GH13 sound

[thebighappyface]

I know that this is a very dumb question but with the gh13 hack is it possible for you to record sound directly into the camera? I want to stay away from plural eyes but still get good sound for doc work? What setup would you recommend for somebody on a budget?

Thank you very much!

[Stephen Mick]

With or without the hack, you can record audio directly into the GH1.

I've found the audio to be decent in a pinch, but it'll never be as good as a dedicated audio recorder.

On a budget, look at the Rode VideoMic, Rode Stereo VideoMic or the Sennheiser MKE400.

If you spend any more than that, you should suck it up and get an external recorder and sync your own sound.

[thebighappyface]

Can I plug the h4n directly into the gh1 and use the mics on that?

[Stephen Mick]

Not sure about that. Either way, I believe you'll need an adapter to connect the 1/8" minijack output to the GH1 audio connector, which is slightly smaller. I can't recall exactly what the size is, but there was a thread/post about it here somewhere. Hopefully someone else will chime in with the exact info.

[thebighappyface]

Awesome! Thanks a bunch.
So is the audio in option the same as the Canon 60d? What one would you say to be better?

[Stephen Mick]

Well, since the 60D isn't even out yet, that's a difficult question to answer. :D

But I would give the GH1's internal audio the edge over the 7D/T2i in my experience. Again, none of them are the best solution to getting "good" audio.

[thebighappyface]

Does the gh1 have auto gain or does it have a manual audio option?

[Ben_B]

GH1 uses auto-gain or perhaps a limited instead...some people have evidence saying it uses a limiter but I am thinking it's auto gain.

60D should have somewhat manual audio controls, similar to the 5D. Still no ability to manually adjust levels while recording or monitor audio while recording AFAIK.

[thebighappyface]

So I assume something like the h4n will be better in the long run for the 60d or the gh1

[Stephen Mick]

Yes. But…

Your audio is only ever going to be as good as your mics and microphone placement. If you're planning to shoot with the microphone on top of your camera, prepare yourself for audio that MAY be usable, but not "good." If you get your mic (via boom or wired lav) as close to your subject as possible, you'll get vastly superior sound.

I would say for the budget-minded, a Zoom H4N placed as close as possible to the subject should definitely be an improvement over ANY on-camera microphone jacked directly into any DSLR.

[terra1]

HEY BIG HAPPY FACE

i found this a while back, really gave me a good idea of the difference between sounds from the GH1 with built in mic, external mic recording to the GH1 and then a ZOOM H2 recording separately.
this is only an indoor test tho, outdoors id imagine is a whole different ball game.
also found this link: http://www.dvcreators.net/shotgun-shootout/#

7284924

ps: this video isnt mine but i hope the guy who made it doesnt mind me linking it.

[MR Fanny]

Yes. But…

Your audio is only ever going to be as good as your mics and microphone placement. If you're planning to shoot with the microphone on top of your camera, prepare yourself for audio that MAY be usable, but not "good." If you get your mic (via boom or wired lav) as close to your subject as possible, you'll get vastly superior sound.


yep! placement is key. I have a H4n, still don't know how to really use it but there were occasions where bad positioning made me revert back to using on cam audio. a shotgun mic on boom and or lav is the way to go.

[rigs]

The Gh1 input is a 2.5mm 4 conductor phone jack input.

It does have an AGC and a limiter.

You can send a 19k tone to one of the channels to disable the AGC.
This can be done simply by using an adpated Y cable with an Mp3 source
http://www.learningdslrvideo.com/t2i-7d-disable-agc-rode-videomic/
Or a unit from Beachtek or juicedLink

[Blackout]

There really isn't a big point in mounting the h4n on top of the camera. It still is going to get that 'echoey' sound. It will be slightly better if you have the mics in the 90 degree position and the subject is right in front of you but if you are doing anything pro you need to have a boom guy or a high end lav.

It CAN work, but it doesn't sound as pro....

Here is a a 7 minute edit of a half hour show I did using the on camera mics. I had the zoom h4n with me but it didn't come out any better, and the guy didn't want to spring the extra $250 for a soundman, so he got what he got.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RN8CxDU_Ho8

It's really not half bad because it was a small theater, but it could have been sooooooooooo much better.

[JackBayer]

After reading this and after reading stuff about a agc disabler for the Canons, here´s my take on synced audio in camera:

1. I use the hack to up the audio recording quality of my GH1
2. I buy a agc disabler y-cable to put in a 16KHz tone into one channel of my audio (the tone is downloadable, played via mp3-player)
(alternatively I should be able to play that tone into the H4N, right?)
3. I buy a attenuator cable to bring the line level output of my H4N down to mic level, like this one (http://www.sescom.com/product.asp?item=LN2MIC-ZMH4-GH1).
4. I get it all together with adaptors.
5. My H4N should output one mono mics signal as only one channel of usable audio will be recorded in the GH1 (unless I manage to record the 16KHz tone within the H4N, then it should be two channels)

So I gather that if it works that way technically and if my situatiion allows me to use only 1 microphone, I should be good to go?

Thanks for your input on this.