Hi, I bought a canon hv20 and I am very happy with the video picture. I am looking for an external shotgun mic to go with this camcorder.

If you have field tested various mics with the hv20 - then please tell me which worked best?

1. AT897 using battery option and xlr to mini plug
or
2.Rode ntg-2 using battery/ xlr to mini.

Have you personally tried both? OR is there a better mic to consider.

Either a less expensive mic or one in the same price range $200-$260.

I don't have a beachtech mixer , but I do plan to buy one later and would like the mic to be able to work with it also.

Thanks for your advice.

The Rode Videomic works well with the HV20 and costs less than half what you'll pay for an AT897 or NTG2.

I haven't tried any others, but I can say I am very happy with my AT897. I have it in a shock mount attached to a flash handle (along with my HV20). It is quite likely a more expensive and a better mic than I really need as an amateur, but again I am very happy with the clear sound I get from it.

Thanks for the comments.

Brandon: Thanks for the pictures. Does the XLR to mini adaptor have any electronics to deal with mic impedance OR is it just a straight XLR to mini cable?

Which brand and type adaptor?

Thanks
Jimmy

Thanks for the comments.

Brandon: Thanks for the pictures. Does the XLR to mini adaptor have any electronics to deal with mic impedance OR is it just a straight XLR to mini cable?

Which brand and type adaptor?

Thanks
Jimmy

I'm not certain if there is anything in the adapter. I assume impedance matching? But maybe not without a battery?

I bought this kit:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?shs=AUAT897K2&ci=0&sb=ps&pn=1&sq=desc&InitialSearch=yes&O=OrderDetail.jsp&A=search&Q=*&bhs=t

There is a AA battery in the mic, that AT tech support told me should last 1000 hours (which seems amazing to me, but that's what they said)

I'm about to purchase either a Sony HC7 or Canon HV20.
I have plenty of mics that I use for FX1/PD170/VX2100 cameras for pro video use, as well as pro audio use with various recorders.
They range from Rode NT5 hyper cardiod mics (48v pahntom power), AT897, Rode NTG2, AT822 (stereo mic), and have a problem with all of these on a small consumer camera.

They're so frickin huge looking.

I plan on using the HV20 or HC7, mainly as a personal or capture deck camera.
Can anyone recommend a small mini plug mic (preferably stereo) that wouldn't look so awkward on these cameras.

Strictly for personal use only.

Thanks, and much appreciated.
Michael

Michael,
I made a right angle XLR-F to 3.5mm stereo phone plug using a Neutrix right angle connector and a stereo cable scrounged from a stereo audio extension cable. Works fine for less than $10 total costs. However, Hama makes these in 18" and 3' lengths. You should find them at B&H Photo/Video.

I use an AT897 and am very pleased with the audio.

That said, I wish the mic was smaller. It's a bit cumbersome to handle, especially with a Rycote softie attached. By the time you attach the mic and the WD-H43 wide-angle, the HV20 is gaining quite a bit of heft.

I know you would like a comparison, but while I don't have an AT897, I just added an NTG2 to my HV20.

Not happy with the inbuilt mic (duh!) because everytime you moved your hand, you got scratching, I added a RODE SVM. It was o.k., but lacked the reach I was looking for, so the choice (for me) was between the RODE VideoMic and the NTG2. I went to the NTG2 as I am getting a Zoom H4 and wanted the XLR inputs.

Now for the crunch part ... the VideoMic might have been a better choice, because:

- The NTG is quite long, slightly longer than the VideoMic, but when you add the XLR on the end of it, it becomes a lot longer.

- In the RODE mount it sits directly above the eye viewer, and that in conjunction with the longer length means you cannot use the eye viewer as your head hits the rear of the mic.

- It requires power, either external or a AA battery inside, but you cannot turn the thing off from outside, so if you don't want flat batteries all the time, you need to disconnect the XPR, take it out of the mount, unscrew the back half and remove the battery ... pain.

The VideoMic is shorter (and sits toward the front), is offset, so sits away from the eye viewer, and has an external on/off switch. You loose the XLR off course, which might be a deal breaker.

Brandon,
That looks like a sweet setup. What flash handle is that? Looks nice. Will any flash handle attach to the bottom of the HV20? I'm debating a setup like yours, which will run a bit over $300 vs. just getting a VideoMic. Thoughts anyone?

Brandon,
That looks like a sweet setup. What flash handle is that?

Here's the handle I bought:
http://www.bugeyedigital.com/product_main/bow-va313.html

I got the mic, shock mount and XLR adapter from B&H as a kit:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?shs=AUAT897K2&ci=0&sb=ps&pn=1&sq=desc&InitialSearch=yes&O=OrderDetail.jsp&A=search&Q=*&bhs=t

FYI- the handle part of the flash handle is pretty cheap, brittle plastic and it broke apart when I tried to unscrew it to flip it the opposite direction.

Seems like the handle could add some stabilization as well, have you found this true? Can you still use a monopod or steady stick along with this setup?

Seems like the handle could add some stabilization as well, have you found this true? Can you still use a monopod or steady stick along with this setup?

It does help with stabilization, I guess. At least it gives you some other ways to handle the camera - i.e. with one hand on the handle and the other stabilizing the opposite side. Yes you can still put this on a tripod.

When I am shooting personal video and don't want to carry a large mic with me I use the Sony ECM-MS908C which works fairly well or the internal mic which is (eh so so) . http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/174982-REG/Sony_ECMMS908C_ECM_MS908C_Stereo_Mic_for.html

I'd like to hear what others are using for small mic too..


When I don't mind having a larger mic and I don't need stereo and I am not recording music, I use the rode videomic, which works very very well, a mic everyone should have.


