Recording multiple voices in a room?

[Matt Ryan]

What mic do you recommend for overhead booming with a group of 5 or 6 people. I need an omni to compliment my mkh-416/418 package. Looking for insight on what you believe is the best from your experiences. This will be used for interiors and exteriors. Obviously I understand the relationship between good audio in relation distance of subject to mic, ambient noise, angle at which mic is positioned, etc. Just looking for insight on what you have used and what you like, and what is also a decent solution. Hopefully it will help me in not having to do ADR but understand its a likely situation. Any feedback will be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Matt

P.S. I know I could lav each person and I have enough lavs to do it, its just I prefer the sound from boom rather than lav. Plus there is a lot of movement and clothes/uniforms will definitely be rubbing against lavs.

 

[Neil Uchitel]

An omni is the wrong choice. It will not only get the 5 people, but their reflected sound off the walls or any other ambient sounds/noise that you probably won't want. Use a standard cardiod mic, like the Schoeps MK4. Depending upon the shot, you might want to use two and blend them.

 

[David Rasberry]

A large diaphragm variable pattern studio condenser mic set to a figure 8 pattern can work well for this.

 

[Karl Lohninger]

Difficult without knowing more about the shoot and set-ups (incl. lighting!). My first thought, if you don't want to go down the slippery slope of using wires, is a second boom.

Done often, works well.