color="SandyBrown">[medium] quality: <font color="PaleGreen">[highend] The older version of Sennheiser 416 you might often get secondhand is 12v powered. You will need to get a 48v to 12v converter (which is not that expensive) for some mixers. (see below) which has 12v power. Streetprice for older version: $550-$700. price new: $1,539.95 price: <font color="Orange"><font color="Red">[expensive]   quality: '<font color="PaleGreen">[highend] 
 * Sennheiser 416 (industry standard) 48v phantom powered
 * Sennheiser MKH-60 48v phantom powered Super-Cardioid Short Shotgun Condenser Microphone

==Wireless LAV Mics ==

Wireless lavs are great, but even the best lav mic does not sound as good as a comparably priced full-size condenser mic. They are often used as backup or if the scene action and ambient-sound doesn't allow for anything else. Wired lavs are much cheaper. The best quality wired LAV is around $400 and you will no headaches with wireless signals. Of course it's harder to use for narrative film work.

(Evolution G2 Series) price kit new: $700.00  price:<font color="Orange"> <font color="YellowGreen">[low]  quality:<font color="Orange">[medium] 
 * Sennheiser EW100ENGG2

==Windshields / Windscreens / Boom Poles ==

price new: $110 costs: <font color="YellowGreen">[low] quality:<font color="Orange">[low - medium] price new: $360 costs: <font color="Red">[high] quality:<font color="YellowGreen">[high]  price new: $299 costs: <font color="YellowGreen">[low] quality:<font color="YellowGreen">[high] <font color="LemonChiffon">demo: <font color="Red"> <font color="Orange">Boom Poles:  Measures: 34.3 to 155.5" (87.12 to 394.97cm) price new: $300.00 <font color="YellowGreen"> [highend] <font color="Orange"> <font color="Magenta">[recommended] 
 * Rycote Softie
 * Rycote S-Series (de-mountable in about 5 seconds for interiors)
 * Rode Blimp
 * Gitzo GB3560 - Six-Section Carbon Fiber Boompole with G-Lock

==Recorder (Double Systems) ==

You can avoid a mixer by using this one. weight: 0.8kg recording medium: compact flash card price new:$550.00  price: <font color="Orange">[medium] quality: <font color="Orange"><font color="YellowGreen">[high] 
 * Fostex FR2-LE

==Audio-Mixer ==

4 XLR balanced inputs (twelve channel-mixer), 48v phantom powered. weight: 6.5 lbs, 3.00 kg price new:$300.00  price: <font color="Orange"><font color="YellowGreen">[low]  quality: <font color="Orange"><font color="YellowGreen">[high]  weight: 2.00 lbs, 0.80 kg 2 XLR balanced inputs (two channel-mixer), 48v phantom powered. price new:$665.00  price: <font color="Orange">[medium] quality: <font color="PaleGreen">[highend] <font color="Orange">[Link] weight: 1.8 lbs, 0.85 kg price new:$1,295.00  price: medium quality: highend ==Single pre-amps ==
 * The Mackie 1202VLZ
 * Sound Devices MixPre
 * Sound Devices 302 (best mixer at the best price for 3 mic inputs). Switchable between 12v and 48v.

weight: 1.42 lbs, 0.64 kg price new: $350.00 price: <font color="Orange">[medium]  quality: <font color="PaleGreen">[highend]
 * Sound Devices MM-1 ( Single Channel Portable Microphone Preamp with Headphone monitor, capable to power 12v mics) simple and cheap solution for 1 mic. Switchable between 12v and 48v.

<font color="Pink">Cheap Indie solutions: Double system - approach: NTG-3, Boom, Rode Blimp, <font color="Pink">Fostex FR2-LE NO double system - approach: NTG-3, Boom, Rode Blimp, Sound Devices MM-1, MP-1 or MixPre <font color="Pink"> $3k, get a 302+mic+wireless. If you have less than $1k, get the best mic that money you do have gets you, hook it up direct to your camera. If it is a consumer camera, just get one of the mics that already have a mini-jack, but make sure you use a boom pole" <font color="Pink">" <font color="Pink">tsvisser's advice about the use of field recorders: <font color="Pink"> Indy productions, for the most part, probably should not look at double systems (field recorders). it adds to cost, complexity, and lengthens the post process, all things that Indy productions strive to avoid."