Outdoor Audio for Vlogger

C

combatentropy

Veteran
My brother's son, 11, wants to make videos about bushcraft.

The perfectionist in me wants to recommend a shotgun mic, boom mic stand, and XLR. But the cheapest set-up would be around $2,000 (Panasonic GH5, XLR adapter, Audio-Technica AT875R). Plus I'm not sure he will put up with the work required to set up each shot. He'll mostly be outdoors, so maybe reverb and noise would not dog so much an on-camera shotgun mic (like the Rode Videomic Pro that so many vloggers recommend). But I'm trying to keep that as a last resort.

He can achieve good + cheap if he will tolerate a dual system, synchronizing in post. The cheapest option would be to run a lavalier into a phone, but he doesn't have a phone. So maybe a portable recorder, like the Zoom H1N or Tascam DR-10L? For the same price as the Tascam recorder ($199), I just found a Sennheiser digital wireless lavalier. So maybe something like that would be the best mix of quality, price, and ease, since he wouldn't have to synchronize in post.

I have been out of the business for 15 years, and maybe there are cheap and clever solutions that have come out that I'm unaware of. I have spent a couple hours searching the web and Youtube for advice. But I thought I would ask y'all too.

Also if you recommend a particular camera in the range of $500-1,000? We agree on one with a flip-out screen, for self-monitoring. But that narrows it down only to about 500 models :)
 
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Is this just going to be him in front of the camera? I assume, since you mention vlogging and the flip-out screen so he can self-monitor, that this is the case.

If it is just him on camera, at 11 years old and for vlogging, I’d avoid the hassle of second-system sound and having to sync in post. Look at the RØDE Wireless Go. Get that, and a RØDE Lav, and he should be in a good place to start. It’s a WiFi-based wireless system, but it’s designed to be pretty much plug-and-play. It doesn’t have the best range, but vloggers aren’t typically far away from their cameras.

Also, take a look at the Canon EOS M50. The 4K mode sucks (crops the sensor image and exaggerates the rolling shutter), but the 1080 mode is pretty good. $649 for the camera with a 15-45mm lens.
 
combatentropy said:
Thanks, I saw that. But then I saw the Sennheiser for the same price?
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Ah, missed that. All things being equal (which they never are)... probably the Sennheiser only because it has locking 3.5mm and the RØDE does not... makes the lav harder to pop out of place by accident.

However, if you spend so much less on the EOS M50, maybe look instead at the RØDELink wireless system. Twice the price, but powered by AA batteries instead of non-user-replaceable, internal rechargeables.
 
Hate to say it but a phone with a RODE wireless go and one of their adapters.
If he turns out some good vlogs with that then upgrade as required.
11 year olds can change their mind's 10 times in a morning.
 
Yeah, it's a great idea. In fact, I considered it:

combatentropy said:
The cheapest option would be to run a lavalier into a phone, but he doesn't have a phone.
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I think he might be allowed one in a couple years. I suppose he could find an old phone and use it just as a recorder. But a Zoom H1N is only $119, and that Sennheiser wireless mic is only $199.
 
combatentropy said:
I think he might be allowed one in a couple years. I suppose he could find an old phone and use it just as a recorder. But a Zoom H1N is only $119, and that Sennheiser wireless mic is only $199.
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How about an iPod Touch? It’s basically an iPhone without the actual phone functions. Same processor, same camera, same apps. $199.
 
combatentropy said:
Yes, I owned one years ago and meant to check if Apple still was making them. But would it be better than the other options?
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Yes, no, maybe?

On the plus side, you can interface something like the Wireless GO, and it offers the ability to shoot and to edit and to publish all in one device. And it’s less expensive than the other options. And if he loses interest, he’ll still have something that can play music and games and offer email and Internet access, so it’s not a totally wasted investment.

On the down side, no swivel monitor and the front-facing selfie cam isn’t as good as the rear-facing camera (but it does exist and offers self-monitoring at the expense of image quality). Headphone monitoring requires some extra dongles to be able to work alongside the wireless receiver. It’s also not quite as versatile as the other camera options.
 
If the ipod kit is 50% the cost of a real camera, I'd say go with it, it's good enough. If it's 75% or more, I'd get the real camera because the swivel screen is useful and he can build his kit more in the future if he gets serious.

Put him to work! There are tons of posts on craigslist looking for hungry young cameramen :)
 
Ohhh, I thought y'all were talking about using a phone or iPod Touch as a just the audio recorder. But it has a camera too, doesn't it! Yes, that would be the cheapest option, but I think they already ruled that out and want to take it to the next level.
 
combatentropy said:
Ohhh, I thought y'all were talking about using a phone or iPod Touch as a just the audio recorder. But it has a camera too, doesn't it! Yes, that would be the cheapest option, but I think they already ruled that out and want to take it to the next level.
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So back to the EOS M50 and one of the 2.4GHz wireless... easiest, least expensive solution that offers most of what you want. And if he gets distracted by other shiny things and sets it aside, they still have a pretty darn good stills camera for vacations and such.
 
combatentropy said:
My brother's son, 11, wants to make videos about bushcraft.

The perfectionist in me wants to recommend a shotgun mic, boom mic stand, and XLR. But the cheapest set-up would be around $2,000 (Panasonic GH5, XLR adapter, Audio-Technica AT875R). Plus I'm not sure he will put up with the work required to set up each shot. He'll mostly be outdoors, so maybe reverb and noise would not dog so much an on-camera shotgun mic (like the Rode Videomic Pro that so many vloggers recommend). But I'm trying to keep that as a last resort.
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Go for a Panasonic G85 instead of the GH5, much much cheaper, and if he's just shooting Rec709 8bit it will be "just as good".

For audio get the Deity Microphones V-Mic D4 DUO, has the handy feature that it will record the audio if the person is in front of the camera but also even if they're behind the camera too.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1567144-REG/deity_microphones_v_mic_d4_duo_two_way.html
 
2.4 gHz WiFi is a crowded unreliable band for wireless mics in dense urban environments, but can be OK at close range in less crowded outdoor environments. A lot of corporate or school campus WiFi environments block the function of non-authorized WiFi devices detected by their systems for security reasons. 900mHz or 1.8gHz systems are far more reliable.
 
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