Zoom H1 as an external mic for GH1?
- Thread starter zigizigi
- Start date
Matthew P
Well-known member
It might work, but someone will just have to test it.
I use my Zoom H2 with my camcorder all the time, I just turn the volume riiiiiiiiiiiight down. Though, if you're handy with electronics it would be possible to make a simple in-line filter to reduce the volume even further.
I use my Zoom H2 with my camcorder all the time, I just turn the volume riiiiiiiiiiiight down. Though, if you're handy with electronics it would be possible to make a simple in-line filter to reduce the volume even further.
My search yielded good news. One can build a DIY attenuator.
http://vimeo.com/7616987
Or get a commercial cable with a built-in attenuator. For cheap:
http://www.sescom.com/product.asp?item=LN2MIC-ZOOMH4N
These guys sell different models where attenuation is specifically calculated for various recorders. The have a cable for Tascam DR100, for instance.
I'm seriously looking forward to get an H1 now. With such cable it kills two birds with one stone. It's nice, tiny and portable. And unlike a dedicated mic it's also a recorder that can be used separately. Plus there are cheap dead-cat windscreens for H1 on ebay. I already have H4 and H2, their mic quality is very good. Provided that this little beast has the same quality - it's a steal for a $100.
http://vimeo.com/7616987
Or get a commercial cable with a built-in attenuator. For cheap:
http://www.sescom.com/product.asp?item=LN2MIC-ZOOMH4N
These guys sell different models where attenuation is specifically calculated for various recorders. The have a cable for Tascam DR100, for instance.
I'm seriously looking forward to get an H1 now. With such cable it kills two birds with one stone. It's nice, tiny and portable. And unlike a dedicated mic it's also a recorder that can be used separately. Plus there are cheap dead-cat windscreens for H1 on ebay. I already have H4 and H2, their mic quality is very good. Provided that this little beast has the same quality - it's a steal for a $100.
If buying an H1, be aware of the battery drain fault in many units - http://cheesycam.com/zoom-h1-battery-drain/ - though otherwise it seems to offer good bang for buck. For an extended review podcast, recorded using the H1 itself, see (or hear) http://cdn4.libsyn.com/bct/bct1502Z...09&nva=20101020075309&t=03a8fa3fe23bf0068e2bd which is aimed mainly at vision impaired users, but still very interesting for all potential purchasers.
If you can get the level down enough using the device's own input level control, then that gives you the option of using it single- or double-system. When used as double system the very simple one-button start / stop system it uses has something to recommend it.
If you can get the level down enough using the device's own input level control, then that gives you the option of using it single- or double-system. When used as double system the very simple one-button start / stop system it uses has something to recommend it.
If that's a long non-stop interview - no problem. If we speak of hundreds of short takes shot on a trip, manually syncing all those STE-00-something.WAV with 000-go-figure.MTS is a major PITA. It all depends on what you shoot.
That's a huge bummer. Thanks for warning and for the review.
mojo43
Well-known member
Luck of the draw - from another forum, posted yesterday - " I just got my H1 4 days ago from Sweetwater. The unit is great but today I turned it on and it was dead (3 days). Unfortunately I may have a bad one...."
Damn, that sucks. I guess you can return it for another one?
Guy_Cochran
DVXUser Sponsor
Good find on the Sescom cable. We had been sourcing the DVcreator Line to Mic cable for almost twice the price from Remote Audio. Well, the DVcreator one does have a right angle, 90 degree connector so you're less likely to bump and break the cable or damage the port. I emailed Sescom and they're going to come up with the 90 degree cables in the future - cool!
I did use the DVcreator Line to Mic cable out of the Zoom H1 to take the signal down -50dB in the video below. I was also using a Y cable so I could monitor with headphones. Works great with the Canon 5DM2. The sound recorded is still much better on the H1 than the Camera though - a lot "fuller" sounding. So, I use the sound recorded to the camera as a guide track and sync up in post with the H1 audio.
I did use the DVcreator Line to Mic cable out of the Zoom H1 to take the signal down -50dB in the video below. I was also using a Y cable so I could monitor with headphones. Works great with the Canon 5DM2. The sound recorded is still much better on the H1 than the Camera though - a lot "fuller" sounding. So, I use the sound recorded to the camera as a guide track and sync up in post with the H1 audio.
I use and recommend the Redhead for H1. It's $35 and worth every penny. Kills wind noise much more effectively than the usual foam ball or pantyhose wrap.
