Now here is a daft, but serious question.

[thereallyniceman]

When recording my banjo videos I have recently been using a Zoom H2 digital microphone, which is 1000 times better than the microphone on my Canon video camera. The Zoom H2 reproduces the real banjo sound that I am very pleased with, in fact, I am delighted with…

 

…BUT one thing that I have discovered is that I must be a very noisy breather and the mic picks up my wheezing and gasping all the way through my last video. I have tried breathing through my mouth or holding my breath but I can feel myself feeling faint and turning blue after a minute or two.  ;-)

 

I have positioned the mic further away but it still seems to pick up breathing. Are there any suggestions from those who use mics all the time on how to cut out this darned nuisance breathing noise?

[marc dalmasso]

does he have a " low gain input " ? & if yes ,  have you tried it ?

on the Q3 i use , i cannot use the " high gain IN " ; the banjo is in overloaded , i always use the low ' one &  then add gain when converting from .mov to .divx before uploading on you_tube

[Jody Stecher]

The "problem" is not the mic. The problem is how you are breathing. You *must* breathe to play well. If you hold your breath while you play you might damage your hands and arms as breathing and circulation are related. Practice breathing quietly while playing. Make some recordings with your H2 with no intent to play well or to post your playing on the internet. This is just for you. Listen to when your breathing is silent and when it is noisy. Return to the state of mind when your breathing is quiet and build on that. 

Another thing you can do is point the H2 down toward the banjo head from a position that is below your neck and slightly above the banjo head.

[thereallyniceman]

Thanks Jody and Marc.

Do musicians really have to breath quietly? I think that tipping the mic downwards may be a good idea. The Zoom H2 has a little stand to mount it vertically and that may be the problem. I have seen some professional singers with a sort of a plastic screen in front of the mic, but who knows what that is for?

Converting from .mov to .divx all sound a bit complicated to me, Marc   '-)

I will practise quiet breathing, Jody.. perhaps I have a cold coming on that is causing all the wheezing as I feel a bit grim today !!