audio for canon eos550d / t2i

A

adammannproductions

Member
hi all

im about to make the leap into HDSLR (i think) i have a dvx100 at the moment but want to upgrade to HD for cheap, it will mainly be used for abit of everything corporate, music videos, short films

so im looking at the canon 550d, shoulder mount, 7" lilliput HD monitor but the problem im having is what to use for recording audio as my DVX100 has XLR already

i was thinking beachtek or juicedlink / juicylink but i have seen others use a separate audio recorders. i liked the XLR adapters as the audio is in sync but it will take up more space on the SD cards where the separate recorders will have to puch 2 buttons to record image and audio.

right so i need help with this choice, if someone can give me advice or pros and cons of each that would be extremely helpful

as normal im so confused

kind regards
adam http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/images/smilies/dankk2.gif
 
shoulder mount will be useless, don't bother wasting your money. separate recording unit will be your best choice. i highly recommend the zoom h4n. always have camera stock mic running to sync sound in post.
 
Get a Rode VideoMic for your camera, but don't count on it for usable audio... just better scratch tracks for sync in post.

Recording audio to a T2i is terrible. There is no manual audio control, and the AGC (Automatic Gain Control) destroys the signal leaving no dynamic range and lots of artifacts from where it cranks the record level during quiet moments. There are XLR converter boxes that can defeat the AGC, but then you sacrifice one record channel. Not an absolute tragedy if you're only running one mic, but still less flexibility in production.

Your best bet is a second-system sound kit. Get an external recorder, though you've not specified budget here. The H4n is okay, at best. The Fostex FR2-LE is better. The recorder, a good shotgun kit with boom and windscreening, and a good pair of headphones will get you started.
 
right thanks so far to everyone who has replied

i already own a rode ntg1 with a sennhieser decent headphones

any particular reason a shoulder mount is not going to help as i wont have anywhere to mount my mic for atmospheric sound, monitor for viewing, etc

at the moment i dont know what my budget is im just trying to find the best option for my purpose, like ive said audio is going various different types from live sound to talking head to shirt films.

i have been thinking should i skip the 550d / t2i and go for the 5d i know it will hinder my budget but might be a better option for the long run ?

thanx adam
 
You might have seen the big excitement about the promised magic lantern firmware, which promises to take away the AGC and give the t2i/550d manual audio/on screen vu meters among other things. When this happens, a good fieldmixer would be a good option for allowing you to use XLR mics on the camera.
 
Repeat my 550D gives as good sound with with my RODE SM as any of the HDV cams i have owned including an FX-7 and my still used HV30, i wish editing the 1920P footage had easy solutions as well .
 
I own an T2i. I wouldn't use the onboard sound even if the anxiously awaited Magic Lantern for 550D does kill AGC. It could be a very useful backup though!

I have two production sound setups - and they work with any camera setup.

1 - H4n. Perfectly acceptable. I use it to track stereo ambience using the built-in XY mics, with a wireless LAV or two on the external inputs; line out to the T2i audio in for pluraleyes sync track.

2 - Sound Devices 552-centric setup. Mono mic out on the mixer to a wireless transmitter. The sound can then be broadcast to all cameras in use with receivers for a mono mix of the production audio - again as a pluraleyes guide track. The 552 records a quality stereo mix, and individual channel direct-outs can be sent to a multi-tracker like a 744t or a Tascam DR-680 for options in post (rarely needed).

This is how the camera looks when being fed a mono guide-track from a location sound recordist:
DVXUser-T2i-Audio-A.jpg


The key to getting good sound, isn't just the equipment. It's knowing how to record properly and much of that is gain-centric. Some of the best location recordists and sound designers I know use equipment many on these forums would scoff at.

I feel like a broken record so I'm just going to link to a post of mine here: S'all 'bout gain

The H4n, for example, can be mounted in your camera's shoot with a shoe-to-1/4" 20 adapter ($5), it can then be used for stereo ambience and you have two external inputs if needed, even though their gain is ganged. There are lots of accessories from companies like Sennheiser, Rycote, etc. to expand upon the simple cold-shoe mounts so you can attach a lot of equipment to your camera, if needed.

DVXUser-T2i-Audio-B.jpg


Or alternately if you don't need ambience recording and have a suitable rig:
DVXUser-T2i-Audio-C.jpg


I'd keep it simple though. If you're going to be going solo, a boom-setup won't work - and hopefully at that point your partner in crime would be setup as needed.
 
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hi dailing_wand thanx for that

this is all making me think way to much lol, been reading off the tinterwebs and its looking like a separate recorder so far just choosing which one is best for my applications, so used to using the onboard on my DVX100.

majority of the time during corporate and short films i have my brother or someone compitant to use the boom to record sound so the fostex looks good right now unless someone has something else. i am very ANAL about audio/sound when it comes to recording so a device with the best recording options would be good.

again thanx all
 
adammannproductions said:
hi dailing_wand thanx for that

this is all making me think way to much lol, been reading off the tinterwebs and its looking like a separate recorder so far just choosing which one is best for my applications, so used to using the onboard on my DVX100.

majority of the time during corporate and short films i have my brother or someone compitant to use the boom to record sound so the fostex looks good right now unless someone has something else. i am very ANAL about audio/sound when it comes to recording so a device with the best recording options would be good.

again thanx all
Click to expand...

