Economical mic and small recorder for off-camera interviews?

D

DHart

Member
Please pardon the newbie question, but I don't know where to begin to learn about the various recorders and mics one might consider.

Here's what I'd like to get started with - a reasonably nice hand-held mic and small battery powered recorder for use in interviewing people off-camera for voice over use. Are recorder specs important if the sound will be added later to video in FCP?

It's possible I may use this set-up down the road while shooting documentary type stuff.

Right now my only video cameras are 5DII and GF1.

Thank you for your help.

Don
 
Last edited:
The No.1 choice for this is the HHB FlashMic.

This is a proper microphone with a built-in flash recorder and was designed specifically for the work you describe.

There are 4 versions - a choice of Cardioid or Omni mic. head and with or without the optional line input.
 
The HHB is probably ideal for your situation, but it's in the $1000-1500 range which might be more than you're looking to spend. Do you have a budget in mind?
 
Wow... yes the HHB looks like a fantastic solution. That is really such a cool product! But I did choke a bit when I saw the price.

Is there a separate mic and recorder solution which might be in the $500 range or would that be too much compromise of sound quality?
 
Very good. The H4N looks fantastic. Would it be good using the built in mics for off-camera interviewing, or would it still be advisable to use an external mic for easier positioning of the mic?

As for the ElectroVoice mic... is that something that I could also plug directly into my 5DII for recording in-camera audio while taping?

Or is there another mic that could double as being useable on my RRM eyeSpy rig feeding directly to the 5DII, as well as in stand alone use feeding the H4N for interviews off-camera for later use as voice overs?

As a guitar player, the H4N has additional appeal!
 
I've got to think an Azden SGM-2X would make a nice, low-cost, mic for using with the H4N, for your purposes, and also give you a little flexibility - still reasonably close to $500 overall cost (around $600 total, buying new from B&H). It's basically a two-for-one. You get both a shotty and an omni (via two interchangeable barrels), which gives you some flexibility - omni barrel where there's little background noise to contend with, and the shotty barrel (kind of long for hand-held tho) for the more noisy environments.
 
There is a reason Azden's got a horrible reputation.

The H4n's internal mics should be fine for interviews, and the EV can also plug into your cam for shooting interviews, just don't expect to use it as a boom mic.
 
Slightly OT but if you are using the 5D for filming and FCP for editing you need to use a special Quick Setup or any audio you bring in will be out of sync.
 
I must apologize again for my lack of knowledge on this... but is there a good quality, reasonably priced mic I can use hand held with the H4n for voice-over/off-camera interviews and also use it at other times attached in some way to my eyeSpy rig (like a boom mic?) plugged into the 5DII? Or am I asking for too much from a single mic?

Noiz2 said:
Slightly OT but if you are using the 5D for filming and FCP for editing you need to use a special Quick Setup or any audio you bring in will be out of sync.
Click to expand...

So, if I use the H4n to record the sound while I'm shooting video with the 5D or my GF1, how would I sync that audio up with the video in FCP?
 
Last edited:
I recommend the Zoom H2. I very slightly prefer the sound to the H4. It is dirt cheap and comes with four mics. A proven winner. You can even sit so that each pair of mics is in a fairly reasonable place for two speakers, or buy two and use one as a stereo mic to feed into the other.
 
The H4N should probably be on your short-list of recorders. I would suggest just trying the internal mics before assuming that you need an external mic. By holding it vertically, you can aim one mic at the interviewee and one at the interviewer.

You might be able to save some $$$ to spend on something else that will make a bigger difference in your recordings. We only know what you wrote here, but you didn't mention anything that seems to REQUIRE a separate mic?
 
You could pick up basic short shotgun like and NTG-2 or an AT875 for the boom and use the internal mics on the Zoom for the off-cam interviews. You can also use the shotgun handheld for interviews if you need the tighter pickup pattern.
 
Great info. Thank you all. I just ordered the H4n and will probably add a short shotgun mic to use with the 5DII for on-camera use.

Now I need to learn what to do to enable syncing the audio tracks with the video tracks in FCP! Is this difficult to do accurately?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top