Suggestions for External Microphone for DSLR Bodies w/Video?

[Wil_Bloodworth]

So what are your suggestions for 3rd Party (mini stereo) microphones to replace the built-in ones on your DSLR?

Since Canon has, oh, a bazillion bodies that do 1080p video and Nikon now has, um, two... I figured I could probably get a good answer from the "C" side... but I'm on the "N" side.

Let's try to keep the total cost under $500. In fact, if you have more than one suggestion, try to keep them in $100 increments... Best <= $100, <=$200, etc.

Thanks!

- Wil

[tc95]

Wil...I looked into this a little while ago....here are the ones I have book-marked...


Panasonic DMW-MS1



Rode-Microphone






Good website for reviews




Don't forget...Mic Light




This is everything I have researched...make sure that you get a good sound and video editing program like Sony Vegas Pro 9 or Final Cut Pro....

Good luck...

[Wil_Bloodworth]

Thanks Tony! I'll definitely check those out!

- Wil

[Wil_Bloodworth]

Oh, and as far as editing software, I bought PowerDirector 8 in December. I've no idea how it compares to the ones you've mentioned... of course, I'm on a PC so I don't even know if those are available on my platform.

- Wil

[Wil_Bloodworth]

Sony Vegas Pro 9: $600?! <-- HELL no.
Final Cut Pro: $1000 and Mac only... double hell no!

- Wil

[Rson]

I guess Premier Pro is out?

[tc95]

Wil....you can download...Sony Vegas Pro as a demo for 30 days...worth looking into..

Originally Posted by Wil_Bloodworth

Sony Vegas Pro 9: $600?! <-- HELL no.
Final Cut Pro: $1000 and Mac only... double hell no!

- Wil

[PeteQ]

Wil, a lot of folks are looking at standalone units like the Zoom H4 to get the audio and then just matching things up in post. The quality is much better along with the ability to adjust gain and such. I know the 5DMk2 units now have gain control but it's clunky at best. With a simple hand clap you can match things up no problem and a cheap clapboard is even better. And these type units have inputs for XLR mics and such.

A lot depends on your intended use, but the folks I have worked with that are using these tried units like the Rode and moved to the standalone option fairly quickly.

[Wil_Bloodworth]

@Tony,

I happened to look at the top priced version. It seems they have five different versions at different levels which are much more reasonable:

Movie Studio HD: $44.95
Movie Studio HD Platinum: $94.95
Platinum Production Suite: $124.95
Pro Production Assistant: $169.96
Vegas Pro: $599.95

I'm not sure why they couldn't put something in the middle of the last two though.

@Pete: That is exactly what I decided to go with! Thank you sir.

- Wil

[PeteQ]

Yw!

[Wil_Bloodworth]

Here's the detailed list of equipment I decided to start with:

NOTE: I decided against a "shotgun" mic because I figured I wouldn't need it starting out. I'll probably pick one up at a later date.

Zoom H4n Recorder

Custom Red Head Windscreen

IKan SM-103 Camera Shoe Mount

IF I were going to go with just a single external microphone that fed directly into the DSLR, I would go with the Rode Stereo SVM and a RedHead Windscreen for it.

Here are two EXCELLENT articles on this very topic:
Recording audio with your video DSLR, Part I

Recording audio with your video DSLR, Part II

My problem now is trying to figure out how to match the audio exactly to the video... with the limited software video editing software I own... which deserves a topic all to itself.

- Wil

[PeteQ]

Wil, just a couple of things to keep in mind. If you mount the Zoom on top of your camera you *may* pick up some noise from vibrations when the auto focus does its thing. That was notorious for the 5D with the built in and mics like the Rode and other shotgun mics have isolation mounts. You may want to take a look at something like this J-Rod mount that says it incorporates a shock mount if you are going to camera mount the recorder. Anything to dampen as much vibration as you can.

As for matching up in post it is pretty simple really. If you have a slate or just clap your hands in front of the camera at each scene and match up the audio spike with the frame of when your hands touch. That's why something like this slate works well. It's very easy to match the closing of the sticks with the sound spike. You just have to remember to clap or slate for each scene otherwise you will have to do a bit of searching in post for a good audio spike to match up with the video. Not hard to do, but may take some digging.

Almost any movie editing software should have the ability to adjust the audio time line, I see Movie Studio HD Platinum does. Even iMovie can split the native audio off the a/v track and allow you to overlay your better recorded audio. Just match the audio waveform spike with a known video frame and off you go! It sounds complicated but most video scenes end up being only a few seconds and then are all spliced together so it's not like if you are a touch off the error will have time to "grow".

[Wil_Bloodworth]

Pete,

Thanks for the tips! I saw that Juan Pons was using a Kirk clamp directly attached to the RRS L-bracket... do you think the vibrations would still be an issue there as with the hot shoe?

I'm sure my (current) video editing software (Power Director 8) can probably do the audio offset... I've just used it once for very simple editing so I believe it's more of my ignorance getting in the way than anything else.

I have read about the "clap" to synchronize the audio but some of the things I'm going to video are "noise sensitive"... wildlife for instance... and they don't react well to claps. I'm sure I'll figure something out. Of course, if it's not speech that I'm recording... one one will probably ever have any clue the audio is off.

- Wil

[PeteQ]

I don't know about how the Kirk setup would work. More mass would also help dampen vibrations I guess, but I think you would be better off with some sort of isolator for the mic.

I see your point about the clap for wildlife and agree that for the most part it would be hard to tell if the sound is perfectly sync'd. And if there is an event that you can match up you are good to go anyway.

Good luck Wil!

[Wil_Bloodworth]

Thanks Pete! I'll let you (all) know how it works out.

- Wil