Best lav mics for Zoom H4N?

7

7Dpimpin

Member
I have enough money to buy some decent lav mics. I have however never bought lav mics or even worked much with them before. What is a good model to record into the zoom H4N? I presume I would want to go wireless, but correct me if I am wrong.
 
With a $400 budget, don't even think about going wireless.

You could pick up a couple decent wired lavs, or (probably a better idea) a basic shotgun and boom.
 
Wireless lavs of any quality are insanely expensive.. you either buy the best or you get screwed. I say always use a boom. I own my boom and recording rig. I rent lavs and make the client pay if we need them.

Now the great secret of the h4n is that it is tiny enough to just mount it on the person who you would normally put the wireless transmitter on.. I mean the zoom is not much bigger and can be shoved ina pocket or witha little rigging, cliped on a belt.. then just use a wired lav straight into the zoom, hit record, slate, and you're off.

You can get a decent wired lav for under $100.. they vary greatly so you really have to go to a place, hook them into your zoom with headphones and listen.

Electrovoice makes a decent one.

I personally HATE the sound of ALL lavs even expensive ones as compared to a proper boom, but if you have to because say.. you are a one man crew shooting an event speaker... then you have to.

I am a little confused as to if it's better to go in the 1/8 inch jack on the back of the zoom or get an xlr lav.
 
Blackout said:
I am a little confused as to if it's better to go in the 1/8 inch jack on the back of the zoom or get an xlr lav.
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The XLR would be balanced? the 1/8 inch jack in is a stereo connection on the zoom. Only the XLR/ 1/4 inch jacks on the H4n are balanced inputs. I never worked with lavs, but tiny as the cable runs are, balanced would be better?
 
The 1/8" is an unbalanced stereo connector, and only provides plug-in power, which will not power a professional lav. Any pro wired lav will have an XLR connector to plug into the mixer / recorder and will require phantom power.
 
That mic is 400 though.... seems a bit overkill if you are using a $300 zoom h4n. Are there any sub $100 lavs that have good quality? I am talking wired into the zoom, slip the zoom in the speakers pocket and let er run. The zoom provides 48v phantom for about 2 and a half hours with 2 double AAs.
 
CiPO said:
What about the ATR-3350 ?
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Cheap consumer toy piece of ****

If you're serious about your work, spend the money to get the real deal. A lot of weddinng shooters like the Giant Squids - they're okay sounding and cheap enough to be considered disposable in case the groom runs away from the alter or gets doused with champagne at the reception :) - but for any serious filmaking bite the bullet for professional grade equipment and be done with it.
 
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