Camcorders: Multiple Camcoder Microphones
Multiple Camcoder Microphones
by Richard Escobedo - 4/5/08 9:15 PMI'm curious to know if anyone has any suggestions as to how to get multiple microphones to work a Canon ZR800. What equipment do I need to buy? Mixer? Special type of mic? New camera?
Thanks!
--Richard Escobedo 
Example product.
by R. Proffitt
- 4/6/08 5:47 AM
In reply to: Multiple Camcoder Microphones by Richard Escobedo
Many will end up with more recorders such as http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/MicroTrackII-main.html and the mics to match.
To get the audio back to the video you do that in post production.
Bob
So
by Richard Escobedo - 4/6/08 12:28 PM In reply to: Example product. by R. Proffitt
would I have to "re-sync" the audio to match the movement of person's lips? Or would the audio begin to be captured to this device the moment I hit record on the camera?
My stepson does this daily it seems
by R. Proffitt - 4/6/08 1:01 PM
In reply to: So by Richard Escobedo
He's attending college with some major in film. I've done this a lot too and it's not a big deal to fix it up in post.
Bob
When you import the video, the audio travels with it
by boya84 - 4/6/08 4:23 PM In reply to: So by Richard Escobedofrom the camcorder video. Then you import the audio and apply it to an audio track on the video editor. When there is an echo, you need to sync it. When the echo is gone, they are synched. or press record on both and clap real loud... like using a slate on a movie set. Then line up the audio signal spikes. When everything is good to go, mute the camcorder video's audio track and keep the external recording device's audio track. After you've done it once, you will understand.
Bob's right... the external method is
by boya84 - 4/6/08 6:34 AM In reply to: Multiple Camcoder Microphones by Richard Escobedoprobably the best way to go since the digital audio recorders provide manual audio control.
If you use XLR mics, another method is to use an XLR adapter like those from BeachTek - though you will be limited to two mics. If you need more mic connections, juicedLink has a 4-XLR-jack unit... More than that and a small mixer would be required.
Since the ZR800 has no manual audio control or headphone jack, you will need to be very careful if you go with this XLR adapter method as loud audio can still overdrive the camcorder's built-in audio leveling circuit - and you have no method of know what audio is getting to the camera...
In that Case
by Richard Escobedo - 4/6/08 8:38 AM In reply to: Bob's right... the external method is by boya84do you recommend me by a different camera? If that's what I need to do, I have no problem.
Whether you need a new camera is up to you...
by boya84 - 4/6/08 9:33 AM In reply to: In that Case by Richard EscobedoThe least expensive cameras with mic-in jack AND manual audio control are the Canon HV20, HV30, Sony HDR-HC7 and HC9. The mic-in jack on all these are 1/8th inch (3.5mm). I am not aware of any 1/8" or 1/4" "mixers", so the XLR mics would connect via the BeachTek or juicedLink XLR adapters. When any of these cameras is put into manual audio mode, an audio level meter appears on the LCD panel or viewscreen so you can see the levels going in - I think they all come with headphone jacks, too, so you can also monitor the audio being recorded.
This level of manual audio control is especially important if you will be working with extreme audio levels - either REALLY soft or REALLY loud.
The external audio capture method previously outlined is a great method.... let's use the extremely loud audio as an example - and presume it is made from a band... It is easy to set the field audio recorder in a single place and let the camera move around. When in post production, the left-right balance of that audio remains constant - if the mics are attached to the camera, then the left-right balance can move and you may not want that. The camcorder-connected mics can be mounted to a mic-stand and remain in one place while the camcorder moves around - this is typically how I do it. But the wired mics may be restrictive if you are trying to get stage close-ups or if there are lots of people close to the stage making decent mic/mic stand placement difficult.
Getting a discreet board mix requires a talented and knowledgeable audio engineer (you don't want the house mix and EVERYTHING needs to be mic's or be connected via DI box).
Since we don't know what you are planning to record, it is difficult to make a specific suggestion for "best method" of audio capture.
Which Microphones?
by Richard Escobedo - 4/6/08 12:31 PM In reply to: Whether you need a new camera is up to you... by boya84What is your setup? What camera(s) do you use?
What wireless mic's do you recommend me purchase?
--R.E.
Mics - as with anything else - depend on your budget.
by boya84 - 4/6/08 4:47 PM In reply to: Which Microphones? by Richard EscobedoI am currently using a Sony HDR-HC1... I am on the verge of getting another camcorder - I have not decided which, but my short list includes: Canon XHA1, Sony HVR-V1U (HDR-FX7), Sony HVR-Z1U (HDR-FX1).
I currently use a BeachTek DXA-6 and am investigating a juicedLink CS231.
I use an Audio Technica AT-825 stereo mic for live music or background audio capture. I use a NRG Research SA-568 switchable tele mic for interviews or other mono work. I also have a couple (1 Shure and 1 rescued phone-conferencing unit from PolyCom - it was in the trash during a conference room remodel) of wireless laveliere clip-on mics for close-in dialog (when the SA-568 cannot get close enough).
Shure makes good lavs, but the base stations generally use AC power so that limits camera movement. Sony (pro line - not consumer) and Sennheiser make the best portable wireless base stations that are battery powered, but they are expensive. The Sennheiser base stations use 1/8" jacks, so that comes in pretty handy if that is all your camcorder has (XLR adapter not needed). They also have a "kit" - the base station allows a wireless lav and wireless handheld (the bottom part of almost any XLR mic - like a Shure SM58 - connects to the Sennheiser transmitter - pretty cool set-up). I think the PolyCom wireless unit I have is OEM's by Nady.
Good wireless will be UHF (VHF can work, but UHF is best) and full diversity (two antennas). This will keep interference to a minimum. Anything in 900 MHz or 2.4 MHz are in ISM (Industrial Scientific, Medical) spectrum and 5.8 GHz shared with things like residential cordless telephones, garage door openers, WiFi LANs and others - so are subject to RF interference.
Since we don't know what you will be recording, we cannot recommend any specific mics.
do i have a fault with my sony hdr-sr7e camcorder
by alan hughes - 4/12/08 8:51 PM In reply to: In that Case by Richard Escobedohi i have just got a sony HDR-SR7E camcorder,i got it so i could film my son in his band which he plays in pubs and clubs,i have found that the camera stops recording with loud sound.I looked at the instructions and found that i can low record sound level down, there are two levels normal and low.I put the sound level on low and tryed it worked ok but i had to be 20+ft a way from the stage,i could not get close ups because it stops recording.Would a external mic fix the problem or is it the camera, if so sony sould be told about the fault thank you
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