Hi all, I have an HMC150 and NTG-2 and I'm pretty disappointed with the noise I'm getting from the XLR inputs. It is very noisy even when gain is off and no mic is connected. Plus I'll probably be moving to a DSLR. Anyways I would like to get an XLR audio recorder that can double as a recorder but also be a USB PC input for a microphone so I can do podcasts, narration, and music. It should have good preamps because the preamps on the HMC150 are no good! I would also consider a mixer + audio recorder if need be.
Field recorder and USB PC input
- Thread starter blommer
- Start date
The noise you're describing from your camera could be a combination of two things - a noisy headphone output, and/or noisy preamps (a noise which could differ depending on if a mic is plugged in or not). If you record a track with your NTG2 at reasonable levels, export it and listen to it at your computer, is it still as noisy?
Regardless, you may still want to upgrade since the preamps in cameras are rarely any good. The bad part is, neither are the ones found in many cheap handheld recorders. The Zoom H4n can act as a soundcard for recording to the computer, but it's quality is not that good - I'd rather take a different recorder and buy a cheap soundcard.
The best solution for you, which would give you good sound with equipment that will last several years, is to get a SD mixpre-D. This is a two channel mixer with great preamps, limiters, metering etc, and it can also be plugged into the computer for recording on it. With the mixer as a front, you might be able to use the cameras inputs without problems, and it's also made to be used with DSLR's. If you want to you can buy a cheaper recorder like the DR-40 (don't buy the H4n, as it's inputs can't take a professional line signal like the mixpre puts out).
You might find an original mixpre (not the D-version) quite cheap on the used market. It can't be connected to a computer on it's own, and not to a DSLR without pad cables, but otherwise it's as good as the D where it counts (the metering is a little worse, but that's about it) and a great value.
While they cost a bit more than a handheld recorder, either of these mixers have great quality and should be good for 10-20 years, and a handheld is noisier and good for maybe 5 years if you treat it well.
Regardless, you may still want to upgrade since the preamps in cameras are rarely any good. The bad part is, neither are the ones found in many cheap handheld recorders. The Zoom H4n can act as a soundcard for recording to the computer, but it's quality is not that good - I'd rather take a different recorder and buy a cheap soundcard.
The best solution for you, which would give you good sound with equipment that will last several years, is to get a SD mixpre-D. This is a two channel mixer with great preamps, limiters, metering etc, and it can also be plugged into the computer for recording on it. With the mixer as a front, you might be able to use the cameras inputs without problems, and it's also made to be used with DSLR's. If you want to you can buy a cheaper recorder like the DR-40 (don't buy the H4n, as it's inputs can't take a professional line signal like the mixpre puts out).
You might find an original mixpre (not the D-version) quite cheap on the used market. It can't be connected to a computer on it's own, and not to a DSLR without pad cables, but otherwise it's as good as the D where it counts (the metering is a little worse, but that's about it) and a great value.
While they cost a bit more than a handheld recorder, either of these mixers have great quality and should be good for 10-20 years, and a handheld is noisier and good for maybe 5 years if you treat it well.
Steve House
Veteran
To evaulate the noise of a preamp the input must be shorted through a resistance. "Naked" inputs will be noisier.
You can't listen to the track through the camera if you want to evaluate the preamp, since the headphone amplifier could be the noisy part and you wouldn't know. You must also have a mic inserted into the preamp, or an impedance load of similar size. If not then it would be like listening to a car that has no wheels on the ground.
So, just record something with your mic into the camera, export it to your computer, and listen to it there. It's even better if you can borrow a mixer or soundcard with good preamps that you can use for comparison to your camera.
So, just record something with your mic into the camera, export it to your computer, and listen to it there. It's even better if you can borrow a mixer or soundcard with good preamps that you can use for comparison to your camera.
That's exactly what I did and it still sounds noisy. I'll upload a sample when I get home from work.