Basic question: 2 mics or 1 for seated interview?

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listener

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I'm interested in doing oral histories in the homes of friends. I have no gear and am starting from scratch.

I don't want to hold a mic or pass it back and forth, but I do want my questions recorded. So, do I have a setup with two desktop mics- (one facing each person) or 1 interview mic between me and my interviewee? I don't think I want to record using the onboard mics of whatever portable recorder I buy.

I'm having a hard time finding concrete advice about this online...

Thanks!!
 
I would go for a portable recording device like the Tascam DR08 - cheap/ reliable/ records to a media you can port to the PC and edit later.
 
You could probably do well with 1 overhead Large Diaphragm Condenser mic :D
 
A little hand held like a zoom or something would be good.

They have a mic either side, so you could set it between you and the other person, then when you're done just convert the file to mono in some free software like reaper.
 
Steenamaroo said:
A little hand held like a zoom or something would be good.

They have a mic either side, so you could set it between you and the other person, then when you're done just convert the file to mono in some free software like reaper.
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With out a doubt this would be the way to go ..... Look HERE at the H4n.

Google up some more on the zoom products and you see that they have an HD video recorder as well!
 
In my OP, I wrote "I don't think I want to record using the onboard mics of whatever portable recorder I buy."

So not sure why you guys are suggesting a Zoom. The issue with a Zoom is depending on table size, room noise and different voice levels, it might not make sense. Two mics on the other hand can be moved/clipped closer to each independent speaker. In a one mic setup I guess I could record into the Zoom's onboard mic, and have the interviewee speak into the external.....
 
You could go with a decca tree array...and supplement that with over/under spot mics for each speaker. :)

;)

:D

Here's a simple one...a single ribbon mic (or dual-di condenser mic).
In the figure 8 position, the single mic picks up "equally" on both sides. Place the mic between you and go for it.
Heck, you can even use a single mic in omni...and that will pick up 360...but make sure you are in a not-too-live room.
 
Use 2 mics, one each. Set up the recording to record each mic to a separate channel or to each side of the stereo, now when finished if one or the other is too loud or need a little eq you can fix it up, then render the left / right or stereo recording to mono and done as you only need mono for an interview.

Alan.
 
The one thing I forgot to ask is there going to be video or is this like a radio interview. In which case if it's just a radio style interview you can slam what ever two microphones that will get the job done in front of each of you and record away.
Positioning of the microphones will be of importance - to far away and the speech will sound hollow so if you use a Shure SM58's for the both of you and be right up the microphone where as your lips touch the ball (headbasket) you'll get a proximity affect and sound like a professional radio DJ. That and post or pre compression - that will be up to you and your abilities.
 
listener said:
In my OP, I wrote "I don't think I want to record using the onboard mics of whatever portable recorder I buy."

So not sure why you guys are suggesting a Zoom. The issue with a Zoom is depending on table size, room noise and different voice levels, it might not make sense. Two mics on the other hand can be moved/clipped closer to each independent speaker. In a one mic setup I guess I could record into the Zoom's onboard mic, and have the interviewee speak into the external.....
Click to expand...

The reason I suggested the DR08 was because of the quality of the mic's, you also have the option of plugging in tie clips if you chose.
You didn't state how far apart the subjects are or what environment you will be in?
You also didn't say what you intend to plug your mic's into...
 
I suggested a condenser because it'd probably pick up everything you needed picked up lol.

If you're going for broadcast quality... then set up a desk for the interview with 2 sm7b's
 
Bisson820 said:
I suggested a condenser because it'd probably pick up everything you needed picked up lol.

If you're going for broadcast quality... then set up a desk for the interview with 2 sm7b's
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Or two EV RE20's!!
 
a bit pricier... but yea :P... the sm7b was designed as a broadcast mic tho.

and isnt that a shotgun mic?
 
Yup. It's a dynamic microphone ..... that looks like a LDC
 
And ..... It's an end address microphone just like the Sennheiser MD421-II.
People make that mistake a lot.
 
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