Shotgun mic for GH2 for dummies

M

Mark Turner

Active member
I woudl be very grateful if someone could hold me by the hand on a couple of shotgun mic questions for the GH2.

- Are there any shotguns which will work simply through the hotshoe, or do they all have to be plugged into the jack?

- The jack is very small; I assume I have to buy a step down converter or some such - any recommendations?

- Settings - I did not notice any settings on audio for mics. Do they appear once the mic is plugged in? Or is it automatic?

Am tempted by http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/744768-REG/Rode_VIDEOMIC_PRO_VideoMic_Pro_Compact_Shotgun.html

Have people had good experiences with this mic? Is it worth the price?

Thanks!
 
Mark I checked with my Rode reseller and he told me it wasn't available yet. I have two other Rode VideoMics. The shotgun and the Stereo and love 'em both. When this becomes available to me, I WILL buy one, no doubt in my mind there at all.

Now no mic runs through the hotshoe, that is hot for photo flash only. The Panasonic has a 2.5mm connector and the Rode and everything else uses a 3.5mm pin. So you need a converter, they are under $5. online.

As far as audio settings, not sure but it has to be in the menu somewhere.

Now if you want to spend a lot more and go XLR the sky is the limit. But if all you need is really decent audio, this Rode ought to suit you well.
 
Mark Turner said:
- Settings - I did not notice any settings on audio for mics. Do they appear once the mic is plugged in? Or is it automatic?
Click to expand...

There is only the 2 settings that already exist for the built in mic (they work for an external too):

While the camera is in move mode (on the dial) press the menu button and pick the top icon (movie camera) scroll down to the top of page 3 and you should see 'MIC LEVEL ADJ.'. That gives you 4 levels of volume (all with AGC) to choose. You might also take the time to enable the 'MIC LEVEL DISP.' at the bottom of page 2.
 
ChipThome said:
Mark I checked with my Rode reseller and he told me it wasn't available yet. I have two other Rode VideoMics. The shotgun and the Stereo and love 'em both. When this becomes available to me, I WILL buy one, no doubt in my mind there at all.

Now no mic runs through the hotshoe, that is hot for photo flash only. The Panasonic has a 2.5mm connector and the Rode and everything else uses a 3.5mm pin. So you need a converter, they are under $5. online.

As far as audio settings, not sure but it has to be in the menu somewhere.

Now if you want to spend a lot more and go XLR the sky is the limit. But if all you need is really decent audio, this Rode ought to suit you well.
Click to expand...
Chip,

You reseller needs to get updated. I've had my VMP for a week now. Works well. The VMP has a hot signal. Set the GH2's audio gain to 1 and you should still have a good strong audio signal.

Regards,

Dan.
 
My Rode was supposed to be delivered yesterday from B&H...but UPS failed due to ice on the roads in HOUSTON. Of all days of all years to actually have streets ice over in Houston. :(
 
I'm hearing that since the GH2 is using AGC all the time, but with 4 intensity settings to choose from, people are using the Rode VMP set to 0db, and the GH2 set to "1". The 20db boost is reported to be too strong for the GH2. If Panasonic would update the firmware to allow us to defeat the AGC and have true manual control, the 20db boost of the VMP would coax an even cleaner audio signal out of the GH2.
 
Instead of jumping through hoops to get a GH to record crappy on-camera audio, take advantage of these new compact mics, digital recorders, and the magic of computer editing. Put your mic where the subject is....all you need for a budget friendly setup is:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/744768-REG/Rode_VIDEOMIC_PRO_VideoMic_Pro_Compact_Shotgun.html
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...OCKETRAK_C24_POCKETRAK_C24_Pocket_Stereo.html
http://www.singularsoftware.com/pluraleyes.html or http://www.singularsoftware.com/dualeyes.html (depending on your needs)
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/376832-REG/Sony_MDRXD100_MDR_XD100_Closed_Back_Studio.html

No adapters or funny bracketry required. :D
 
Well of course. For real work I use a real video camera with pro audio. I always steer the SLR guys to 2nd system. I just want the GH2 audio options as good as they could be.
 
Chadfish said:
Well of course. For real work I use a real video camera with pro audio. I always steer the SLR guys to 2nd system. I just want the GH2 audio options as good as they could be.
Click to expand...


:D If I did real video work I wouldn't be eating 88 cent Banquet TV dinners tonight. As long as alcohol doesn't get banned in the U.S. again, people will keep getting engaged, and I'll keep making my minimum wage shooting wedding videos. LOL Then again, there is an inherent value in getting up Monday morning at 10:00am, and drinking Bud while watching the Smurfs on TV...while everyone else is crying in their cubicles downtown at their miserable jobs. :D
 
Yeah it's slow for me too. Christmas break is still breakin' for me. I can't say I miss working in an office. A little video work goes a long way when you live frugally.
 
swyzlstyx said:
:D If I did real video work I wouldn't be eating 88 cent Banquet TV dinners tonight. As long as alcohol doesn't get banned in the U.S. again, people will keep getting engaged, and I'll keep making my minimum wage shooting wedding videos. LOL Then again, there is an inherent value in getting up Monday morning at 10:00am, and drinking Bud while watching the Smurfs on TV...while everyone else is crying in their cubicles downtown at their miserable jobs. :D
Click to expand...

Wow, that was an amazing, harrowing, self deprecating blast. At any rate, in these kinds of threads there always seems to be someone who says "just do dual system." For most situations dual system will produce the best audio. However, there are many shooting scenarios where the advantages of shooting dual system are far overshadowed by the disadvantages--as long as you can get audio of a certain standard using straight to camera recording. Maximizing the audio quality of straight to camera recording is a legitimate goal and it's annoying when people try to short circuit that effort.
 
swyzlstyx said:
:D If I did real video work I wouldn't be eating 88 cent Banquet TV dinners tonight. As long as alcohol doesn't get banned in the U.S. again, people will keep getting engaged, and I'll keep making my minimum wage shooting wedding videos. LOL Then again, there is an inherent value in getting up Monday morning at 10:00am, and drinking Bud while watching the Smurfs on TV...while everyone else is crying in their cubicles downtown at their miserable jobs. :D
Click to expand...
:):huh::(:angry:
 
And yet - film crews have been doing dual system audio since the invention of motion pictures. Most video cameras will not record 24 bit audio.
It does make a difference under some circumstances. Having a dedicated audio person rolling their own recorder is the best way to go.
If I have to roll my own audio I am usually using wireless lavs and I will leave the audio recorder running until we strike a location or scene or until it
runs out of batteries. I usually use 16 gig cards. I have been experimenting with direct recording into the GH2 but lack of monitoring from the camera
is a problem.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top