When it comes to high-quality microphones, DPA is a name that comes to mind. Its 4060 series lavaliers are some of the best in the industry and have been used on hundreds of television series and movies. The same can be said for the Sanken COS-11D and Countryman B6.

Now with social distancing part of workflows, DPA has created the 4097 CORE Interview Kit to help those doing ENG work capture high-quality audio at a distance. 

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The kit is centered around DPA's 4097 microphone and includes a retractable boom pole, cable, cold shoe mount, and windjammer. The 4097 microphone is tiny, but don't let the size fool you. The 4" gooseneck microphone has a supercardioid pattern capable of handling high SPLs (133 dB peak) to deliver an undistorted natural sound. It has a linear response, low distortion, and a wide dynamic range of 110 dB. On top of that, any audio captured off-axis is preserved, and instead, only drops in level. That said, the microphone is going to sound great no matter the environment you put it in. 

The kit is ideal for filmmakers or journalists needing to conduct interviews at a safe distance as the retractable boom pole stretches up to 6.5 feet (2 metes) away. The included cable is DPA's MicroDot cable which can be adapted to fit any wireless transmitter or handheld recorder. The kit does not include a wireless transmitter, but the pole does come with a plate to securely position any wireless device. The entire setup collapses to 16 inches (40 cm) which is small enough to fit into a backpack. Additionally, the 4097 microphone can be attached to a wireless transmitter directly or be used for voice-over work. 

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No Film School published a similar product from K-Tek months ago, and it seems DPA is following suit. Besides, K-Tek, there are plenty of other practical alternatives, especially if you happen to already own DPA's 4097 microphone or another shotgun microphone. By simply attaching the microphone to a boom pole, you'll be able to capture audio from a distance. If you own a wireless system, but not a shotgun microphone, there are solutions to mount the wireless to a boom pole. You can also add a wireless system to a shotgun using something like a plug-on transmitter.  

The 4097 CORE Interview kit includes: 

  • 1 4097 CORE Micro Shotgun Microphone 
  • 1 MicroDot Cable 2.2 mm (.09 in), 1.8 m (5.9 ft) 
  • 1 Plate for transmitter
  • 1 Cold Shoe Mount with standard 1/4 in thread 
  • 1 Rycote Windjammer 
  • 1 Telescope Boom

Availability & Price

DPA products are normally not for the budget-conscious filmmaker. The products are high-end, which comes at a premium. The 4097 CORE Interview Kit is available now for $585 excluding local VAT. 

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