Microphones

Boom Microphone?
A boom microphone is a directional microphone mounted or attached to a pole or arm and is used mainly in film and television. A boom microphone gives the amplified audio of a traditional microphone; they also amplify a group conversation, as it can be positioned so that everyone's voice can be heard. Boom microphones are sensitive enough to pick up vibrations  from movement, like unsteady hands. To avoid this boom mics often include isolating mechanism, such as foam padding or elastic suspensions.

Things to consider when operating a boom microphone

• you need to make sure that the boom mic doesn't creep into shot
• some boom microphones run by battery, therefore it is important to make sure the batteries are charged before filming
• finally, sometimes when using the boom microphone more than one person is required to operate it. for example when a person in being filmed walking forward the person holding the microphone is required to walk backward, so to avoid any accidents 

Using the Boom Microphone 
One thing that was on the brief was to retrieve audio footage by using the boom microphone. We had already been given a demonstration and learnt how to assemble and operate the boom before we left for Oxford, as part of or preparation. So this would not be an issue when it came to using the boom when on location. 

We eventually used the boom when interviewing the owner of the Truck Music Store, and asked him a few question about the local area, and gain a lot of interesting information on the decreasing number of record stores, not only in the area but in the city as a whole. when using the boom mic on location everything seem to be working fine. however when we were back at college the next day and were reviewing the footage and audio we had collected from Oxford we soon came to realise that our interview with the boom mic was distorted, muffled and the music coming from a near by speaker could be heard over the gentleman. 

We realised that the boom mic was too close to the speaker above, so it picked up the background noise more so than the interviewee speaking. I found this annoying as the rest of the footage was shot well; the rule of thirds was considered and kept to; the aperture, ISO also considered.

 Despite the small lens opening due to small aperture, the background behind the interviewee is quite over exposed. we could have reduced this by lowering the ISO, as I feel the aperture (around f/16) was a good for this shot, as the majority of it is in focus, and allows the audience to see the surrounding of the shop, capturing the realism of outside. 

Using the Internal Microphone
Fortunately at the same time as filming the interview, using the boom mic, we had another camera set up filming cut away shots of the interview. The internal mic of the second camera managed to pick up the audio, and was in fact clearer than the audio in the footage using the boom mic. this is due to the fact that the internal mic is not as sensitive as the boom mic, therefore less background noise was picked up.