What is a 'boom' microphone?

What is a 'boom' microphone?

Richard Hall (Reality TV Producer) gives expert video advice on: How do producers plan shoots for reality shows?; How are hidden cameras disguised in reality shows? and more...

A boom mic is a microphone that is held on a pole, that the audio man is holding over and above the subject, to pick up audio if the person isn't mic-ed. Let's say they've just come out of a swimming pool, for example. That's going to be “boomed”: the boom will be about 3 feet above their head, out of camera frame, because they won't be wearing a mic. That's the only way you can get effective audio from them.