In all video productions, the need for high quality audio is critical. Poor audio WILL ruin your footage. 

One of the best ways for filmmakers to capture crispy audio tracks of their video footage is with a Boom Mic Setup. This is one of the staples of audio recording for filmmaking.

In this Ultimate Beginners Guide we will look at what is a boom mic setup, the common uses of boom mics for video production, and where we use them in our productions.

If you are new to the Boom Mic Setup this will give you a good baseline on what they do and features that are important.

BOOM MIC 101:

So what is a boom mic anyway?

In a nutshell a boom mic is the combination of a  SHOTGUN MIC attached to a BOOM POLE . The purpose of the Boom mic setup is to capture crisp audio of your subject without getting the microphone in the frame. It’s Basically a microphone on a pole.

BASICS OF SHOTGUN MICS

It’s most common to use a shotgun mic in this setup. Shotgun mics are perfect because they only capture sound from the direction they are pointed in (directional microphone). This helps us ISOLATE sounds we want to put in video , without capturing dreaded background noise.

BEST USES FOR BOOM MICS : 

There are 2 common uses for the “boom mic” setup. Common uses are to clearly capture dialogue of one or more people in a close area ( interviews or narrative dialogue) , sound effects to assist your sound design , or even to get ambient or background sound effects. 

• USING THE BOOM MIC FOR DIALOGUE: Many people use boom mics to capture audio of people talking. One characteristic of most shotgun mics is they deliver more natural sounding than a lavalier mic , which tends to have a punchy sound and usually is visible on camera . You can also focus on multiple people in close proximity and record conversations. This gives the boom mic an advantage over lavaliers as you would need a mic on every person to effectively capture the conversation. However depending on their distance apart you may need multiple boom mics to get the best result.

*for more info on Lav mics see full article here.

• BOOM MIC FOR CAPTURING SOUND EFFECTS, ATMOSPHERE , AMBIENT SOUND IN A SCENE:  Boom Mics are very effective at capturing sounds fx and ambient noises . Many video productions will record sound effects with their boom mic and layer it on top of the audio tracks in the sound design .

 WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A SHOTGUN MIC

As stated earlier shotgun mics are most commonly used on a boom mic setup due to their optimal sound recording features. In this section we look at the best shotgun mics features available to use in your boom setup. Keep in mind each microphone has its own sound and judging it can be subjective. 

No microphones are balanced perfectly for every situation. Some capture more bass and others capture more high frequencies. If you’re recording a male voice it may be better to use a mic with higher ranges of recording, and vice versa for female voices. 

WHAT IS THE BEST SHOTGUN MIC FOR YOUR  VIDEO PRODUCTION?

We grade each mic on its over build quality, balance of sound , isolation of subject and rejection of background. See the features below that are important to consider to help you find your perfect setup.

SHOTGUN MIC FEATURES 

• BUILD QUALITY (can it take a beating?)
• BALANCE OF SIGNAL (LOW MID HIGH)
• ISOLATION OF SUBJECT (How well does it isolate subject from background noise)
• REJECTION OF BACKGROUND

At Dreamvision Media we use the Sennheiser MKH416, which is a great all around shotgun mic.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A BOOM POLE

First things first a boom pole is not “just a stick” that attaches to your shotgun mic . There are many small details that make a boom pole great . What do we need in a boom pole? In this section we will break down what features you’ll want to take into consideration before you buy one.

BOOM POLE FEATURES

• BUILD QUALITY / WEIGHT : Boom Poles are designed to be lightweight and rigid. Like gimbals and other handheld devices, the weight can become difficult to hold after hours of shooting . Carbon fiber is the best because of its strength and weight 

• SIZE : How long do you need your boom mic to extend?

• CABLED OR UNCABLED: Higher end boom mics are cabled meaning the cable is hidden inside the pole. This is helpful so cables don’t get tangled and in the way.

• PORTABILITY 

BOOM MIC ACCESSORIES : Recommended things you’ll need with a Boom Mic

The basics of a boom mic are the Shotgun Mic + Boom Pole, however to get the best performance from your video production you may need some accessories to add to your setup. Accessories you may need with your boom mic are Shock Mount and Dead Cats, External recording devices and headphones

• BLIMPS & DEAD CATS : Wind can be a nuisance recording audio. If you’re planning on shooting anything outside, you’ll need something to block out the wind. To get clear professional audio, we recommend a Shock Mount + dead cat. 

• EXTERNAL RECORDING DEVICES:

• HEADPHONES : For filmmaking headphones we recommend something durable that can withstand the elements, is water resistant, and has noise canceling features. Whoever is in audio detail will need to make sure they are getting a good signal , so a good pair of headphones is a must.

If you’re looking for help recording audio the team at Dreamvision can assist your recording in the San Diego or Los Angeles area.