Tired of the Zoom h4n... now what?

J

jrod81

Veteran
Okay
I have a T4i and a T2i. I have been using the h4n for a few years now. It gets the job done but I hate the audio post sync and I hate that it won't fit under the camera in one manageable solution (like the Tascam 60D)... but I'm concerned about how many options there are (Juicedlink Riggy, Tascam 60D, etc).
Here is what I'm doing...
I do talking heads. As of late, I've had a lav mic running into the H1 which the subject then puts in his pocket and then I set the camera anywhere I want not being tethered by a cable running back to the camera.
I don't do this type of work full time and can't justify a wireless lav kit, but I'm frustrated at the audio post syncing and would happily go to a tethered alternative if you guys could make a suggestion of which is the best and why.
I want the audio solution to be able to sit under (or on top I suppose) of my camera and then a tripod under it in one solution. I obviously want headphone monitoring (hearing what the camera is recording) and most importantly, I want to walk away from these interviews with my audio and video being on one file!
Another options I've been considering is simply using Magic Lantern so that my micro USB port becomes a headphone monitoring jack and running a lav mic straight into my headphone jack... the problem is, I kinda like the t4i better than the t2i but ML is not set up for this on the T4i (only the T2i).
Need to get this resolved in the next week as I will be shooting a 33 person law team doing individual "Hi my name is ____ and I work in the ____ department of the firm" to toss up on their website. After that, I have a 10 person real estate team wanting the same for their website. I don't want to have to sync all those talking heads.
Any help is greatly appreciated
 
^^^^ BUT you still end up wih a split system.

I know a few guys locally doing similar work as you also getting annoyed with the split system and have gone down the Video Camera path (Sony / Panasonic AVCHD format)..... Recording onto SD cards
 
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but with that cable (if I understand correctly), the audio going into the zoom h1 would be sent to the camera and thus both the audio and the video both going on the SD card of the camera
 
Yes the audio that goes into the H1 / H4 / H6 etc (audio recorder) and recorded onto that device with a loop through then goes to the DSLR camera where a copy is also recorder there...... you still need to sync the (audio recorder audio file) to the DSLR pics in post production for good quality sound, as DSLR sound quality in my view is still very poor.
 
Panny AF100? Sony FS100?

I got fed up with cheap recorders and bought a Sound Devices 702 - It is very very good.

Ultimately a video camera is IMO the way forward and with used prices so cheap now it is in the reach of most.

S
 
A few years back (like 6 or so), I used plural eyes and it didn't line everything up just right... now I'm sure it's come along way since then but the thought of still having to let it all line up... well, I can still have a better use of time personally...
I probably just need to drop the DSLR and go with an HMC150 or something like that but I just really want to keep the easy shallow DoF
 
Cant have it all my friend. If you want sync sound you either need a large sensor camcorder like the fs100, c100, etc. or a smaller sensor cam (take your pick). no one ever recommends going direct to cam for sound with the dslrs so you always need a separate recorder with those. Just have to choose which is more important to you, the beautiful DOF or not having to manually sync your sound. Or cough up some serious money for both.
 
Was looking all over ebay to compare the FS100 to the AF100 and i think the AF100 is going to win simply because of price... but in one last ditch effort, I started watching some videos for the newish Beachtek DXA-SLR PRO (pro is important). It fits the form of the Canon T2i or T4i and then gives me the XLR inputs... I feel pretty good about this option as long as I understand correctly that the SD card in the camera will have the audio from the Beacktek on it along with the video (I mean, I don't know what other option it would have since I see no place for the Beacktek to have its own SD card for recording like the Zoom)
 
The BeachTek is just the thing that converts XLR connectors to match the input of the camera..... The audio is still recorded to the DSLR camera card (as poor as it is)

I do a lot of TV Commercials (location sound) one of the regular DOP's went down the DSLR path (and still often shoots that way) but mainly shoots video, but to get the soft DSLR DOF effect he uses 'variable polarising filters' a lot to reduce the light entering the camera.
 
I BELIEVE AF100 sensor size is somewhat smaller than T4i. . .so DOF won't be as shallow. Also read reviews on that camera and see if you're still interested. . .supposed to be nice but has some issues. Using filters to be able to open up the iris is the right idea, but even wide open a 1/3" or 1/2" chip camera won't have the same DOF characteristics as a large sensor cam. Best case scenario you have to get way back from your subject and zoom in, which means all your shallow DOF shots will have a compressed/telephoto look. With the large sensor cams you can be wide AND shallow.
 
The AF has plenty little enough dof with an MFT sensor. It is not the greatest image but used/discounted it does IMO present a very viable upgrade to a DSLR for one looking to have sound, ND, proper monitor outputs and a solid single file workflow..

S
 
We cut between the AF100, Epic, 5Dmk3, and several other cameras, and the majority of the clients can't tell which camera is which. If you know your craft it's not going to be an issue. Something else to think about, add the Speed Booster to the AF100 and your framing matches your other S35 sensor size cameras, along with the added benefit of audio quality and controls which eats a DSLR with a Beachtek alive.
 
David W. Jones said:
We cut between the AF100, Epic, 5Dmk3, and several other cameras, and the majority of the clients can't tell which camera is which. If you know your craft it's not going to be an issue. Something else to think about, add the Speed Booster to the AF100 and your framing matches your other S35 sensor size cameras, along with the added benefit of audio quality and controls which eats a DSLR with a Beachtek alive.
Click to expand...


+1 what he said.
 
well since this is a side income thing for me, the $450 beachtek plan is the way I'm going... if its a bust... well, i'm sure i can sell it one bay for a minimal loss.
 
Pretty sure the beachtek works just like the sound devices in that it feeds the sound into the audio jack of the DSLR. As a result, the audio is recorded in sync with the video. No post-sync required. In both cases you minimize using the pre-amp on the DSLR. I used the DSLR plus Sound Devices combo for plenty of interviews delivered to internet. Sounds good enough for many applications. Just know that the levels you monitor will be what the mixer outputs and not what the DSLR is recording. So make sure the levels on the DSLR are lower than what's on the mixer.
 
Still would goes through the low quality DSLR pre amps (and A/D converters) but sounds better than direct. Ok if your expectations are low.
 
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