Audio Solutions for Documentary/News Work - Help!

M

mshakeshaft

Active member
I could do with some advice, please. By profession I am a photojournalist. Whist I use Canon DSLRs for my day to day work I was really impressed with the Panasonic GH2 video, so I have purchased one. Image quality is great but I am having difficulties with audio. I sometimes cover news events/demonstrations, where I need a compact setup. This is real run-n-gun stuff, but I want reasonable audio. Plan A was to use a Rode Video Mic Pro, but I found this is far too hot. With the camera set to 1 and the mic set to 0 or -10 db the meters on the camera still peak. In loud environments it is just not going to work. I suspect this mic is better suited to Canons where the camera inputs are less sensitive. I also really missed having any sort of monitoring and gain control. I know camera monitoring is impossible with the GH2, but mic monitoring would be better than nothing at all.

Plan B was to look at either the Zoom H4n or the Tascam DR100, but everything I have read about them suggests the Preamps are weak/noisy? So do I need separate preamps? If I am using preamps, I may as well feed this directly into the camera (Plan C).

Shotgun Mic choice: I have to say whilst the size of the Video Mic Pro had a lot to commend it, I was not impressed with the build quality. In the environments I am working in it is not going to survive. So I think I have settled for the Audio Technica AT875r with a Rycote shock mount and Dead Cat. This is short so can be camera/bracket mounted (not ideal I know).

At the moment I am looking at either the Juiced Link 454 or the Sound Devices Mixpre-D (price is very scary). The problem with both of these is that compared to the GH2 they are both HUGE. I would prefer to mount under the camera with short cables. Whilst I would like balanced XLR inputs I did consider the JL DS214, but I need phantom power and the mount is completely wrong for a small camera (what were they thinking)? Another solution could be the SD MM1, but I was a bit put off by the stepped gain control. Does anyone have any other suggestions. With these preamp/mic choices will I be able to get the gain low enough?

Any suggestions would be appreciated, I have researched myself in circles!

Thanks Martin
 
You could step-down the input gain from the Rode, or any other mike, with an in-line attenuator...But, it sounds like for you, the best solution might be to just choose an affordable digital recorder that you like, with on-board mikes, and sync your audio and video later...

GJ
 
Well, I have the Canon 7D, the AT 875 (it's really too long for the GH2 or 7D/T2i, especially if you use an extremely wide angle lens, but I have used it, just carefully. It's a good mic for a lower price, to do what you describe. I'm surprised you haven't been able to get the Rode to do what you want. It's supposedly made for shooting on a HDSLR. Maybe you are setting something wrong on the GH2? Or the Rode??? It almost sounds like you should be shooting with a high end Panasonic, like a 700, which is a video camera with still capability rather than the still with video capability.

Given staying with the camera you have, I agree that the first option is the Zoom H4N, which I also have, and frankly, for what you describe, it's a great recorder. It's not something you would choose to use for theatrical stuff, but it records really clean audio, not the best, but damn clean. Match it with a decent mic, and you can record to the camera and to the recorder simultaneously. I also have a mixpre, and it's a wonderful add on. It will long outlast my recording gear.

If I were in your shoes I'd sell the DSLR and get a Panny 700, a Zoom H4N and keep your Rode, and use it on the Panny. Small, decent low light, shoots 8MB stills, and it allows you to put a headphone on and monitor what you are shooting.

But that's just my opinion. Best of luck!
 
After some suggestion from the GH forum I have run some tests. Its two steps forward one step back! With the GH2/14-140mm lens/Rode Video Mic Pro (Camera set to 1/Mic set to 0)

When I play a sine wave into the mic and adjust the level so it clips, as soon as I press record the meters drop. I suspect this is the AGC cutting in. It automatically drops to just below clipping. In Adobe Premier depending on the frequency it shows between -6 and -8 db. So that is fine..... The bad news is that the VMP picks up noise from the 14-140 mm lens. When I switch on the camera the lens makes a low whirring sound, focusing motor I think (switching to manual focus makes no difference). This is the second lens I have had this problem with, I returned the first which was even louder. Looks like I need to move the mic away from the camera
 
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