SCENE 01 / BOOM MICROPHONES
Boom Microphones
Professional shotgun microphones and boom equipment for your New Zealand production.
Boom microphones are essential for capturing clean dialogue and ambient sound on set. These directional microphones, mounted on extendable poles, allow operators to position the mic close to talent while keeping it out of frame, delivering focused audio pickup with minimal background interference.
We provide access to a range of professional boom microphone systems, including shotgun mics, hypercardioid capsules, and lightweight boom poles suited to your shooting conditions. Our team coordinates delivery and backup equipment to keep your sound department operating smoothly throughout production.
Capabilities
Boom Equipment
Industry-standard shotgun microphones, professional boom poles, and complete accessories.
Professional Boom Solutions
Capabilities
Our Process
Sound Requirements
Understanding your production's dialogue recording needs, locations, and acoustic challenges.
Equipment Selection
Recommending the optimal microphones and accessories for your specific shooting conditions.
Prep & Testing
Thorough testing and preparation of all boom equipment before delivery to your production.
Production Support
Technical support and backup equipment available throughout your shoot.
On Location
Sennheiser, Schoeps & Sanken Boom Inventory From Auckland & Wellington Sound Houses
Here is how this works in practice. Boom microphone stock across Aotearoa centres on the workhorses every NZ production sound mixers trusts on dialogue: Sennheiser MKH 416 and MKH 60 shotguns for exterior pickup, Schoeps CMIT 5U for tonal-accurate cinema work, and Sanken CS-3e for high-rejection coverage in Auckland CBD or Wellington Cuba Street ambient bleed. Hyper-cardioid bodies — Schoeps MK41 capsule, Neumann KMR 81i — handle interior coverage at Stone Street Studios, Kumeu Film Studios, Auckland Film Studios, Avalon Studios, and Henderson Studios stage work.
Here is how this works in practice. Boom poles run K-Tek Avalon and Klassik series in 5ft through 21ft reach, with Cinela COSI and Rycote Cyclone windshield systems mandatory for the 4-seasons-in-a-day Aoraki and Fiordland exteriors. Domestic inventory is staged at Lemac New Zealand (Auckland + The capital), Mediatech NZ, and Filmworx Auckland. The Wellywood gear pool at Stone Street and Park Road Post The capital supplements for feature-scale productions.
Here is the short of it. Heritage productions establishing the NZ boom-op standard run back through Peter Jackson's LOTR and Hobbit cycles at Stone Street, Jane Campion's The Power of the Dog across Otago hill country (where Ari Wegner's DP work paired with a top-tier dialogue capture pipeline through Park Road Post), and the Avatar Way of Water performance capture stages at Kumeu and Manukau where Cameron's team prioritized in-water dialogue scratch tracks via specially-housed CS-3e capsules.
Here is the short of it. For South Island winter shoots dropping to -10°C dawn lows, we condition shotgun bodies in unit-base warmth, replace foam windscreens with Rycote Super-Softie for Cyclone interiors, and brief boom ops on iwi-protocol awareness when filming on Te Tiriti o Waitangi partnership land. When production scale demands extra rigs, ARRI Rental Sydney and Sigma Cine Sydney supplement same-week via the 3-hour Trans-Tasman corridor under ATA carnet through Auckland or Wellington Customs.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Which shotgun mic do you recommend?
The Sennheiser MKH 416 remains the industry standard for its versatility and reliability in various conditions. For quieter interiors, the Schoeps CMIT 5U offers exceptional clarity. The Sanken CS-3e is excellent for reducing off-axis noise in challenging locations.
What boom pole lengths are available?
We stock boom poles from 2m to 6m in various configurations. Most productions use 3-4m poles for standard work. We recommend K-Tek and Ambient poles with internal cable routing for clean, professional operation.
What wind protection do you provide?
We offer complete windscreen systems from Rycote and Cinela suitable for any conditions—from light interior air movement to heavy exterior wind. Our kits include appropriate fur covers for the conditions you'll encounter.
Can you provide complete boom kits?
Yes, we provide fully equipped boom packages including microphone, pole, shock mount, windscreen, cables, and all necessary accessories. Kits are prepped and tested before delivery.
Do you offer backup equipment?
Yes, we recommend and can provide backup microphones and essential accessories for longer shoots. Having backup equipment protects your production against any equipment issues.
What about interior vs exterior mics?
While some productions use different microphones for interior and exterior work, modern shotguns like the MKH 416 and CS-3e perform well in both environments. We can advise on the best approach for your specific needs.
Related Services
Productions in New Zealand that need this often pair it with Location Sound Packages, Wireless Systems, and Wireless Microphone Systems for full coverage. Most projects also draw on Camera Equipment Rental and Boom Operators.
On Set
Need Boom Equipment?
Tell us about your sound requirements and we'll provide the right boom package.