Help - Microphone needed

[Mark]

I need to get hold of a microphone for the BBQ, so obviously, I need to find something quick. I have a 3.5mm stereo jack to fill. I'm not sure of what I need beyond that, so long as it's good at picking up us lot round a campfire without too much wind noise. Budget £50.

If something is available from a high-street store (e.g. Argos), so much the better. :)

[leowyatt]

here (http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5351345.htm)

it even has a windshield built in :D

EDIT: oh and you can spend the extra £42.50 on booze ;)

[Mark]

Thanks, but won't we need omnidirectional for us lot having a singsong round the campfire? :)

May get that one anyway as a standby.

[leowyatt]

Thanks, but won't we need omnidirectional for us lot having a singsong round the campfire? :)

err fneeeeeeeeeeeeeee I don't know ;D I'm sure that'll record the drunken songs nicely.

How about this (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-X-BLACK-DYNAMIC-MICROPHONE-MIC-DJ-KARAOKE-2-3M-LEAD_W0QQitemZ170013808676QQihZ007QQcategoryZ8258Q QrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

[Mark]

OK, I got the Argos one as a plan B, but I'm still looking. My requirement has slightly changed in that I should be OK with a cardioid mic as omnidirectional mics seem to be rare to none. Stereo preferably, but mono with a mono->stereo adapter would work too, as would post-processing the audio to remove the 'dead' channel.

Found a stereo cardioid mic at Maplin that would do, but DRZ has an aversion (and rightly so), so I'll give until lunchtime tomorrow for more suggestions. :)

[Mark]

I don't want to spend more than about £30. Not going to use it much so there's no point.

These appear to be the obvious contenders in the stereo department (saves fiddling later):

Maplin (yuck! ;))

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?criteria=L92AA&DOY=10m8

DV247

http://www.dv247.com/invt/2700/

Or am I going in completely the wrong direction? I'm new to all this stuff.

[Dr. Z]

Stereo mics are generally pap and in this case unless you plan to properly mic up the whole place, uselss. "Sort it out" in Audition or similar at a later date.

http://www.dv247.com/invt/28355/

Cant see you going wrong with that but my mic knowledge is a bit limited really. Shouldnt be any worse than anything you can buy in argos :eek:

You will need a normal jack to 3.5mm jack adapter though.

EDIT: Having looked at your DV link above, that does seem like it will do the trick indeed. Quite how I missed that I dont know!

[Mark]

Plus it's cheaper. I don't think I can find my mono->stereo adapter either, so it'll help if I don't have to try?

The equipment I'm using to record isn't that spectacular, but it'll do. Output is going to end up in MP3 anyway (assuming we decide to keep any of it). Plus, if I get that stereo mic I can also clip it on the top of my camcorder in future, which will be handy.

I'll give you the final say, just in case you object violently. ;D

[Dr. Z]

No objections here :) Just make sure you pack the extra batteries required :)

[Mark]

It'll be done. I'll pack 4x AA (for the mic) and 4x AAA (for the pre-amp). They don't exactly take a lot of room. :)