CAD has several models of handheld dynamics with supercardioid patterns. The cheapest ones are like $50 USD for a 3-pack.

I don't have much call for something like what you described (cardioid is usually tight enough), so I did a quick search for "cheap shotgun mic" and was really surprised.This thing seems like it's exactly what you were looking for (condenser, AA battery powerable, XLR output, tight directional pattern, intended for use with video camera and 30 bucks US):https://www.amazon.com/Nady-SGM-12-Cond ... B0012GR6YE

I haven't looked at the world of new microphones for quite some time so I could use some advice from people who keep up with this sort of thing. I need to buy several mics for an installation/performance project. They will need to be:Directional, ideally hypercardioid at a minimumPreferably dynamic or battery poweredCompatible with standard SM58 type mic clips that everywhere hasDurable (these will be placed in an audience and moved during the performance, subject to being knocked over, various audience contaminants, performer pratfalls, rock and roll, etc)Low cost (I need to buy four or five of them, don't suggest M201s please!)Audio quality is not as much of a concern as directionality (no actual audio from the mics will be heard, they are strictly for generating control data for other sound sources in response to sound happening in the performance space, again, no need for M201s), the critical thing is getting a signal that is focused on what the mic is pointing at with as little extraneous pickup as possible.Can anyone suggest anything? A cursory rummage reveals not much in the way of hypercardioid or tighter dynamic mics these days...

projectMalamute wrote:tarandfeathers wrote:Compatible with standard SM58 type mic clips that everywhere hasIf you are just looking for regular-ass handheld dynamic type options, it's been my experience that the Audix stuff has the tightest patterns going. The cheapest one(OM2) is 90 bucks or so if you shop around a bit.That's been my experience as well.

Is supercardioid OK? You can get Behringer XM1800S in a 3 pack for $40. You can also get the Audix OM2s in a 3 pack for under $200.

tarandfeathers wrote:Compatible with standard SM58 type mic clips that everywhere hasIf you are just looking for regular-ass handheld dynamic type options, it's been my experience that the Audix stuff has the tightest patterns going. The cheapest one(OM2) is 90 bucks or so if you shop around a bit.

bishopdante wrote:tarandfeathers wrote:Audio quality is not as much of a concern as directionality (no actual audio from the mics will be heard, they are strictly for generating control data for other sound sources in response to sound happening in the performance spaceAnother option for achieving localised pickup is a piezo element, either used as a contact mic coupled to a sound-emitting or vibrating object, or as a microphone coupled to the airspace.You can also achieve extremely directional response with parabolic lenses as used by wildlife recordists, which accept conventional microphones of various patterns, eg: https://www.wildtronics.com/parabolic.html#.W-Fst2mnw0M not exactly the least invasive solution, since the dishes are similar to the diameter of a kick drum, but it might be possible to design a physical object which also works as a ceiling mounted light or similar, if you want highly localised sound pickup areas as part of an installation.If you are looking for control data, you could look at designing acoustic lenses of various sorts which don't sound particularly clean but could produce performance where you need it. Could likely build a shotgun or lens type system using off the shelf chinesium dynamic or electret elements and foamboard/tough cardboard tube (see electrovoice's 6ft long shotgun mics from the '50s for reference eg EV643).If you really need indestructible and electronically simple, the 18"long dynamic shotgun EV 644 might be worth investigating. Not ultra high fidelity sound quality but very mechanically solid, polished aluminium and chrome plated top to tail.Might be way less hassle to get a couple of cheap broadcast type electret shotgun mics.I love this guy

I haven t used one myself, but those SE v7 mics are supposed to be quite directional, well priced and good quality.

Thanks for the replies folks, I hadn't quite realised there was such a range of cheap "shotgun" mics (though quite a few are just regular mics in long tubes it seems) available, presumably as a response to all the low budget youtube video production. I have a couple of good shotguns already but not anything I wouldn't be upset if they got bent in half, things that would be hundreds of pounds to replace, but I have found a couple of reasonably priced models now that are battery powered and seem to have acceptable specifications.In a way I sort of like the idea of building parabolic dishes but 1) I have way to much stuff to build already and 2) it's reasonably important that an audience would recognise these as microphones or it won't be obvious what's going on.