There's a cheaper knockoff of the Redhead now for $17, but cheapskate that I am (e.g. I love the $60 LCDVF knockoff), I say go with the Redhead. What are we talking, twelve bucks? I'd rather support a good guy like Kalani who has great customer service (when I mistakenly ordered the wrong color, all it took was an email and he literally responded a few minutes later saying he'd sent the right one out in the mail and to keep and use the one I had until the new one arrived) and incidentally is a member of this forum.
If you want cheap, wrap the H1's head in L'Eggs. You'll still get wind noise, but it will be reduced somewhat. If you want to kill wind noise dead, get a Redhead.
There's a cheaper knockoff of the Redhead now for $17, but cheapskate that I am (e.g. I love the $60 LCDVF knockoff), I say go with the Redhead. What are we talking, twelve bucks? I'd rather support a good guy like Kalani who has great customer service (when I mistakenly ordered the wrong color, all it took was an email and he literally responded a few minutes later saying he'd sent the right one out in the mail and to keep and use the one I had until the new one arrived) and incidentally is a member of this forum.
If you want cheap, wrap the H1's head in L'Eggs. You'll still get wind noise, but it will be reduced somewhat. If you want to kill wind noise dead, get a Redhead.
Just for the record this summarize my experience with Zoom H1 as an external mic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyMzo4UVUBs
Sound quality - excellent. Shock and vibration isolation - none. The only way to use it is with a shock mount.
I have also ordered the above-mentioned Sescom attenuator cable. Unfortunately it's quite useless with GH1 because you can't turn off AGC on it which results in too much hiss in the pauses and too much compression overall. So H1 can be used only to double incamera audio for GH1. GH2 is a different story.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyMzo4UVUBs
Sound quality - excellent. Shock and vibration isolation - none. The only way to use it is with a shock mount.
I have also ordered the above-mentioned Sescom attenuator cable. Unfortunately it's quite useless with GH1 because you can't turn off AGC on it which results in too much hiss in the pauses and too much compression overall. So H1 can be used only to double incamera audio for GH1. GH2 is a different story.
vicvelazzy
New member
I find that with the sescom( http://www.markertek.com/Cables/Audio-Cables/DSLR-Audio-Cables/Sescom/LN2MIC-ZMH4-GH1.xhtml) cable, I'm getting a lot of hissing regardless of the volume setting on the H1. Before testing, I lowered the Gh2 volume to level 1 but still get a hot signal.
For now, I guess I'm sticking to syncing the h1 and video in post-production.
For now, I guess I'm sticking to syncing the h1 and video in post-production.
I use and recommend the Furry Head at $13.99 from Amazon. This is one of the few times when less expensive doesn't mean "cheap". I bought it after watching this test: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNZT3PSqtaU
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I find that with the sescom( http://www.markertek.com/Cables/Audio-Cables/DSLR-Audio-Cables/Sescom/LN2MIC-ZMH4-GH1.xhtml) cable, I'm getting a lot of hissing regardless of the volume setting on the H1. Before testing, I lowered the Gh2 volume to level 1 but still get a hot signal.
For now, I guess I'm sticking to syncing the h1 and video in post-production.
vic - Are you setting the volume or the mic input level on the H1? I have the sescom cable too and I find that by setting the mic input level to about -12db and the GH2 input level to low, I have clean audio on both the recorder and the camera.
Here is the setup (apologies for the low-res cellphone pic): http://www.flickr.com/photos/45061726@N00/5439368387/
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rambooc1
Well-known member
+1 for Redhead and Kalani.
I also have a redhead mounted covering the Gh1 internal mic and it works really well. Held in place with a rubber band over the view finder.
djbobbyrhodes
Well-known member
I heard about the issues with the battery drain. If you find yourself with a defective unit, you need to contact samson and they'll replace it quickly. Or buy from Amazon. Their return policy is awesome. I bought an H1 and after 20 minutes of playing with it, the L mic went out (I may or may not have dropped it). Amazon sent me a new one the next day. I used their box to ship the old one back. Totally awesome.
That being said, the H1 is not super durable. It's made from cheap plastic and feels as such. Dropping it from about 3.5 feet onto the concrete killed one of the mics. Now the H1 is resigned to Lav bodypack only status. However, the audio quality for the price is pretty awesome.
That being said, the H1 is not super durable. It's made from cheap plastic and feels as such. Dropping it from about 3.5 feet onto the concrete killed one of the mics. Now the H1 is resigned to Lav bodypack only status. However, the audio quality for the price is pretty awesome.