best boundary mics

[jb3710]

Anyone have a favorite boundary mic like the Crown Sound Grabber?

Also, anyone know of a boundary mic that gets records exceptionally far away sounds (20-30 ft. or more)?

I'm looking to record all sound from a classroom...

Thanks.

[oleg]

you can place the pzms over on plexiglass over the classroom  to get better results , if you cant do it , just use hyper cardioid or shotgun and point it the direction you need .
for better coverage with pzms from the celling you will need a few to cover large aria .
dont know how good the crowns , but for not so expencive solution the audio technica  omni patterns not bad at all .

[Gutbucket]

DPA also sells boundry adaptors for their standard mini 406x series mics, which are basically just the center back rubber portion of the picture above that Moke posted without the weighted metal surround, so you need to tape them down.  I'm sure the mic capsules are the same.    I had very good results using two of those with a hemispherical foam baffle between them to record guitar instruction classes in a typical classroom setting last summer.  Both the vocal instruction and instructors playing, as well as student questions and playing farther back in the room was very clear and understandable, without excessive room echo.  Since then I've found I usually prefer just taping the mics to the wall vs. using the boundry mounts for music recording, since the boundry mounts impart more of a frequency bump around 10khz that can be a little too much with full range music recordings.  However, that same response characteristic can be just the ticket for clear speach.  Here's the thread: http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,70134.msg940001.html#msg940001  The pictues of the complete unit withthe baffle and boundrymounted mics is near the bottom of page one.. probably not exactly what you're looking for but may give you some ideas.

[Church-Audio]

DPA has a pretty nice pzm mic system available

Hell DPA has a pretty nice everything

[oleg]

lets not exaggerate , i guess you hear  the blm-3  in your life , really not in the same league :-)
by the way  , you can do the dpas  tricks with every lavalier , we do it all the time  placing lavalieres on car visors to get dialog from actors .
what really matter on pzm mounting is the surface which has to work for the mic , at least 2-3 sq feet of reflection.
if it only conversation in the class room i dont see any benefit waist money on dpa - the at would sound the same .
i also like to place these for a drum kit from  the distance , working quit nice by opening the sound .

[bluelight]

I have an AT boundary mic and just wonder if it is a good application to tape it on a false ceiling for speech recordings?

Thanks,

Ed

[Church-Audio]

I have an AT boundary mic and just wonder if it is a good application to tape it on a false ceiling for speech recordings?

Thanks,

Ed

Sure why not... Just be careful it does not fall They are not light.

[Gutbucket]

I have an AT boundary mic and just wonder if it is a good application to tape it on a false ceiling for speech recordings?

Thanks,

Ed

I've got one of those AT boundry mics, but haven't used it.  It's directional, basically a half cardioid pattern, though they make standard omni versions too so I'm not sure which you have.  It would probably work nicely for speech recording.   You'll likely get a high pass/low end rolloff effect since the celing surface area is plenty large but the acoustic tile will pass low frequencies easily. This may be to your advantage in reducing the enevitable HVAC rumble an you needn't worry about stellar bass response for speech anyway.  Mine is quite heavy though & I'd be warry of taping it to the ceiling, maybe some bendable wire securing it through the tile along with the tape?

[oleg]

I have an AT boundary mic and just wonder if it is a good application to tape it on a false ceiling for speech recordings?

Thanks,

Ed

false ceiling?- are you talking about acoustic one - it alwais better that the mic would sit om hard surface for better bouncing , so i use plexiglass and mount the mic on it ,about 4 square feet   would be enough

[oleg]

I have an AT boundary mic and just wonder if it is a good application to tape it on a false ceiling for speech recordings?

Thanks,

Ed

I've got one of those AT boundry mics, but haven't used it.  It's directional, basically a half cardioid pattern, though they make standard omni versions too so I'm not sure which you have.  It would probably work nicely for speech recording.   You'll likely get a high pass/low end rolloff effect since the celing surface area is plenty large but the acoustic tile will pass low frequencies easily. This may be to your advantage in reducing the enevitable HVAC rumble an you needn't worry about stellar bass response for speech anyway.  Mine is quite heavy though & I'd be warry of taping it to the ceiling, maybe some bendable wire securing it through the tile along with the tape?

i prefer the omnys , they sound better
usually i ran these directly to wierless  so no need for cables and make the roll of inside the tx ( i have from 35-150 on my lectros ) depends on the acoustic
but it works fine with at box as well where you roll about 120 hz
the best method is double side large tape over the bottom of the mic to plexi then tape the plexi around with regular gaffer

[kgreener]

I own an AT849 stereo boundary mic and like it a lot.  Great for recording quick jam sessions or anytime you can get up close and want to be discreet.

Check it out

http://www.coutant.org/at849.html

[allan]

believe it or not, Radio Shack's boundary mic is one of the best ones out there.

[John Willett]

believe it or not, Radio Shack's boundary mic is one of the best ones out there.

LoL 

Best value for money, certainly - and a performance well above their price.

But the best??

Probably the "best" tag should go to the Neumann GFM 132 - superb and designed with the capsule placed off-centre in a triangle to avoid surface standing waves.



But at a UK retail price of £1,850 (incl. VAT), they are probably also the most expensive as well.

Yes, I do have a pair, and they are definitely worth the price - I don't use them that often - but when I do.....   

John

[poorlyconditioned]

I have an AT boundary mic and just wonder if it is a good application to tape it on a false ceiling for speech recordings?

Thanks,

Ed

I have quite a few of those AT boundary mics.  Some of them have the same innards as AT853 (caps + FET and inner housing).  This has been one of my sources of AT853 Omni capsules in the past.  You can tell which are which by looking at the specs.  If it says "67dB SNR", that is the AT853 capsule.  If it says something else, like 65dB, it may be another inferior capsule.

I've (mostly  ) stopped collecting AT853 gear.  Perhaps someone else can pickup where I left off.  LOL!

  Richard

[bluelight]

Thanks Richard,

Mine is a Pro42 which says 65db SNR. So that's not a AT853 then...