Hi Larry,
You said, "I videotaped groups of 4 to 6 people. I cannot attach microphones to individuals without making everyone self-conscious and affecting the process."
I have spoken of this before here. In every situation I have seen, the difficulty is in the person putting the mics on the other folks. If you are not confident, your discomfort is communicated. Once you get over that, you won't have any problems. It's also important to "make first contact" by introducing yourself to the person you're micing before you enter their personal space, e. g., With a smile on your face....."Hi, I'm the sound guy and I need to enter your personal space to put this mic on you so you sound good during the recording. Here's what I need to do...etc."
Before you do this, work with family and friends in a mock up situation where you practice this procedure until you become comfortable with entering their space and handling the mic.
Regards,
Ty Ford
Cow Audio Forum Leader
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