GH3 Is it too early to ask about recommended microphones?

A

Adapted

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I have a GH3 on order at Amazon... was hoping to buy a suitable microphone for (mostly) nature/wildlife video. Maybe around $250 bucks, so nothing remotely high end, but aomething that would work well with the GH3's presumably improved audio possibilities. I'm considering the Rode Pro but if anyone has a better suggestion I would be happy to hear it.

Thanks.
 
nature wildlife hey...do you need subject isolation? the rode stereo video mic pro may be a good choice? one think i dont like about rode mic's is the use of 9v bats
 
Rode video mic pro or the stereo version is the way to go. There are better nice that are more expensive (and they still use a battery)
 
I'd also vote for the Rode Stereo or VideoMic Pro (my current mic). Supposedly, there is a new Rode VideoMic HD about to come out too.
 
Thanks... Rode it is! (It's easy to follow unanimous advice from the experts.) I have no idea what I'm doing with all this hardware (GH3, 14, 20, 25 mm lenses, 14-140 and 100-300mm zooms, LCD monitor, Sony PCM10 recorder, Libec and Manfortto tripods) but I hope to figure it out as I go. Next step is editing software.. even more clueless there.
 
The VMP is great for the money, but I have to point out that it does not handle wind noise well. Since you're talking about being outdoors, that sounds like that will be an issue for you (it is for me). The Video Mic HD (if it ever comes out) is supposed to have an integrated blimp so it might be worth waiting for that. Of course, I think the price of the Video Mic HD will probably be a lot higher than $250.
 
For ambient sound maybe consider the Mitra 3D Mic? I have the indie model but I rarely use it for my line of work (weddings). I might consider selling it if you're interested.
 
Be sure to get a good wind muff. Rode makes the Deadcat brand. I doubt the one that is included (looks like what someone holding a stick mic would have on it) will work very well. The kind you're looking for looks like artificial fur/ hair.

As far as editing, if you're a novice, on a Mac, and don't want to spend that much, FCPX isn't too bad. If you want a professional editor that lets you do more, go for Adobe Premiere Pro CS6.
 
BrandonT said:
As far as editing, if you're a novice, on a Mac, and don't want to spend that much, FCPX isn't too bad. If you want a professional editor that lets you do more, go for Adobe Premiere Pro CS6.
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Please...... FCP X is absolutely a professional and deep application, and I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to a novice. I'm tired of all this misinformation about FCP X. Get over it. It's different but just as deep, if not more so than the other applications out there.
 
Thanks for the advice... just ordered a Rode Videomic Pro and dead cat... apparently you get a free copy of Pluraleyes when you register it.(Mac AND Windows versions, though the newest Windows version isn't out yet) I have a little Sony PCM-M10 to connect it to so Pluraleyes should be a nice bonus. Now I just have to sit back and wait on the GH3...
 
stoneinapond said:
Please...... FCP X is absolutely a professional and deep application, and I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to a novice. I'm tired of all this misinformation about FCP X. Get over it. It's different but just as deep, if not more so than the other applications out there.
Click to expand...

Well I haven't used FCP X for any job of my own. But I taught FCP 7 (and versions down) to several dozen students during undergrad (graduated 2009) and I taught FCP X as an adjunct last spring to another few dozen. Some had used iMovie a little bit, but nothing too advanced-- in both cases, actually. FCP 7 took one on one training and a few sessions just to get them started on the basics. It took a lot more for them to actually get proficient. But FCP X I was able to teach at the front of the classroom (using a projector) and with the exception of maybe two or three students, they picked it up after one or two class sessions. So I guess I hit a nerve with you, but I'm speaking from real experience as far as a novice learning to use it. I will say that my teaching skills probably have improved from being a student to being an instructor (just something I do on the side right now), but even so, I can see the difference between teaching the two versions.

Personally, I want to like it. And I don't know how it has improved. Since last spring, have they added the ability to place items anywhere in the timeline that you want (not only after the last clip-- and the add space between or whatever workaround doesn't count) and then to set an input and output range to export from? If so, I'm down to give it another try. But if not, I just don't have that kind of time to make a new project (I forget the correct term in the new parlance) for every single video that I have to complete. Plus I need to be able to stick potential interview sound bites at the end of the timeline so that I can start working from there.

I know that any platform is going to have its quirks FCP7 certainly does-- that's why I want to leave it; and Premiere does-- that's why I'm not using it yet. But I just can't live with the ones that I've seen in FCP X. I hope that they do change, though. Some of its features are pretty awesome.

And I'm not partial to arguing on the Internet, but I just want to say that I have absolutely nothing to "get over", my friend. :) Yes, professional work CAN absolutely be done on it. But more can be done on something more robust like Premiere. Cheers.
 
Adapted said:
Thanks for the advice... just ordered a Rode Videomic Pro and dead cat... apparently you get a free copy of Pluraleyes when you register it.(Mac AND Windows versions, though the newest Windows version isn't out yet) I have a little Sony PCM-M10 to connect it to so Pluraleyes should be a nice bonus. Now I just have to sit back and wait on the GH3...
Click to expand...

Nice! Pluraleyes is a handy little application. Has the GH3 shipped from Amazon yet?
 
BrandonT said:
Since last spring, have they added the ability to place items anywhere in the timeline that you want (not only after the last clip-- and the add space between or whatever workaround doesn't count) and then to set an input and output range to export from? If so, I'm down to give it another try. But if not, I just don't have that kind of time to make a new project (I forget the correct term in the new parlance) for every single video that I have to complete. Plus I need to be able to stick potential interview sound bites at the end of the timeline so that I can start working from there.

.....And I'm not partial to arguing on the Internet, but I just want to say that I have absolutely nothing to "get over", my friend. :) Yes, professional work CAN absolutely be done on it. But more can be done on something more robust like Premiere. Cheers.
Click to expand...

Yes, you did hit a nerve because there is so much misinformation on the web and in particular FCP X that it's a shame. I don't get the robust comment but I'll pass over that and quietly nurse the re-hit nerve. :happy:

So no, let's not argue. I don't want to derail the thread (apologies to the OP), but for those interested, here is some clarity.

Placing clips on the timeline ANYWHERE has been available from day one. I am still on 10.5 but I believe in the latest version there is the ability to export sections of a project (can't swear to that but I think it's available). Again, you can stick things anywhere you want. You never have to use the magnetic timeline if you don't want.

Check out the following link. The guy is far more eloquent than I am and knows Premier to boot (5th post down).

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?298194-Will-my-Mac-Pro-Tower-handle-FCPX

Happy editing.

P.S. And yes, novices can pick up the general working of things in FCP X very quickly. But the deep stuff needs further education, self or otherwise.
 
Yeah, I'm thinking that it's going to be late January at the earliest before the big guys (Amazon, B&H, Adorama) get any in. Your better bet will probably be to try some of the medium sized camera stores in the country that only have one location. Just remember that you can always cancel a preorder up until the time that it's in stock and ships. I think I have a lead for a store that will have some next week. I'll report back if it turns out and after I decide whether I'm going to grab one of them up first. lol.
 
All you have to do to place clips anywhere is turn off the magnetic timeline by using the "P"ostion tool by pressing P on the keyboard. "P"retty easy. If you can't figure that out by just reading or googling then you shouldn't consider yourself a professional editor, "P"eriod.

Now, back to micro"P"hones.
 
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