Is there a Good non-XLR shotgun mic? at DVinfo.net

Steve Evans · September 12th, 2006, 01:41 PM

I am using a VX-2100 and shooting High School football games from the sidelines. The sound is not critical except for the pre-game locker room speech and the post-game speech to players and/or the local network interview with the coach. Since the camera is handheld for 4-5 hours, the added weight or bulk of an XLR adapter (Beachtek) is not a great option. There isn't much time to add and remove the adapter without missing some key shots at these times. If I have to go this route just to get decent audio for these two occasions it may be worth the trade off. Any other options or non-xlr mic recommendations are welcome.
Thanks

Jarrod Whaley · September 12th, 2006, 02:05 PM

Two words: Rode videomic.

Laurence Kingston · September 12th, 2006, 02:07 PM

Your best option is the new Rode Stereo Videomic:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ist&sku=450170

Your next best option is the older mono version:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search

Steve Evans · September 12th, 2006, 03:20 PM

Thanks for the replies. I was already leaning toward the Rode. Am I reading correctly, that the Stereo VideoMic is cardioid and the original VideoMic is super-cardioid? If this is the case, would the mono version be more "focused" (suppress more noise from the sides)?
Thanks again.

Jarrod Whaley · September 12th, 2006, 03:38 PM

You're definitely going to get more rejection of off-axis sounds from the mono videomic. No stereo mic is ever going to do that, because a tight pattern would make recording stereo information pretty pointless.

Stereo mics are probably best suited to recording ambient sound, or maybe live musical performances. For recording dialogue or voice for video (in the field) a shotgun is a better choice.

Steve Evans · September 12th, 2006, 07:40 PM

I ordered the Rode VideoMic.
Thanks for the input.

Oleg Kaizerman · September 13th, 2006, 01:21 AM

ambient de have much better product
www.ambient .de

Mark Fry · September 14th, 2006, 10:53 AM

Just be aware that the signal level from the mono VideoMic is very "hot", compared to other mini-jack mics (e.g. Sennheiser MKE300). If you are setting manual audio levels on your VX2100, it's probably not a problem. My Canon XM-1 is auto only, and I find I need to switch on the "MIC ATT", which attenuates the incoming audio signal (by -12bB? -25 dB?), otherwise the ALC is on all the time and I get no variation in volume and occassional distortion.

Also, the Rode is rather sensitive to the wind (again, compared to the MKE300), so make sure you have a good wind gag when working outside. I find that Rode's own "dead cat" hairy cover is not good enough.

I own both the mono VideoMic and the MKE300, and although the frequency response of the Rode is better, I tend to use the Sennheiser unless there's no wind.

Stu Holmes · September 14th, 2006, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Fry

Just be aware that the signal level from the mono VideoMic is very "hot", compared to other mini-jack mics (e.g. Sennheiser MKE300). If you are setting manual audio levels on your VX2100, it's probably not a problem. My Canon XM-1 is auto only, and I find I need to switch on the "MIC ATT", which attenuates the incoming audio signal (by -12bB? -25 dB?), otherwise the ALC is on all the time and I get no variation in volume and occassional distortion.

Also, the Rode is rather sensitive to the wind (again, compared to the MKE300), so make sure you have a good wind gag when working outside. I find that Rode's own "dead cat" hairy cover is not good enough.

I own both the mono VideoMic and the MKE300, and although the frequency response of the Rode is better, I tend to use the Sennheiser unless there's no wind.

totally agree with Mark. Videomic is great, but it IS very hot and i agree too that the Deadcat isn't enough wind protection for it. It reduces wind noise for sure, but in a stiff wind you still get wind-noise which is annoying.
Maybe Rycote or Lightwave Equalizer will give better results.

September 12th, 2006, 01:41 PM	#1
Steve Evans New Boot Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: East Texas Posts: 13	Is there a Good non-XLR shotgun mic? I am using a VX-2100 and shooting High School football games from the sidelines. The sound is not critical except for the pre-game locker room speech and the post-game speech to players and/or the local network interview with the coach. Since the camera is handheld for 4-5 hours, the added weight or bulk of an XLR adapter (Beachtek) is not a great option. There isn't much time to add and remove the adapter without missing some key shots at these times. If I have to go this route just to get decent audio for these two occasions it may be worth the trade off. Any other options or non-xlr mic recommendations are welcome. Thanks

September 12th, 2006, 02:05 PM	#2
Jarrod Whaley Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: chattanooga, tn Posts: 721	Two words: Rode videomic. __________________ -->jarrod whaley. www.oakstreetfilms.com

September 12th, 2006, 03:20 PM	#4
Steve Evans New Boot Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: East Texas Posts: 13	Rode Thanks for the replies. I was already leaning toward the Rode. Am I reading correctly, that the Stereo VideoMic is cardioid and the original VideoMic is super-cardioid? If this is the case, would the mono version be more "focused" (suppress more noise from the sides)? Thanks again.

September 12th, 2006, 03:38 PM	#5
Jarrod Whaley Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: chattanooga, tn Posts: 721	You're definitely going to get more rejection of off-axis sounds from the mono videomic. No stereo mic is ever going to do that, because a tight pattern would make recording stereo information pretty pointless. Stereo mics are probably best suited to recording ambient sound, or maybe live musical performances. For recording dialogue or voice for video (in the field) a shotgun is a better choice. __________________ -->jarrod whaley. www.oakstreetfilms.com

September 12th, 2006, 07:40 PM	#6
Steve Evans New Boot Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: East Texas Posts: 13	Rode I ordered the Rode VideoMic. Thanks for the input.

September 12th, 2006, 02:07 PM	#3
Laurence Kingston Major Player Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Clermont, FL. Posts: 941	Your best option is the new Rode Stereo Videomic: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ist&sku=450170 Your next best option is the older mono version: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search

September 13th, 2006, 01:21 AM	#7
Oleg Kaizerman Major Player Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: israel Posts: 296	ambient de have much better product www.ambient .de

September 14th, 2006, 10:53 AM	#8
Mark Fry Major Player Join Date: May 2004 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 425	Just be aware that the signal level from the mono VideoMic is very "hot", compared to other mini-jack mics (e.g. Sennheiser MKE300). If you are setting manual audio levels on your VX2100, it's probably not a problem. My Canon XM-1 is auto only, and I find I need to switch on the "MIC ATT", which attenuates the incoming audio signal (by -12bB? -25 dB?), otherwise the ALC is on all the time and I get no variation in volume and occassional distortion. Also, the Rode is rather sensitive to the wind (again, compared to the MKE300), so make sure you have a good wind gag when working outside. I find that Rode's own "dead cat" hairy cover is not good enough. I own both the mono VideoMic and the MKE300, and although the frequency response of the Rode is better, I tend to use the Sennheiser unless there's no wind. __________________ Steam Age Pictures - videos in aid of railway preservation societies.