Microphone Question : Zoom H2 vs. Rode Video Mic, etc.

[ProtectingVeil]

Hey folks!
I'm looking to put together an inexpensive-ish kit for, initially, doing run and gun documentary work. I've got a T2i and have been looking at a shotgun mic to go on top (either the Rode Video Mic or the Azden SMX 10). It just struck me, though, that maybe the Zoom H2 could possibly fit the bill...for the time being, at least. The thought is particularly appealing, as it would give me a headphone jack and control over mic levels, etc.. My concern, of course, is sound quality.
Any thoughts would be appreciated!

 

[david_p]

i dont see the H4n as being a substitute for a shotgun mic becuase the internal cross patterned condensors are too wide of a pickup. great for general sound but not for intimate closeness and isolation. with that said, using other mics via the H4n is very cool. 4 channel recording with the two built in condensors and a shotgun and lav all at once is very versatile. i have the H4n, Sennheiser shotgun and a good lavalier but i have to admit that the Rode videomic looks like a nice consolidated package that simple and cheap. the samples that i have heard from it ill say that its pretty impressive for the price.

david
www.davidprobst.com

 

[Alex H.]

The H2, since that's the one you actually asked about, is not the best idea. It leaves little wiggle room for other mics as it has no XLR ins, and it has an internal mic array that picks up way too much for any acceptable dialog recording.

The RODE VideoMic is good for what it is, but remember that audio recording on the T2i (on pretty much any DSLR, for that matter) is sub-par. The non-defeatable AGC is a pain. There are workarounds to defeat the AGC, but those workarounds leave you with only one record channel. Furthermore, an on-camera mic is not going to do you much good for critical audio, and the best way to get clear audio is to get the mic away from the camera and close to the talent. What the VideoMic can do is give you much more discernible scratch audio for syncing double-system sound.

Your best option is to record audio to a separate device. The H4n is one option, but again the built-in XY stereo mic configuration isn't appropriate for dialog recording. Get a good shotgun and a good lav to feed the H4n and you'll be off to a decent start. Even better would be the Fostex FR2-LE.