Comments

musicvid10 wrote on 10/27/2014, 1:57 PM
Sennheiser MKE2 Gold (not ME2). Street price about $350.
They're what Broadway productions use.
Stay away from Countryman, they're fragile and expensive.
rs170a wrote on 10/27/2014, 2:00 PM
If you can afford it, my vote is for the Sanken COS-11D. Comes in black, white and beige coloured.
The price ($300 and up) varies depending on what kind of connector you order with it. In my case I bought it with a locking 3.5 mm. plug designed to go into a Sennheiser G3 wireless. I also bough an Ambient EMP3.5 so that I could plug it into an XLR jack on my camera.
I highly recommend buying it from a dedicated pro audio house such as Trew Audio. Pro audio is all they do and they can make recommendations based on your needs.

Mike
farss wrote on 10/27/2014, 3:18 PM
[I]Sennheiser MKE2 Gold (not ME2). "[/I]

+1

The best sounding lapel mic is less than useless if it fails and that Sennheiser mic is unbreakable. We have over ten with our wireless mic kits being rented out and the only way to kill them is by putting the mic on an anvil and belting it with a hammer. Lapel mics do have a hard life and it's not just mechanical stress. Being in such close proximity to the body they're in a damp environment so lapel mic capsules need to be waterproof or they will fail.

Bob.
musicvid10 wrote on 10/27/2014, 3:28 PM
I'd keep my Sanken in the studio, if I had one.
TV on-set use is almost always the Sony 77, but iirc it needs its own tickler; won't run off line phantom.
musicvid10 wrote on 10/27/2014, 3:33 PM
"Being in such close proximity to the body they're in a damp environment so lapel mic capsules need to be waterproof or they will fail."

I still own a Broadway-retired MKE2 Red Dot that actually survived the sweatshop.
It's currently wired for a Sennheiser bodypack, but used on a Shure TA3F connector as well.
Best sounding lead mic I've ever owned.
rs170a wrote on 10/27/2014, 3:45 PM
Being in such close proximity to the body they're in a damp environment so lapel mic capsules need to be waterproof or they will fail.

Several suggestions from the JW Sound Group forum:
Gonna make you SWEAT!

Mike
rs170a wrote on 10/27/2014, 3:48 PM
I'd keep my Sanken in the studio, if I had one.

I've had two COS-11Ds for almost two years now and have used them in several different situations, indoors and out, warm, cool and humid, and they haven't failed me yet.
I had the Sony 77s in my last job but like the Sankens much better.

Mike
farss wrote on 10/27/2014, 4:06 PM
Priceless:


]


Bob.
John_Cline wrote on 10/27/2014, 4:38 PM
I've also had very good results with the Audio Technica AT-899 (omni) and AT-898 (cardioid) sub-miniature lavaliere microphones, something to consider.
musicvid10 wrote on 10/27/2014, 7:27 PM
Those ATs are really clean mics. I like the sound better than Shure.
It's not a high SPL lead mic like mke2 but will work perfectly for the OP's on-set interviews. *
Omni is best for that setting.

* AT is only rated 116 dB on battery, while the MKE2 is a window-shattering 142 dB. They make for fantastic drum mics, too, right along with the venerable Shure SM57..