Canon XL2 or 5D Mark II for Audio

egproductions

egproductions

Veteran
I currently have two options to record my audio too. I will be shooting video with the 5D (which now has manual audio levels) and wanted to know if it's worth recording audio to the XL2 and syncing later or should I just record audio to the 5D and not have to bring the extra equipment and worry about syncing audio.

I would be using the rhode videomic in both cases and going straight into the camera.

Many times the 5D is not an option because I can't meter my audio levels while i'm recording and could easily run into overmoduled audio without even realizing until I'm reviewing my footage later.

But in terms of pure quality, what is a better option? Running some short tests the audio seemed too close in quality to my ear to hear a difference between the two (they sounds slightly different but I can't tell which is better quality). I could be mistaken where it wouldn't make a difference because the microphone is the limiting factor in my audio setup.
 
egproductions said:
I currently have two options to record my audio too. I will be shooting video with the 5D (which now has manual audio levels) and wanted to know if it's worth recording audio to the XL2 and syncing later or should I just record audio to the 5D and not have to bring the extra equipment and worry about syncing audio.

I would be using the rhode videomic in both cases and going straight into the camera.

Many times the 5D is not an option because I can't meter my audio levels while i'm recording and could easily run into overmoduled audio without even realizing until I'm reviewing my footage later.

But in terms of pure quality, what is a better option? Running some short tests the audio seemed too close in quality to my ear to hear a difference between the two (they sounds slightly different but I can't tell which is better quality). I could be mistaken where it wouldn't make a difference because the microphone is the limiting factor in my audio setup.
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If you're not going to record into the 5D, why record to a second camera? Use a dedicated audio recorder instead. Using the XL2 would gain you little and be a real hassle. You still wouldn't be able to monitor levels as you shoot very well.
 
yeah, eventually I want a dedicated recorder. But for now these are my two options and for most shoots the XL2 is easier to adjust audio on the fly.

So you think the XL2 audio is better than the 5D?
 
egproductions said:
yeah, eventually I want a dedicated recorder. But for now these are my two options and for most shoots the XL2 is easier to adjust audio on the fly.

So you think the XL2 audio is better than the 5D?
Click to expand...

Wouldn't know - neither is likely to be what you'd call outstanding so it's going to be a matter of your chooisng the lesser of two evils. Using the XL2 seems like it would be very akward to manage and I can't see how you'll manage to keep one eye on the 5D viewfinder and the other on the XL2's meters, all at once.
 
I don't think using your xl2 as an audio recorder is very practical as Steve has pointed out, and the sound quality won't be that much better to warrant such a cumbersome set up. although the inputs on the 5D are still mic level in,placing a mixer in front, will give you adequate sound. It is on the thin side, but better than before. Save for a proper audio recorder.
Jon
 
yeah, when the new ML comes out it will allow monitoring but right now it's incompatible with the newest firmware for the 5D
 
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