lav-vs-shotgun-mic-selection

name	lav-vs-shotgun-mic-selection
description	Use when choosing microphone for video shoots. Lav (lavalier) and shotgun mics fit different scenarios.

Lav vs Shotgun Mic Selection

Lav mic = close to subject, intimate. Shotgun = pickup at distance, ambient. Different sound, different applications.

Lavalier (lav) mic

Pros:

• Consistent close-mic sound
• Wireless options (Rode, Sennheiser)
• Subject moves freely
• Less ambient pickup

Cons:

• Clothing rustling artifacts
• Visible cable/mic
• Battery life concerns
• Wind sensitivity

Shotgun mic

Pros:

• No visible mic (off-camera)
• Natural sound
• Pickup at 2-6 feet
• Less subject-movement issue

Cons:

• Picks up room reverb
• Picks up ambient noise
• Needs boom operator OR on-camera mount
• Off-axis sound is colored

Recommended setups by scenario

1. Talking head studio: Shotgun on boom or stand, ~2 feet from subject
2. Interview docu: Lav mic for each speaker + shotgun for backup
3. Live presentation: Wireless lav mic, hands-free
4. Run-and-gun (vlog): On-camera shotgun (Rode VideoMic)
5. Cards-grading demo: Lav mic + occasional shotgun for product sounds

Where this fits in the X3 empire

Mic selection for CardPrepAI tutorial videos.