Throat Mic question

[BlindBrick 0]

I'm looking to do some in-flight narration, so iwas considering using a throat mike hooked to my camcorder. I was wondering if that was practical, and if so could anyone recommend a mic?

Right now, I've found some good reviews for this one:
http://www.ixcessory.com/Merchant/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=I&Category_Code=XTM880D4

Also, I wanted to put in a failure point into the wiring since I'd be tethered to my helmet. I was thinking of using a male-male adapter fastened in such a way that if I jettisoned the helmet, the line would come loose at the adpater. Anyone know if that'll work?

-Blind

"If you end up in an alligator's jaws, naked, you probably did something to deserve it."

[LouDiamond 1]

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I'm looking to do some in-flight narration,

I take it you mean while under canopy?


It has been my experience that most of the throat mics offered like the link you provided are not suitable for skydiving, the ones that are,are military /Law enforcement grade and run several hundred dollars on avargage. For the set up you are looking for, recording under canopy could be done with a simple boom type microphone with a wind shield(foam) covering attached to the helmet itself and pluged into the MIC in port on the camera. That way if you ditch your helmet, the mic is going with the helmet.If you want to record in freefall too, a throat mic does not work well in my experience.

You can buy small mics that plug directly into your device at most mic/audio stores that are very small and very sensitive for around $25-75. Something like that can be stored inside the helmet until needed and then pulled out for use.

"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required"
Some people dream about flying, I live my dream
SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING

[mccordia 74]

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It has been my experience that most of the throat mics offered like the link you provided are not suitable for skydiving, the ones that are,are military /Law enforcement grade and run several hundred dollars on avargage.

We have been using that excact set of throat mics for in-air communication in combination with standard Nokia walky-talkies, and get understandable audio out of it, suitable for coaching, especialy when using clear simple directions/commands.

They cost us 35 euros, and seem to do the job quite well...

JC
FlyLikeBrick
I'm an Athlete?

[LouDiamond 1]

Good to hear its working for you. My experience with them was spotty/garbled,very marginal audio heard by the receiving end. Basically hit or miss from jump to jump.



PS: Not sure if you recall or not but I used my system at this years AN-72 to talk to mark who was on the ramp and to James who was on the ramp in the 2nd skyvan.

"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required"
Some people dream about flying, I live my dream
SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING

[erikph 0]

Some years ago, we organised a freefall live transmission for Alcatel Communications Week. It was a guy skysurfing, standing on his board, and talking to a conference hall full of managers at the other side of the globe. The video was projected on a big screen, the sound was clearly understandable.

The skydiving part of the project was done by Willy Boeykens. Maybe he can help you out on what mic was used and how exactely it was done.

blue skies,

http://myjumps.blogspot.com/

[mccordia 74]

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Some years ago, we organised a freefall live transmission for Alcatel Communications Week. It was a guy skysurfing, standing on his board

If I remember correctly 'that guy' was Patrick de Gayardon..

JC
FlyLikeBrick
I'm an Athlete?

[erikph 0]

it was Marc Sluzny

blue skies,

http://myjumps.blogspot.com/

[mccordia 74]

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it was Marc Sluzny

I didnt remember the name correctly I guess

That was with the faux office in the back of a porter, and him suddely leaping out and continuing talking in freefall right?

I remember seeing that on youtube or elsewhere online...maybe someone can dig up the link...?

JC
FlyLikeBrick
I'm an Athlete?

[LouDiamond 1]

An alternative and simpler solution for consideration.Since all you want to do is add voice to the film footage for viewing after the dive, why not just film your jump(with the camcorders mic on), fly or do what ever you planned out and then later in post, add the voice over? You would have the sound of the skydive on the film,which you could lower the volume on in the storyboard and add in your voice over so it sounds like your talking during the skydive. No need to buy anything and your goal is accomplished.

"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required"
Some people dream about flying, I live my dream
SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING

[MB38 0]

My throat mic experience doesn't cover skydiving, but it does cover some similarly "intense" situations as far as audio is concerned. I currently use an Iasus NT3, though I've used the NT2 and NT Sniper in the past. The NT3's clasp wouldn't be suitable for skydiving, but I've had clear voice transmission while standing in an uncovered process trailer going 80+ MPH [process trailer = car rig for filmmaking].

Just don't wear the mic too long, you'll get a funny tan.

I really don't know what I'm talking about.

[DSE 5]

80mph on a process trailer? Holy COW! You've got a pair of brass ones! The trailer we regularly rent is about 7" off the ground, and sways like a pendulum once you get past about 50 effectively defeating its purpose.

Very little experience with throat mics, othe than the Vanquish/Stryker (works OK for motoX) and the VocoMotion (for musicians on stage). neither is suitable for skydiving, IMO.

[MB38 0]

Well, I use the term process trailer lightly... it was closer to a GoMobile.

I really don't know what I'm talking about.