MKH 50 question

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Wholelifemice

Member
I have a BMPCC, is there a wire/cord that let's me hook the MKH straight to the audio/headphone jack? I just need it so the stock sound is better when going through my videos, the camera's audio is terrible, also, not my primary sound, I just don't wanna have to sync everything just to listen to the audio in the footage. Thanks
 
First, you don't want to plug a mic into the headphone jack. That's connecting an output to an output, and it won't do you any good.

There are cables that will connect a professional, balanced mic to the 1/8" stereo mic inputs on DSLRs, camcorders, and other small cameras like the BMPCC. However, your MKH50 requires +48v phantom power, which I do not believe the Pocket Cinema Camera can provide. You would need a mic that can be powered from an internal battery (typically AA battery), or you would need to purchase an interface unit that provides phantom power and offers the correct output connection for the camera.

The other, less complicated option would be to purchase a small mic made for just this purpose. The RØDE VideoMic series is worth a look, especially the VideoMic Pro. Or, if you are on a tighter budget, even the VideoMic Go might suit your needs (I have no idea how strong the pre-amp in the Pocket Cinema Camera really is, but since this is for a scratch track only it really shouldn't matter).
 
The Rode on camera mics are a good no-fuss option. Many have been using them for guide tracks. An MKH 50 hypercardiod isn't really the best option on your camera, because you need to get in close and aim it toward the sound you want to capture. Proximity and angle matters. I've heard the Sennheiser ME64 w/ K6 isn't a bad option because it has a wider pickup pattern, and for interviews, being a couple feet away is enough to capture a decent guide track. But if there's a lot of noise and your subject matter is too far, it's going to sound thin and noisy. You have to think about what your shooting environment is, then choose the appropriate mic. It could be a wireless lav fed into a receiver that goes into your camera. But hey, a Senny 50 on your pocket camera would be pretty baller, whether it works well or not.
 
If it's not your primary sound can you take a monitoring output from your primary sound and feed to your camera?
 
Wow thanks, I never even thought of the phantom power. Now I never understood those lav mics, are they any good? That would be ideal, if I could get a decent sounding lav package, any recommendations? Something close to sound as the mkh 50?

How would I feed it to my camera? I use the h4n recorder with my mics and the basic setup with it, xlr to mic. What cables would I need for that?
 
Wholelifemice said:
How would I feed it to my camera? I use the h4n recorder with my mics and the basic setup with it, xlr to mic. What cables would I need for that?
Click to expand...
A standard XLR-F to XLR-M cable to connect the Sennheiser mic to the H4n. Sescom and others make an attenuation cable (with headphone jack) to feed the cam's mini jack input from the H4n's HP/audio out jack.
http://www.markertek.com/product/ln...o-mic-25db-for-zoom-h4n-with-monitoring-jack\

"Lav package, any recommendations? Something close to sound as the mkh 50?"
- For dialog, even a low priced lav would likely sound better than a improperly placed (camera mounted) MKH50.
 
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Wholelifemice said:
Wow thanks, I never even thought of the phantom power. Now I never understood those lav mics, are they any good? That would be ideal, if I could get a decent sounding lav package, any recommendations? Something close to sound as the mkh 50?
Click to expand...

There is no tie mic. made that will get you a sound quality anywhere near the sound quality of your MKH 50.

The MKH 50 is one of the very best super-cardioid mics on the market - at any price.

The tiny diaphragm of an electret tie mic. will never get anywhere near this quality - even the best of them (ie: Sennheiser MKE 1, Sennheoser MKE 2 and DPA 4060) - though they will give you good results used wisely.
 
Probably a bit of an exaggeration, "The tiny diaphragm of an electret tie mic. will never get anywhere near this quality", in that the "quality" you get involves a number of factors not just the raw quality of the mic. So a lav close to a subject is probably going to give you higher "quality" recordings that the MKH50 camera mounted ten feet from the subject.

This is the compilation of sound advice. Folks are often too focused on the hardware and not enough on how it will be used. So John is correct that the MKH50 is a much better, as in response and self noise etc., than any lav I have ever heard of (and because of physics probably of any lav possible) it also may not be the best (highest quality) choice in your particular situation.
 
I wouldn't got so far as to say that no lav mic will ever sound as good as an MKH50. It's all about the application. After all, a hammer is the best thing for hammering nails, but garbage for turning screws.
 
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