Like imagers/cameras, "the best" can get very expensive in regards to production audio [like the $15k+ Cantar-X2 for example]. If you have a boom operator, then that Fostex unit will do just fine, and you can still use a cable (or a wireless hop) to copy the mix onto your T2i to make sync'ing simple.

I'd also recommend looking for a used (or new) Tascam HD-P2, it's designed for location recording and has a lot of support behind it. It's in the T2i ball-park price-wise.
 
The T2i is functionally as good as the 7D on the video side. The 7D is a little better for stills (mainly ergonomically, and in ways that would primarily be of interest to sports photographers and people taking it to Antarctica).

The 5D is a fantastic camera as well, but honestly if you're on a budget get the T2i. The 7D (remember it's the same as the T2i for video) was used for the Saturday Night Live intro and the new new Tonight Show intro with Jay Leno (again). It's also used for a lot of the SNL digital shorts with Andy Sandberg.

Go watch the Zacuto shootouts (www.zacuto.com) where they compare all the current crop of DSLR cameras against 35mm film. In a nutshell, the 5D is a little tiny bit better than the 7D and the T2i for video, but not by much at all. It's also harder to focus because of the larger frame sensor.

The DSLR cameras are not as good as 35mm film, but they're way, way closer than you have a right to expect for under $1000. They are definitely good enough to get into any film festival, and look better than any number of award winning independent films of years past shot on other various formats. It's a good time to be a filmmaker.

I'd recommend the T2i and spend the money you saved on lights, lenses, sound equipment, and other things that will actually make more of a difference in your films.
 
Oh, one last thing. Start slowly and take some time to test out your workflow, setup, etc. Then adjust as required. Early on in my career, I spent a lot of time on location fretting about something I had hoped would work in theory, but didn't in practice. ;)

And have fun... that's why we're here right!?
 
Quick question on using an external mic on the T2i. Is there a menu function that you have to turn "on" the ext. Mic. Or should it happen automatically when you plug in? I am having problems with no sound when I plugin.(Azden remote type). I use the same setup on my XH-A1 and it works fine. No sound with the T2i.
Thanks......
 
RYoshino said:
Quick question on using an external mic on the T2i. Is there a menu function that you have to turn "on" the ext. Mic. Or should it happen automatically when you plug in? I am having problems with no sound when I plugin.(Azden remote type). I use the same setup on my XH-A1 and it works fine. No sound with the T2i.
Thanks......
Click to expand...

Aside from the fact that hijacking a thread is considered bad form...

... what do you mean by "Azden remote type?" Model #?

Is it a mic that requires phantom power? If so, what voltage range? Can it use an internal battery? If so, does it have one?
 
Pookie said:
Perhaps you would like to elaborate?
Click to expand...

i dont understand this aswel, in my understanding a shouder mount would add more fluid shots when moving around such as music videos and location filming where a static shot would either look wrong or not work for the shot ?

i have seen many a professional use shoulder mounts / steadicam (which i cant afford right now)

adam
 
robotsound said:
The T2i is functionally as good as the 7D on the video side. The 7D is a little better for stills (mainly ergonomically, and in ways that would primarily be of interest to sports photographers and people taking it to Antarctica).

The 5D is a fantastic camera as well, but honestly if you're on a budget get the T2i. The 7D (remember it's the same as the T2i for video) was used for the Saturday Night Live intro and the new new Tonight Show intro with Jay Leno (again). It's also used for a lot of the SNL digital shorts with Andy Sandberg.

Go watch the Zacuto shootouts (www.zacuto.com) where they compare all the current crop of DSLR cameras against 35mm film. In a nutshell, the 5D is a little tiny bit better than the 7D and the T2i for video, but not by much at all. It's also harder to focus because of the larger frame sensor.

The DSLR cameras are not as good as 35mm film, but they're way, way closer than you have a right to expect for under $1000. They are definitely good enough to get into any film festival, and look better than any number of award winning independent films of years past shot on other various formats. It's a good time to be a filmmaker.

I'd recommend the T2i and spend the money you saved on lights, lenses, sound equipment, and other things that will actually make more of a difference in your films.
Click to expand...

WOW thanx

i was considering a 550d/t2i so i would be able to afford other items aswell, but it might be a 5D now if the budget can stretch that little bit more but we will see soon

i already have the following
3 redhead lighting kit with gels stands etc
rode ntg1 with mounts and boom
canon 40D 17-85 (lens which i will start with)

workflow as such i have already been playing with this and others such as RED, HDV, MiniDV, AVCHD etc so im not to worried about that

thanx
 
Isnt this thread titled "audio for canon T2i'?

Technical Specs:
Frequency Response: 80-18,000Hz
Sensitivity: Super Cardioid -41dB re 1V/Pa
Impedance: 1.5k Ohms @ 1Khz
Max. SPL Input Level: 110dB
Signal to Noise Ratio: 65dB
Dynamic Range: 80dB
Battery Type: AAA (1.5V) - use Alkaline battery
Battery Current: 0.2mA
Battery Life: 1000 Hours w/Alkaline Battery
Weight w/o Battery: 4.76oz (135grams)
Dimensions: 11.8" (300mm) length
Dimensions: 0.83" (21mm) diameter
Output Type: 3-Pin XLR type
Used with a UHF receiver.
 
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