I'm about to purchase either a Sony HC7 or Canon HV20.
I have plenty of mics that I use for FX1/PD170/VX2100 cameras for pro video use, as well as pro audio use with various recorders.
They range from Rode NT5 hyper cardiod mics (48v pahntom power), AT897, Rode NTG2, AT822 (stereo mic), and have a problem with all of these on a small consumer camera.

They're so frickin huge looking.

I plan on using the HV20 or HC7, mainly as a personal or capture deck camera.
Can anyone recommend a small mini plug mic (preferably stereo) that wouldn't look so awkward on these cameras.

Strictly for personal use only.

Thanks, and much appreciated.
Michael

When I am shooting personal video and don't want to carry a large mic with me I use the Sony ECM-MS908C which works fairly well or the internal mic which is (eh so so) . http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/174982-REG/Sony_ECMMS908C_ECM_MS908C_Stereo_Mic_for.html

I'd like to hear what others are using for small mic too..


When I don't mind having a larger mic and I don't need stereo and I am not recording music, I use the rode videomic, which works very very well, a mic everyone should have.I like the 908c. I haven't used it as an on-camera mike, but I'll use it with a Panasonic MD disk recorder. The recorder fits in my pocket, provides very high-fidelity digital recording, and with an MD deck provides an all-digital solution for audio. The 908c works great in this capacity.

I went with the Canon mic, the DM-50, I think it is. Check the owner's guide. It is a noticeable improvement over the built in mic. You can hear the difference when monitoring with headphones. You can find them cheaper than the Rode.

What pushed me in favor of the Canon mic was two things:
1) runs from the accessory shoe. No external power needed
2) Small form factor.

No offense to anyone who answered already, but I couldn't see the ergonomics of mounting a big shotgun onto a tiny camera. Same with the Beechtek XLR adapter. I like the HV20 because it's almost inconspicuous, like a Leica still camera. Mounting a big mic and adapter negates that. I might as well carry around a bigger rig.

Some one here once posted a comparison of the Canon and Rode mics. Do a search....I think they were comparable in terms of sound.

Cheers
Bob

No offense to anyone who answered already, but I couldn't see the ergonomics of mounting a big shotgun onto a tiny camera.

A big shotgun & wide-angle adapter definitely raises the profile of the HV20, and upsets its ergonomics a bit. But the improvement in sound is worth it. You are still saving a significant amount of size & weight over a bigger camera (ie. an XHA1).

Although I use an AT897, I may also pick up a Rode or a DM-50 for a lower profile mic option.

Here's an Audio Technica mic that is short, 7 inches, made for video camera use:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/495302-REG/Audio_Technica_AT875R_AT875_Short_Condenser_Shotgun.html

The AT897 is 11 inches long.

Here is a matching adapter:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/423360-REG/Hosa_MIT156_MIT_156_Low_to_High.html

Here is a shockmount:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/398316-REG/Rode_SM3_SM3_On_Camera_Shockmount.html

For stereo, the Rode VideoMic is a good choice:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/450170-REG/Rode_STEREO_VIDEO_MIC_Stereo_VideoMic_Camera.html

The Rode VideoMic also comes in mono:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/363083-REG/Rode_VIDEOMIC_VideoMic_Camera_Mounted.html

For the HV20 I think the best choices are the Rode VideoMic (built-in shock mount, size, quality sound) or the Canon DM50 (with sound indistinguishable from the Rode VideoMic, but with less of a shockmount). Both (in mono) cost $150:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/201377-REG/Canon_3176A002_DM_50_Directional_Stereo_Microphone.html

I want to play around with recording a band with my HV20, and after reading everyone, I'm thinking the Rode videomic...am I correct in thinking the stereo version for music? Later I think I will add a recorder once I get comfortable and get some more $$ to play with. So...stereo or mono? Tks folks. bob

I would go with the Rode StereoVideoMic for music. While I don't do music I've had excellent luck with mine mounted on a stand with boom and suspended close to the talent (with a 16' stereo extension cord).

For mounting on the camera I use this bracket meant for mounting a flash centered over something like a Hasselblad.

http://www.veachco.com/j120mhBW.jpg

While the grip is meant for the left hand I mount the camcorder the other way and grip with my right so the fold out LCD isn't blocked. If you don't use something like this that gets the mic up high, the Deadcat windmuff (which I wouldn't be without outdoors") lets "fur" hang down into the field of view.

Hope this helps.

Thanks Bruce for the info. I've got a flash mount I use with my Nikon 35mm stuff, so that would work pretty good. bob

I would go with the Rode StereoVideoMic for music. While I don't do music I've had excellent luck with mine mounted on a stand with boom and suspended close to the talent (with a 16' stereo extension cord)..

Bruce, do you experience any background noise due to unbalanced connection? (long stereo extention cord). I have an inexpensive audio-technica stereo microphone and it works OK if I connect it on my camera, but when I connect it using a long stereo extention cord, then the camera picks background humming noise.

Thanks.

P.

Check out the new post 'ME64 and Sony wide angle combo'.....should have postedd it here too...

Thanks for all the comments.

I ended up checking out online reviews.

Here's one that lets you listen to recordings made with various mics.
http://www.dvcreators.net/shotgun-shootout/

I also asked both online and local video store which mics they recommend.
bhphotovideo.com and ebay.com others offer plenty of choices also.

Brandon S. shared his set up with the AT and bracket mount which looked like the way to go.

I went with the RODE NTG-2 with xlr/mini adaptor plus bracket with Rode mount from bhphotovideo.com.

After a couple outdoor and indoor tests, I am happy with the improved sound. There is a big improvement in sound quality. For indoor, I will use lav mics though when able.