VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Frank F · Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 1:43 am Post subject: Interesting note...

I was reviewing some news pieces recorded of a few months and noticed and interesting trend. Increasingly the larger networks are using condenser microphones (LDC) not shotguns on fixed fishpoles when mic'ing multi-person shots or interviews.

So I called a couple of network camera folks I know and they related how management had commented on the compressed sound of shotguns and of course the price vs. a good condenser. The added cost of a good grip may be an influencing factor as well.

Apparently the network sound guys want a more "natural" sound these days.

I am not making a comment as to this being a good idea or bad or what it means. I am just reporting the story. Don't shoot the messenger or read anything into my reporting the story.

Frank F
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Bruce · Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 10:02 am Post subject:

Many, many times when I watch a movie I can tell the basic kind of mic they use: shotgun versus lavalier versus condenser (in a booth or voice studio usually). There's a definite compression sound to the shotgun.

Somewhat related, I frequently can see lav mics under actor's clothing... that almond sized lump under their shirt a few inches below the neck line.

B
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Eddie Eagle · M&M Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 2393

This kind of expands on that except it goes into the talk show realm.
I wonder if shows like Jimmy Fallon and Conan actually use a combo of lavs and desk mics on the show. Seems like a lav or an overhead would be used when they walk around the set. But how about the desk?

I'd like to know what kind of mic Fallon and Conan use on their desks as well as Andy Richter and Steve Higgins.

captain54 · Lucky 700 Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 744 Location: chicago

interesting factoid.. Johnny Carson's desk mic, from the late 60's thru 90's, (Shure SM33 Ribbon).. 10 pound beast. I remember Johnny banging his pencil simulated drumming on that mic.. don't know if he used the exact same mic all those years, but the one he used when he retired was found in a trash bin and is up for auction in the $50k range..
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Bish · Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 11:16 am Post subject:

I think it's fairly well-known that the mic on Letterman's desk (a PR40) is just used as a prop... strangely set-up as a side-address. Prior to that I think he had a 77 sitting there... probably just a prop as well. Do they think that we expect to see a mic on a broadcaster's desk?
Tradition I guess.
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Bruce · Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 5:41 pm Post subject:

I've watched enough Fallon to know that his desk mic is live. They've used it, usually in some kind of gag. Higgins also uses his condenser mic but they both rely mostly on their double lav mics. There's no boom in sight when they do wide shots.

It's been interesting (mildly) to watch the changes in mics used over the decades, from desk mics, to corded mics hung around the neck (boy that looks weird today), to giant booms following everyone around.

B
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Lee Gordon · Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 2:52 am Post subject:

In the early years, Carson had a 77DX on the desk and I believe it was probably live, not a prop.

Discussions like this one remind me of watching TV with my dad when I was younger. He was in the furniture business and could tell you who manufactured any sofa, table or chair on the set of any TV show. The thing is, nobody but someone as immersed in the furniture business as he was knew, or cared, about that stuff.

And it's the same with mics and other gizmos used in the production of TV, movies, commercials or what-have-you. Nobody but voiceoverists, engineers, and assorted other nerds could possibly give a crap about these things. Sarcastic

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Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

dbeers · Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 3:34 pm Post subject:

Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 5:02 pm Post subject:

these desk mics could have been live, meaning they were plugged into a strip on the board and could be used as gag device. but that doesn't mean they were the primary mic. I would guess an overhead boom is what most of America was hearing.
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Bish · Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 6:58 pm Post subject:

Yes... you are right. That's a Neumann in the pictures, and it is set up correctly. I was referring to a story I'd heard when Letterman's mic was changed out for a Heil PR40. Publicity stunt? Guerrilla marketing? Maybe... but if I remember correctly, even Bob Heil made some mileage out of it Smile

I conflated the Heil story with the common photos and didn't look closely enough.

Embarrassed

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Lee Gordon · Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2015 2:05 am Post subject:

Back when Carson's Tonight Show desk mic was a 77DX, it was probably not a prop.

But that was nothing compared to Dave Garroway's Today Show lavalier.

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Eddie Eagle · M&M Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 2393

So. Does anyone have an idea what mics are on Fallon's and Conan's sets? I can't tell.

dbeers · Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2015 3:53 pm Post subject:

I believe Conan's is an AKG 414 with red grills.

Fallon is some Audio-Technica model. Maybe a AT4040 or AT5040

roger · Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2015 3:04 pm Post subject:

During the Vietnam War, I served two tours in Thailand working for AFRTS.
We had six radio and TV stations in country and every one used DX77s.
You can see two in the photo. That's when radio was a manly art...rotary pots, cart machines, Gray tonearms you could put a dollars worth of quarters on.
I loved every minute of it. I think I can smell that control room. Are there any other AFRTS vets here?

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