(noob question) Audio setup for A7 RIV

F

fmiller

New member
Hi

Up to now I've been recording my audio by plugging my mics into an external recorder (a zoom H4n or a Tascam 60D II) and then using Plural Eyes or PP to match up that track to the camera audio.

Can I go from the mic to the recorder to the camera, and have the camera's audio be replaced by the sound coming out of the recorder?

Would that be a good thing?

Should I go directly from mics to the camera via an XLR to 3.5mm adapter?

Would that also be a good thing?

I'm not eager to buy Sony's $500+ hotshoe to xlr adapter.

OR am I best off just doing it the way I have been?

Sorry if this is an inane question.... There'll likely be more.


Thanks!
f
 
Depending on the hardware, you can use some recorders as preamps with a mic level (camera doesn't have line level), but you can't send - for example - a Zoom F6's 32-bit audio to be recorded internally on your a7RIV.

The most common way to internally record high-quality audio since the beginning of video DSLRs - and now mirrorless' - has been with preamps (which eventually turned into affordable and powerful, feature-packed recorders).

I have used the following with about 20 different cameras. It will not work for those who require multiple XLR inputs, but great for me for one source (with a safety track). I lower the Sony camera's mic level around 1-3 and boost the rest with the device's gain for super clean audio.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...cro_pro_dxa_micro_pro_active_xlr_compact.html
 
I don't think the H4n has a line-level out jack, just a headphone jack. You could use a 3.5mm TRS aux cable from the H4n's headphone port into the camera's mic input.
I think the Tascam has a line-level out port, so you might need an in-line attenuator 3.5mm TRS aux cable to reduce the signal to mic level for the camera's mic input.

I've used a standard aux cable from my Tascam DR-100's line-level output to my Sony A6300's mic input with the camera audio gain set to 1, but you mileage may vary, depending on the sensitivity of the external microphone, external preamp gain & levels, and internal camera preamp.

I wouldn't run a mic directly into a camera with a 3.5mm TRS to XLR cable, as an external preamp/recorder probably has more clean gain than your camera's preamps, not to mention that the external recorders you mentioned both have phantom power.
 
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