Best Internal Mics: DR100 or H4N?

Fran Guidry said:
Sony PCM-D50. Unfortunately it doesn't handle p48 mics without some extra gear.


Fran
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I recorded a small choir using just the PCM-D50 last year. Placed in the middle of the group and hit record. Stellar recording which would have been even better with a stepped up performance, but the source tracks have been used all over the place with great results.

The unit records on the bright side, but that can easily be tamed with some EQ in post. Shame about phantom powered microphones, but for a great sounding portable unit, it is hard to beat. And battery life is amazing.
 
roei z, next step up for you could be... external xlr mic. If sound source capturing improves, it should improve the result, right?

I will get familiarized with DR-100 and integrate it with my workflow. When I just can't bear with the quality of sound recording, I will get a mic. But the chance is that I would rarely use ext mic. I like a simple run and gun style. One or two lenses, a GH body, a hand-grip, rig's customized eye cup, and a DR-100. I plan to place DR-100 on a hot shoe. Without the extended eye cup, my forehead would bump into the audio recorder.

Plus a lot of post-processing effects. Hehe.
 
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stonebat said:
roei z, next step up for you could be... external xlr mic. If sound source capturing improves, it should improve the result, right?

I will get familiarized with DR-100 and integrate it with my workflow. When I just can't bear with the quality of sound recording, I will get a mic. But the chance is that I would rarely use ext mic. I like a simple run and gun style. One or two lenses, a GH body, a hand-grip, rig's customized eye cup, and a DR-100. I plan to place DR-100 on a hot shoe. Without the extended eye cup, my forehead would bump into the audio recorder.

Plus a lot of post-processing effects. Hehe.
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were on the same boat. but for narrative work, things can get complicated.. i wish this was the minimum required for decent audio, but i'm not so sure.
 
For narrative work, I wouldn't rely solely on a hot shoe mounted portable recorder. You'd need ext mic for sure. You might need something better than DR-100. I have a different need to record music playing and loud casual conversation.
 
The H4n can record 4 tracks of audio only in 44.100 and not on 48K. I'm not sure if that's a problem to you, but every video sxtandard in the world since DV have been 48K. But it sounds very good at 44.100...

The only way to get good audio with the H4n's built in mics is to get the mics very close to the source. They are not a very good boom mic (and way too heavy for booming). To use it on a hot shoe over the camera would be so little advantage to the built in mics that I think the point is moot. It's great as a recorder, and the built in mics are great, if they are being talked to (in the frame), or recording ambience. If you want to be serious about sound, you need someone to hold the boom for you and get a mic closer to whoever is speaking. Try that before you buy an H4n, and it will already be a great step up from the built in mics.

That said, I did a TV show SOLO, with a 5D recording two sennheiser wireless lavs to an H4n, and the sound was amazing for what it was. The recorder would stay on in my backpack, while I covered the scenes (it was a documentary). Then we sinced it all electronically, and it worked as a charm...
 
taubkin said:
The H4n can record 4 tracks of audio only in 44.100 and not on 48K. I'm not sure if that's a problem to you, but every video sxtandard in the world since DV have been 48K. But it sounds very good at 44.100...

The only way to get good audio with the H4n's built in mics is to get the mics very close to the source. They are not a very good boom mic (and way too heavy for booming). To use it on a hot shoe over the camera would be so little advantage to the built in mics that I think the point is moot. It's great as a recorder, and the built in mics are great, if they are being talked to (in the frame), or recording ambience. If you want to be serious about sound, you need someone to hold the boom for you and get a mic closer to whoever is speaking. Try that before you buy an H4n, and it will already be a great step up from the built in mics.

That said, I did a TV show SOLO, with a 5D recording two sennheiser wireless lavs to an H4n, and the sound was amazing for what it was. The recorder would stay on in my backpack, while I covered the scenes (it was a documentary). Then we sinced it all electronically, and it worked as a charm...
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yea that's why i'm trying to find a combination of budget wireless solution to be XLRed to a H4N or DR100, and simultaneously also record with the internal mics.. is this possible
to RECORD on 2 xlr channels + internals on DR100 ?
 
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roei z said:
yea that's why i'm trying to find a combination of budget wireless solution to be XLRed to a H4N or DR100, and simultaneously also record with the internal mics.. is this possible
to RECORD on 2 xlr channels + internals on DR100 ?
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Unfortunately not on the DR100. You have to select between the internal mics or XLR inputs.
 
hmm... thanks. so this is not ideal for recording shotgun or wireless & getting the extra ambiance track at the same time. not good.
so only the H4N can do 4 this? Sony d50 or the Marantz 661 are also 2 channels, right ?
 
roei z said:
yea that's why i'm trying to find a combination of budget wireless solution to be XLRed to a H4N or DR100, and simultaneously also record with the internal mics.. is this possible
to RECORD on 2 xlr channels + internals on DR100 ?
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Yes, but at 44.1 KHz, not at 48KHz
 
taubkin said:
Yes, but at 44.1 KHz, not at 48KHz
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are you sure? it says there's a switch to choose between inputs - either XLR or internal. both not possible on the same time.
have you actually tried it? (i searched on that all day and they said it's not possible)
if you are correct then it's the same as H4N...
 
I have a DR100. There is a switch. It's two tracks only, either internal (omni or directional mics) or external line/mic. You can't combine the two.
 
For narrative work, do you really need 4 tracks? Pick either H4n or DR-100. You can try out with built-in mic. If you are not happy, try the wireless mic. Although it's pricey, what other choice do you have if you are one man trooper?
 
hmmm... could try this, but i figured maybe getting an NTG2 or some kind of wireless and use the internal mics for ambiance..
so i do need at least 3 tracks. the DR100 can't provide choosing or mixing between them.
anyway, i don't think the recorder mics could handle getting good dialog scene sound. especially mounted on camera (let's not forget all the dirt noise from camera using and moving)
 
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