{"id":72115,"date":"2016-03-08T09:48:00","date_gmt":"2016-03-08T15:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/?p=72115"},"modified":"2016-09-13T14:37:26","modified_gmt":"2016-09-13T19:37:26","slug":"build-pro-boom-mic-for-around-500-dollars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/build-pro-boom-mic-for-around-500-dollars\/","title":{"rendered":"Piece Together a Pro Boom Mic for Around $500"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you’re ready to move beyond your DIY audio recording setup, use this guide to\u00a0build a pro boom mic setup for around $500.<\/h2>\n

Top image via Shutterstock<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Budget boom mics are incredibly easy to make. In fact, you can make your own boom pole for under $25<\/a>. But what if you want something more practical and\u00a0professional?<\/strong> A high-end setup could easily go into the thousands. In this roundup, we’ll take a look at a few different options for building a professional boom mic<\/strong> that doesn’t cost as much as the camera you already\u00a0bought.<\/p>\n

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1. Microphone<\/h3>\n

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\nImage: MKE 600 via\u00a0Sennheiser<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Depending on the type of production, you’ll want to have the right type of\u00a0microphone<\/strong>. If you’re only shooting interior interviews, then you don’t need\u00a0to use\u00a0the same type of shotgun mic you would be using outdoors. We’ve previously covered microphone pickup patterns<\/a>\u00a0if you want more on that.<\/p>\n

When it comes to a boom mic, you will need a choice of hypercardioid<\/strong> or supercardioid<\/strong> pickup patterns. The hypercardioid microphone you would need is a\u00a0mini-shotgun<\/strong> and the supercardioid would be\u00a0a regular shotgun<\/strong> mic<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Rode NTG2<\/a> – $269 –\u00a0Supercardioid
\nSennheiser MKE\u00a0600<\/a>\u00a0– $329 –\u00a0\u00a0Supercardioid
\nAudix SCX1-HC<\/a> – $599 –\u00a0Hypercardioid
\nAudio-Technica AT4053b<\/a> – $599 –\u00a0Hypercardioid<\/p>\n

~$500 Boom Choice:<\/strong>\u00a0While the Rode NTG-2<\/strong> is probably the most popular shotgun mic for smaller budgets, the Sennheiser MKE 600<\/strong> is a better performing microphone for the price. An added benefit: the<\/strong> shock mount is included with the Sennheiser<\/strong>. The Rode NTG2 only comes with a standard mount. Both of these microphones are great options<\/strong>,\u00a0and each can keep you right around $500 with the right support gear.<\/p>\n

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2. Boom Pole<\/h3>\n

\"Build
\nImage: KE-89CC via K-Tek<\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

The cost of a boom pole can easily floor you. Why buy a boom pole when you could easily use a broom pole? Well, it’s going to come down to how much you intend on using the pole yourself. After several hours of holding this pole over your head or down by the ground, your arms are going to be exhausted.<\/p>\n

That’s why high-end boom poles are often made of incredibly strong but lightweight material like carbon fiber. They are also designed to be silent and collapsible. There are also boom poles that have built-in XLR inputs and outputs. These cabled poles<\/strong> let you easily plug a mic in up top and a recorder at the bottom without having to run an XLR cable<\/strong> down the pole.<\/p>\n

Cabled poles also have outputs that are either on the bottom of the pole or on the side. Pro Tip!<\/strong> <\/em>If you get a boom pole with a side exit, you can rest\u00a0the bottom of the pole on the ground\u00a0between takes. If the cable comes out of the bottom, you’re stuck holding that sucker all day.<\/p>\n

Rode Boompole<\/a> – $149 – Non-Cabled
\nK-Tek KE-89CC<\/a> – $179 – Cabled
\nGitzo 1540<\/a> – $199 – Non-Cabled
\nGitzo 3560<\/a> – $260 – Non-Cabled
\nK-Tek KEG-100CC<\/a> – $465 – Cabled
\nK-Tek K102CCR<\/a> – $589 – Cabled<\/p>\n

~$500 Boom Choice:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>The K-Tek KE-89CC<\/strong> is a good deal for a cabled boom pole. The $179 version is 2′ 5″ collapsed and extends all four sections to 7′ 6″. The XLR connection is located at the bottom of the handle.<\/p>\n

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3. Shock Mount<\/h3>\n

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\nImage: DUSM-1 via Auray<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Now that you’ve got a mic and a boom pole, you’ll need something to put the two together. Shock mounts not only attach the microphone to the boom pole, but they have built-in suspension that helps eliminate unwanted noise and vibrations<\/strong>. Most mounts feature rubber band or silicone shocks. The rubber bands absorb camera shake\u00a0and keep the microphone from picking up any shaking sounds.<\/p>\n

Azden SMH-1<\/a> – $30
\nAudio-Technica AT8415<\/a> – $38
\nAuray DUSM-1<\/a> – $39
\nRycote Universal<\/a> – $49
\nRode SM8<\/a> – $48
\nRycote INV-7 InVision<\/a> – $62
\nK-Tek Nautilus<\/a> – $66<\/p>\n

~$500 Boom Choice:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/strong>If the microphone you purchased didn’t come with a shock mount, the\u00a0Auray DUSM-1<\/strong> at $39 is an excellent choice. Their website still lists the MSRP at $65, but you can find it for $39 at most online retailers<\/strong>. As a bonus, this mount has a built-in hot shoe mount<\/strong> for you to easily attach to your camera or you can use the threaded bottom to attach to the boom pole. This shock mount fits microphones measuring 19-25mm in diameter.<\/p>\n

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4. Windscreen<\/h3>\n

\"Build
\nImage: Rode Blimp Windshield via Rode<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

If you’re shooting outdoors, you’ll want to have a windscreen handy. Many of the microphones listed above come with windscreens, but if you need something a little more heavy duty, here are a few options.<\/p>\n

WindTech Mic-Muff<\/a> – $29
\nAuray WSW-007MKII<\/a> – $29
\nAuray WSS-2018<\/a> – $89
\nRycote Standard Hole Softie<\/a> – $95
\nRode Blimp Windshield and Rycote Shock Mount<\/a> – $299
\nRycote Super-Shield Kit<\/a> – $359<\/p>\n

~$500 Boom Choice:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>This is going to come down to individual users. Some mics include a foam shield, so if you want a cheap upgrade \u2014 check out the Auray WSW-007MKII<\/strong>. It fits shotgun mics up to 7″ and features dual-layered wind protection that cuts wind noise up to 30dB.<\/p>\n

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The Around $500 Boom Mics<\/h3>\n

With the options listed above, I went with the following to create two different boom mic setups.<\/p>\n

$516 Boom Mic<\/strong><\/p>\n