H4n vs. Videomic

[DDirector]

I wanted to make a new thread with a poll on these two mics.


I am getting the Canon T2i, and I need a mic. with it. With the Videomic, I am worried there will be noise issues if I plug it into the camera. On the other hand, the H4n does no need to be connected to the camera to record. The H4n also needs memory cards.

I will just be making short films and some other stuff for practice, nothing too special. Hopefully something for a film festival once in a while, that's all.

Which should I get?
The Rode Videomic that connects to the camera or the H4n that costs approx. $75more (Used) and will require additional memory cards as I don't believe 1GB will be long. OR, the H4n just plugged into the camera?

 

[RandomHero]

This isn't necessarily a black and white issue.

The Videomic (or any mic) plugged directly into the camera still has the old AGC (Auto Gain Control) problem of the bigger brothers, 7D and 5D Markii, so your noise floor will change depending on what's going on. This is a problem because if you have a relatively quiet area, the AGC will boost the incoming signal, and then distort if a loud noise is made until it can adjust.

The H4N is a solid choice of external audio recording device, but you'll still have to sync the audio in post, and you're dealing with onboard omni mics, whereas the Videomic will reject more side noise.

All in all, you one good way to go would be to get Videomic AND H4N, and then check out this line to mic cable that will allow you to record in the H4N and direct to the camera at the same time without sending a line signal too hot for the mic input. This will make syncing very easy in post, as well as give great audio.

Just my suggestion.

 

[Jordan_S]

When it's ready for the 7D, Magic Lantern will take care of AGC. The T2i can't be far behind. I already had the Rode VideoMic, so my choice was easy.

 

[Seo]

For short films? You should get a normal audio kit, like the ones listed in the sticky "New to Audio?".

 

[Steve House]

I wanted to make a new thread with a poll on these two mics.


I am getting the Canon T2i, and I need a mic. with it. With the Videomic, I am worried there will be noise issues if I plug it into the camera. On the other hand, the H4n does no need to be connected to the camera to record. The H4n also needs memory cards.

I will just be making short films and some other stuff for practice, nothing too special. Hopefully something for a film festival once in a while, that's all.

Which should I get?
The Rode Videomic that connects to the camera or the H4n that costs approx. $75more (Used) and will require additional memory cards as I don't believe 1GB will be long. OR, the H4n just plugged into the camera?

The H4n is not a microphone - it is a recorder that happens to have a pair of microphones on it. Trying an either/or comparison with a shotgun mic is like asking "Should I buy a camera or some rollerskates?" - different things for different purposes.

 

[Jordan_S]

The H4n is not a microphone - it is a recorder that happens to have a pair of microphones on it. Trying an either/or comparison with a shotgun mic is like asking "Should I buy a camera or some rollerskates?" - different things for different purposes.

That's just semantics.

Your camera/roller skates simile is not analogical. Better: "Should I buy a house or a mobile home?"

 

[Noiz2]

That's just semantics.

Your camera/roller skates simile is not analogical. Better: "Should I buy a house or a mobile home?"

Actually I think Steve was closer. One of these is a shotgun microphone. The other is a recorder that happens to have a pair of (cardioid by the way not omni) mics built in. The H4n is fairly close to useless as a primary dialog "mic". So One is a "dialog mic" that needs a recorder and the other is a recorder with out a dialog mic. Very apple and oranges.

The downside to the video mic is it's not going to be close to an optmial position except in ECU's. But on the flip side the H4N is not going to be either. It will need to be much closer to work well and you'll have to have it a weird angle to get your talent "on mic".