Sound Shark

Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT MICROPHONE CAN I USE IN THE SOUND SHARK?
Any omni-directional lapel microphone, also called a lavaliere microphone, can be mounted in the Sound Shark parabolic microphone using its unique mounting system. The microphone can be plugged directly into your camera, digital recorder, or plugged into a transmitter that sends the signal wirelessly to your camera or recorder.

CAN I RECORD MORE THAN ONE PERSON AT A TIME?
Absolutely. The Sound Shark picks up audio most effectively from within a cone that extends out 15 degrees from the center line of the dish. This means that the audio “sweet spot” is a circular area with a diameter that is approximately half the distance between the Sound Shark and the sound source.

For example, the audio “sweet spot” is 5 feet in diameter for subjects 10 feet away and so on. Any subjects within that circular area will be picked up very well by the Sound Shark. As people move out of the “sweet spot” the level of audio picked up by the Sound Shark will be gradually reduced.
The video on the right shows a great demonstration of the Sound Shark’s pickup pattern.

HOW CAN I FIND THE SOUND SHARK’S “SWEET SPOT”?

The circular decal on the back of the Sound Shark’s dish is provided to help you determine the audio “sweet spot”. Look at your subject from behind the Sound Shark. Move yourself around until the center of the Sound Shark’s frame (the center of the hole) is located over your subject. If the center of the frame is inside the circular decal, your subject is within the audio “sweet spot”. Experiment to see how far beyond the “sweet spot” your subject can move before the audio level drops off.

CAN I PICK ONE PERSON’S VOICE OUT FROM A CROWD?
Probably not. As mentioned above the Sound Shark will pick up any sounds within the conical “sweet spot”. You will only be able to pick out a single person’s voice if the Sound Shark is very close to the subject, the other people are outside of the “sweet spot”, or the other people are not facing the Sound Shark.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SOUND SHARK AND YOUR 9-INCH KLOVER MIK?
The Klover MiK 09 is built for day-in and day-out professional use. The two products are functionally equivalent and provide the same audio performance. The primary difference is the mounting hardware for the microphone.

In the Sound Shark, the microphone is mounted using a single clip instead of the two symmetrical clips. This clip is easier to install and adjust but more likely to move out of adjustment when receiving the hard knocks that broadcast equipment often receive.

In addition the Sound Shark does not include the shotgun mic adapter (cylindrical rod) that comes with the Klover MiK 09.

CAN I PICK ONE PERSON’S VOICE OUT FROM A CROWD?
Probably not. As mentioned above the Sound Shark will pick up any sounds within the conical “sweet spot”. You will only be able to pick out a single person’s voice if the Sound Shark is very close to the subject, the other people are outside of the “sweet spot”, or the other people are not facing the Sound Shark.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT CONNECTOR MY DEVICE HAS?

We can’t say for sure but we have provided a list of cameras and recorders on our “Camera Compatability” page.  The best way to determine the microphone input is to review the manual for the device.

DO I HAVE TO MOUNT IT DIRECTLY TO MY CAMERA?

No. You can mount the Sound Shark to a light stand, a tripod, a Gorillapod, a Magic Arm, or anything with a 1/4-20 thread (the standard thread for most tripods and monopods).

I'M NOT GETTING ANY SOUND FROM MY SOUND SHARK, WHAT DO I DO?

I –    Verify that your microphone is facing toward the inside of the dish and even with the ends of the two threaded rods.

II –  Verify that your gain is properly adjusted and that you are recording / monitoring the proper channel(s).

III – Verify your microphone is receiving power.

1) If you purchased a kit with an XLR microphone (large 3-pin connector) make sure your camera, or recording device, is providing phantom power. There is almost always a physical switch or setting to turn this power ON or OFF.

2) If you purchased a kit with a 3.5mm microphone (connector that looks similar to a headphone’s) make sure your camera, or recording device, is providing bias voltage (plug-in power). Many recorders, such as the Zoom H series, have a setting to turn this power ON or OFF.

3) Please check your device’s manual to ensure that it can provide this power. If not, please contact us directly so we can help you find the best way to proceed.

If you are still dissatisfied with the audio you are capturing, please send an email to [email protected], or call us at (608) 713-1001.

CAN I USE A RECTANGULAR LAPEL MICROPHONE WITH THE SOUND SHARK?
When using a rectangular microphone, place the microphone into the mounting clip with the long side perpendicular to the frame and push it down until it rests against the two small bumps on the inside of the inner arms.

WHY ARE THERE ONLY TWO SCREWS HOLDING THE MOUNTING BLOCK TO THE FRAME?
We ship the Sound Shark with only two nylon screws in the mounting block joint, where the main frame and the mounting block meet. This protects your camera by allowing the dish to break away from the flash shoe adapter in case of an impact.

If you are not mounting the Sound Shark to your camera, or need a more rigid connection, you can add the two spare screws included with your Sound Shark, to the joint.

THE NYLON SCREWS BROKE, WHAT DO I DO NOW?

Remove the remnant of the broken screw from the mounting block and replace the screws with the spare screws included in your Sound Shark box.  If more screws are required, look for “Nylon #6-32 x ½” Flat Head” screws at your local hardware store, Ace Hardware, Fastenal, MSC, Grainger, or on Amazon.  You can also purchase a Sound Shark Spare Parts Kit.

Sound Shark is Ideal For:

WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHERS

EVENT VIDEOGRAPHERS

INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS

PRODUCTION COMPANIES

EDUCATORS

VLOGGERS

AMATEUR VIDEOGRAPHERS

BIRD ENTHUSIASTS

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