Student Documentary: TM900 + DR-05 recorder + ATR3350 lav?

K

Kondratev

New member
Hi, I'm a visual anthropology student and want to shoot a video ethnography while I'm doing an exchange program next fall. I found the "Audio 101" thread on this forum and it had a lot of great information! I now have a much better idea of my options, but I'd still like to hear what people here have to say. Bear in mind that I'm trying to go as cheap as possible without totally wasting my money. Previously I was using old Vixias on loan from the school, so I just recently got the TM900 off Ebay and will need to get the basic items for both audio and video within the next few months. I also can't get bulky, both due to packing constraints and the fact that it'll be a one-man crew. All that said, I am having trouble trying to decide how cheap I can go without being just as well-off with the TM900's mic.

The absolutely cheapest option would be to get an ATR3350 lav mic for $25 and just plug it right in to the TM900. When there's no principle, I'd just use the internal mic. The level display is pretty mediocre, but at least I can turn off AGC and set the input level. It only records 256 kbps MP3s.

A similar option would be to go with a camera-mounted mini-shotgun. This is really popular, but it doesn't really seem like a great idea. A lav is much better-suited to my needs, especially since I won't be booming anything.

I think the best option, cost notwithstanding, would be to get an external recorder along with an XLR microphone. However, the cheapest recorder with XLR I can find is the DR-40 at $170, plus at least that much for the mic. I know this is technically still quite cheap, but that's already getting very questionable for me.

So I'm left trying to find something in the middle. Presuming it actually is a step up from the TM900, I'd go for the DR-05, along with the ATR3350. This still leaves me with a couple questions, namely:

1) Would ditching the recorder and going for a slightly more expensive mic do any good, or would it be held back by the camera's pre-amp and encoding quality?
2) For those times when I'm not using the lav mic, if I went with the DR-05 and got a windscreen, would its stereo mic be of any use if I kept it mounted/near the camera?
3) If I'm way off base with any of this, feel free to correct me and share any other suggestions. Thanks!
 
When you say "lav" are you talking about a wired mic or wireless? You can't get a wireless for under $500 or so that is worth owning. Also you say you are going to be in a different country. What is legal to use changes from place to place. Last time I was in Italy for instance you were legaly required to have a license for ANYTHING the broadcast including remote control toys. Unless you are ready to spend $$ and can check out the legalities of where you plan to be wireless is probably something to avoid.

For what you want to do and your restrictions I would go with a Rode Video mic Pro mounted on the camera. You can get a mini tripod and a mini phono extension cable and use it as a table mount mic if you are doing sit down interviews etc.

I would stick with single system (no separate recorder). You are too likely to end up with worse results.

If you really feel the need for lavs I would go to Radio Shack and see if they still have the lav pair available. It's two wired lavs that end up joining in a mini stereo plug (plugs right into your camera). The idea is to have a lav on each lapel. They are cheap (as in $40 or so) and sound pretty decent.
 
I'd also recommend single system, but just to comment on the Tascam, I have the very similar DR-07mkII and find the preamps so noisy that they are pretty much unusable.

I have a Videomic Pro and an AT3350. Both deliver decent results going right into my Canon HFM40 or HFG10 cameras considering the price you pay. You can grab the original Videomic with deadcat used for around $150 or less. Not sure that you will need the 20dB boost of the Videomic Pro, although you may like the smaller size.
 
For a low cost / high performance recorder you should take a look at the Olympus LS-7, which has very good mics, a lower noise floor than the same priced competition, and runs for 30+ hours on a pair of AAA batteries. You can also plug your lav mic in to it and clip the recorder to your subject's belt or put it in their pocket.
 
TheDingo said:
For a low cost / high performance recorder you should take a look at the Olympus LS-7, which has very good mics, a lower noise floor than the same priced competition, and runs for 30+ hours on a pair of AAA batteries. You can also plug your lav mic in to it and clip the recorder to your subject's belt or put it in their pocket.
Click to expand...


This is all true. But the OP is not experienced, and may even have troubles syncing dual system, AND he is traveling light.

Here is my bottom line (to OP) if this fits... No sound is worse than not the greatest sound. Good sound trumps everything but great sound. Good consistent sound for an inexperienced one man band = the simplest soluton that WORKS well.

Dual sound will get you better sound IF, big if, you have someone who can focus on sound.

This isn't you so go with what you can do well. I have been tasked with salvation of many tracks that had good intensions but ... Life happens.

I'm a sound person. I have done tons of post. If I were to do what you are talking about I would go with a camera mounted Rode VMP.

Is it as good as my regular kit? NO. But since I'm going to be doing ten thousand other things and wot be ale to spend the time to make dual make sense I would go with single.

Just get in close. Your the DP so that should not be a problem.
 
Thanks everyone for the solid advice! It's a little more than I wanted to spend, but I think I'm gonna bite the bullet and get the VMP. It gets recommended more than anything else, and the test footage on Youtube is really convincing. Plus the insanely small size of the TM900 and the awkwardly placed shoe means the VMP is about as big as I can go without having the mic get in the frame (image).

I agree that I'm probably better off handling audio through the camera. I can shoot quickly with good audio, it's less stuff to carry around, and a lot easier to organize files. I'm no auteur either, so the less equipment to mess with, the more attention I can spend on getting good shots.

I tried looking around for the Radioshack lavalier pairs Noiz mentioned, but came up short. Do you know if it has any model number, or another name? If not I'll still probably pick up an ATR3350 (wired) in case it's ever really needed. At $25 it can't hurt.
 
Kondratev said:
...
I tried looking around for the Radioshack lavalier pairs Noiz mentioned, but came up short. Do you know if it has any model number, or another name? If not I'll still probably pick up an ATR3350 (wired) in case it's ever really needed. At $25 it can't hurt.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately RS just rebrands things like mics so the stock changes so they may not even carry it anymore. Despite the name mics from RS (their "high end ones") are often a good deal. They are usually made by decent companies and just rebranded. I'll poke around and see if I can find what I was talking about. I still have the mics. I got them for "disposable" use but they sound pretty good (for lavs) so I ended up using them for a bunch of incognito recording safari's.
 
Radio 'Shack O' shame' discontinues anything that's found to be decent.. at least audio-wise. Years ago they carried a pencil condenser mic that was actually a re-branded Sony ECM23. (If I recall the Sony model number correctly) Good for drum overheads and such.
 
Well a few things. First RS seems to be selling more things under the real manufacturers names??? The bad news is that I don't see the lavs anymore and a lot of the mics are from Azden, very big ick - it's a technical term for POS ;~)

RS is what it is. Since "kids" these days would rather play video games than make things it's just about the only electronics store around now. So as mixed in quality as they are I'm happy that there is at least one place I can lay my hands on the odd resistor with out having to have it shipped from???
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top