3.5mm or XLR for DSLR video?

3.5mm or XLR for DSLR video?

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ryan06

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Yes I know, DSLRs cannot take XLR mics (without adapters). However, I'm talking about using an external recorder and bypassing the camera for recording audio.

In your opinion, which is better? XLR or 3.5mm microphones/external recorders? I'm looking to get an external recorder and possibly a new microphone. Most all recorders support 3.5mm connections, but not all support XLR; they are or can be more expensive. Is XLR worth the money both for microphones and external recorders?
 
Answer this question and you'll have your answer on which connection is relatively better:

What do all professional cams have?

Both can do the basic job (carry audio signal), so 3.5mm can work if that's all your budget allows. It just depends what you want your "cost" to be-- more money for XLR, or more headaches with 3.5mm.
 
XLR.

It's a balanced connection, meaning that it has three conductors: positive, negative, and ground. 1/8" (3.5mm) is unbalanced, meaning only two conductors: positive, and negative/ground. Yes, 1/8" has three conductors in the connection, but it typically carries two channels (tip = left positive, ring = right positive, sleeve = common negative/ground).

Balanced signals can be run longer distances without jeopardizing the signal. While the quality of signal will be the same for short runs, anything over 10' is risky for unbalanced. It will be more susceptible to signal interference and noise. Balanced signals can be run for hundreds of feet.

Also, the selection of mics is very limited for 1/8" connection. You'll be able to find better-quality mics once you're able to use XLR connections. XLR can be converted to 1/8", but often at the loss of things like phantom power which is necessary to make some mics operate.

Last, XLR connections are much more secure than 1/8". Often, they lock into place. 1/8" does not lock, and can easily be disconnected.
 
Using a DSLR as your only (or primary) audio recorder is not ideal at all. It cannot take full advantage of an expensive XLR microphone. If you record audio only with your DSLR, you can choose from lots of microphones, including many inexpensive but good consumer-grade microphones, to match the audio quality of your DSLR. So unless you are starting to use a better audio solution that justifies the use of a more expensive XLR microphone, it does not matter at all whether you use XLR or 1/8 connection.

If you rely on your DSLR for recording audio, it eventually comes down to your budget and personal preference. If you have a decent 1/8 mic, you are set. If you happen to get an XLR mic, find a way to use it and you are equally set too. You will very unlikely experience a verifiable difference in audio quality that actually matters to your recording. (Note: given two mics, your ears may like one mic much more than the other one, but that may or may not be a matter of one mic having better actual performance than the other. That can be just a very subjective preference tied only to you personally.)

So my answer to your question, which is better:

Forget about 1/8 or XLR, just pick whatever mic you like best. As long as you like it, it's the VERY best to you (at least for now, until you stop using your DSLR as your only or primary audio recorder).
 
XLR, XLR, and XLR.

balanced, secure, durable.

buy xlr mics, and then also grab a rolls pm50s, it's monitor/amplifier which i frequently use to turn xlr to 1/8" through its headphone port. the quality is quite good and it can be battery or ac powered. great $50 investment[h=1][/h]
 
Agreed, if you are going external, go with XLR.
Do you NEED it? No- as Alex pointed out, for short runs of cable you won't really tell the difference.
But you also don't NEED an external recorder. You could be running a 1/8" mic jack into the camera directly and run Magic Lantern if you were trying to be frugal and "good enough" for many situations.
If you have already decided you need an external recorder, you might as well go ahead with XLR jacks and their added benefits.
 
Use XLR not for all the tech advantages of a balanced connection as others have mentioned, but also for the stability of a beefy secure physical connection. 3.5mm can be described as nothing less than fragile and delicate.
 
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