Need a wireless interview mic for the T3i

M

mobkon

New member
Hey all! First time poster. Just need some advice on a couple things. Im going to be using a Canon T3i for some on-the-go interviews. Meaning I'm going to be taking the camera out on the streets and interviewing the public for a film Im working on.

Can anyone point me in the right direction for a good external wireless mic that is compatible with the T3i? Should I just get a Seinhesser "butt-plug" into a Sennheiser mic (which one?) and get a wireless receiver that hooks up to the T3i? Sort of at a loss on where to start on this one. I've done a forum search but I've only found general answers, nothing specifically about the T3i.

Also, if I'm going to be shooing in 720P HD...how long will the stock battery last?

Magic Lantern? Should I use it? I see it has a lot of useful features. Does it work with the T3i?

Thanks in advance!
 
Welcome to DVXUser, mobkon!

Regarding your wireless mic, I'd head on over to the Audio Forum (LINK) where you'll find a yellow sticky thread all about wireless mics. You'll even find information about handheld interview mics.

The difference between 720p and 1080p should not affect battery life. What really makes the difference is stills vs. video.

Magic Lantern will work on the T3i (EOS 600D), and I highly recommend it. I don't use all of the features, but for me the install was worth it for things like the histogram, audio control (crucial for T2i/550D that I use), focus assist, expanded ISOs, and zebras. Lots of other cool stuff in there, but those are the basics that I use consistently.
 
Alex H. said:
Welcome to DVXUser, mobkon!

Regarding your wireless mic, I'd head on over to the Audio Forum (LINK) where you'll find a yellow sticky thread all about wireless mics. You'll even find information about handheld interview mics.

The difference between 720p and 1080p should not affect battery life. What really makes the difference is stills vs. video.

Magic Lantern will work on the T3i (EOS 600D), and I highly recommend it. I don't use all of the features, but for me the install was worth it for things like the histogram, audio control (crucial for T2i/550D that I use), focus assist, expanded ISOs, and zebras. Lots of other cool stuff in there, but those are the basics that I use consistently.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply! Though not sure in any of those threads are relating to Canon cameras...they are just relating to interview mics in general for filmmaking.

Will anything work with the T3i? Do I need any special adaptors or anything?
 
Those threads were to get you familiar with wireless systems, which feature sets are important, and where the bottom line is on price point (below which you'll be wasting your money).

Though it has improved over the last couple of years, audio in a DSLR isn't great. There are plenty of threads around here that discuss the pros and cons... just use the search tool and type in "DSLR audio" for a week's worth of reading. That aside...

One major hurdle to overcome, and this is one place where Magic Lantern comes in, is to disable the AGC (Automatic Gain Control). AGC will destroy your audio signal. Another hurdle, also something ML is good for, is the camera's lack of manual input level control. I cannot remember if Canon added AGC disable and manual control to the T3i, but the T2i and some other EOS cameras lack these. So, once you have the AGC off and the ability to control your camera's audio inputs...

Many of the lower-cost ENG wireless receivers include in their cables and adapters 1/8" output cables for input to a camera with 1/8" input. These receivers also generally have adjustable output levels. The input on your T3i is mic-level, and sending a line-level signal into the camera can damage your audio input circuits. So you need to reduce the receiver's output level to mic-level. But to make a long story short (I know... too late), yes, you can use these directly with your T3i.

Now, one last issue to know about: monitoring. You must, must, must monitor your audio as you record. If you do not, you'll have no idea what you have until it's too late. Listening during production is the only way to detect problems as they occur, and to fix them before they hose you. Again, ML to the rescue for enabling this feature, with the addition of a USB headphone adapter cable.
 
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Alex H. said:
Those threads were to get you familiar with wireless systems, which feature sets are important, and where the bottom line is on price point (below which you'll be wasting your money).

Though it has improved over the last couple of years, audio in a DSLR isn't great. There are plenty of threads around here that discuss the pros and cons... just use the search tool and type in "DSLR audio" for a week's worth of reading. That aside...

One major hurdle to overcome, and this is one place where Magic Lantern comes in, is to disable the AGC (Automatic Gain Control). AGC will destroy your audio signal. Another hurdle, also something ML is good for, is the camera's lack of manual input level control. I cannot remember if Canon added AGC disable and manual control to the T3i, but the T2i and some other EOS cameras lack these. So, once you have the AGC off and the ability to control your camera's audio inputs...

Many of the lower-cost ENG wireless receivers include in their cables and adapters 1/8" output cables for input to a camera with 1/8" input. These receivers also generally have adjustable output levels. The input on your T3i is mic-level, and sending a line-level signal into the camera can damage your audio input circuits. So you need to reduce the receiver's output level to mic-level. But to make a long story short (I know... too late), yes, you can use these directly with your T3i.
Click to expand...

Thanks again for the reply. I have been researching this a bit over the last day and have come up with the fact, just like you mentioned, that Magic Lantern is the only way to monitor audio on the T3i (which is a must) as well as be able to manually control audio (again, another must). I guess my only thing Im trying to decide upon, is if the on camera audio with Magic Lantern is going to be OK to use for professional in-the-field interviews. The difference is me spending money on a mic and wireless receiver opposed to a Zoom H4n, mic and wireless receiver. Its a good $250 difference.
 
I've said it before: good audio isn't cheap, and cheap audio will cost you.

I am not a fan of in-camera DSLR audio. Yes, with the AGC off and the manual control, and by sending a hotter-than-mic-level signal (not as hot as line-level, mind you) to the camera and turning the camera's input down, you can improve results. But the fact remains that audio in these cameras is an afterthought as they cannot sell a camera that records video without the ability to record audio as well. Not much R&D goes into the sound section. Whether the sound is acceptable, in the end, is really up to your ear and what you think is good. Personally, I keep my audio to a dedicated recorder.

On major sets, the audio dept. can easily have twice the amount invested in gear as the camera. And if you're looking at an external recorder in the handheld range (again, there's a sticky for that in Audio), I'd look at the Tascam DR-40 over the Zoom H4n. Less expensive, just as capable, and better quality in my opinion.
 
Well, for now I think we're going to have to just try to go with the in-camera audio since our budget is pretty tight. We will do our best with Magic Lantern and adjusting settings etc. and hope for the best!

As for a mic, I think we're going to go with the Shure VP64A as it's cheap and seems to be great for what we're going for.

Now for wireless receivers...any idea where to start? Seems the Seinhessier ones I'm looking at go for $700+? Is that right? Any other cheaper options? :/
 
mobkon said:
Now for wireless receivers...any idea where to start? Seems the Seinhessier ones I'm looking at go for $700+? Is that right? Any other cheaper options? :/
Click to expand...

Well, you need a transmitter and a receiver. As for which one, or what other options... that's why the "$500 Wireless" sticky is there in the Audio section. It will guide you through other comparable options.
 
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