I'm looking for a pair of boundary mics up to $300 or so per pair to
record conference room meetings. The mics will sit on a large oval
table with a bunch of well-adorned people around it discussing matters
in a very formal manner. I'll be doing this in various places with
different people, so permanent mics are not appropriate. My objective
is to record the voices legibly. The recording doesn't have to be
broadcast quality and if there are some extraneous noises such as paper
shuffling or whatever, it's not a big deal. This is only for
documentation purposes. I'll use an Mbox/laptop or preamps/harddisk
recorder. Either way there's plenty of gain and my gear will not be on
the same table. I actually prefer phantom powered XLR-connected mics,
but whatever. Any recommendations?

wrote:
I'm looking for a pair of boundary mics up to $300 or so per pair to
record conference room meetings. The mics will sit on a large oval
table with a bunch of well-adorned people around it discussing matters
in a very formal manner. I'll be doing this in various places with
different people, so permanent mics are not appropriate. My objective
is to record the voices legibly. The recording doesn't have to be
broadcast quality and if there are some extraneous noises such as paper
shuffling or whatever, it's not a big deal. This is only for
documentation purposes. I'll use an Mbox/laptop or preamps/harddisk
recorder. Either way there's plenty of gain and my gear will not be on
the same table. I actually prefer phantom powered XLR-connected mics,
but whatever. Any recommendations?

Just my own 2cents, after many years in the biz: Yes, PZMs are audible.
Yes, they pick up LOTS of pen clicking, paper shuffling, traffic, etc.
I find conference mics much better.

wrote:
I'm looking for a pair of boundary mics up to $300 or so per pair to
record conference room meetings. The mics will sit on a large oval
table with a bunch of well-adorned people around it discussing matters
in a very formal manner. I'll be doing this in various places with
different people, so permanent mics are not appropriate. My objective
is to record the voices legibly. The recording doesn't have to be
broadcast quality and if there are some extraneous noises such as paper
shuffling or whatever, it's not a big deal. This is only for
documentation purposes. I'll use an Mbox/laptop or preamps/harddisk
recorder. Either way there's plenty of gain and my gear will not be on
the same table. I actually prefer phantom powered XLR-connected mics,
but whatever. Any recommendations?

I suggest trying the Crown PCCs.

But before doing that, I suggest just trying a couple 635As. Just try it.
You'll get slapback from the table that you won't get with a boundary mike
but maybe you won't mind that.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."