H4n or Rode video mic

J. Odoms

J. Odoms

Well-known member
So I'm just building my production rig, and have almost completed my setup but I'm lacking in the audio dept.

My delima is that I'm somewhat broke now that I've purchased so much gear and haven't had any method for capturing audio.

My question is should I just go ahead and buy the rode video for now, and when I'm closer to an actual production add the H4n recorder later, as it is the more exspensive of the two components.

Or

Should I buy the H4n and use it as my mic system now, and add the Rode later.

I know the h4n isn't a mic per se but it has produced great sound recordings from the looks of other posts.

Help me with the decision please.
 
This was used in the recent Beijing video by Dan Chung. He recorded with the H4n, using a special audio cable to input straight to the camera. He just lived with AGC.

http://www.dslrnewsshooter.com/2009/09/26/pinknoise-systems-5dmkii-and-7d-audio-cable/

7d-audio-cable1.jpg
 
I guess the H4n doesn't disable the auto gain... Poo.

Wonder when a type of magic lantern firmware is going to be developed for the 7d
 
I'd start with the H4n, since anything running straight into the camera is going to deal with auto gain. The sound quality will probably be a lot lower, but worth it. Also look into borrowing or renting microphones from others.
 
Another thing to consider is the lack of an earphone plug on the camera. You can not monitor the audio "off the record head".
 
But isn't syncing up audio in post an absolute PITA? If you shot say two or three hundred clips on a corporate video, post-syncing would be very difficult. At the very least you would have to use a clapper board and ID every shot.

Peter
 
powervideo said:
But isn't syncing up audio in post an absolute PITA? If you shot say two or three hundred clips on a corporate video, post-syncing would be very difficult. At the very least you would have to use a clapper board and ID every shot.

Peter
Click to expand...

slate slate slate and you'll be fine fine fine
 
second vote for pluraleyes. It's perfect. The hundreds if not thousands of hours it would have saved me boggles my mind.

If you don't have a slate, stand in front of the camera, say the slate out loud and clap your hands. Absolutely works great.
 
yeah from what I see pluraleyes is the best solution for mulitple audio syncs. It takes the audio from the camera and matches that with the audio from the external recording device. Genius

It sounds as if the general concensus is to go with the H4n, which was where I was headed, its just that I wish I knew where to get that cable that was used during "Another Night in Beijing".
 
Yeah I can see the benefit. Somebody recommended the Manfrotto 482 ball joint hot shoe adaptor for the Zoom. Amazon have them for just $36.90 with free shipping. which is by far the cheapest I could find on the net. The ball allows you to angle the Zoom for better viewing. I just ordered one.
 
Here's my Edirol HR9 mounted to the shoe on my Nikon D90 with the Manfrotto...I like it a lot...
 

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