I'm considering buying the vx2000.

Can good audio be optained just by pluggin in my xlr cable mic thru an adaptor to the vx2000 input? How critical is the BBC fix?

Is the mic plugin klunky or uncomfortable for the camman?

thanks,
Kevin

Do a search, we've just discussed this one in detail again and again.

Briefly, use a hot mic or a preamp so the gain on the VX2K is set below 50%. My ME66 is around 40% and my mixer is 30% at the VX2K. You can't plug just any old mic in if you don't amplify the signal. The VX2000's preamps are noisy if pushed. The less they do the quieter the audio. Also, the headphone amp will sound horrible, this is just a lousy headphone amp and the actual audio could be just fine.

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16043

Read the whole thread. There are others done earlier as well.

Regarding your question about the plug in being klunky. that entirely up to you. If you buy a decent shotgun and mount it on camera make sure you velcro the plug un place. Buy a mini rover or other brand of accessory bracket to hold the mic. You can use the hot shoe but that's klunky. This has also be covered many times. Do a search.

I have a Sennheiser MKE 300 from earlier camera. Besides not being a 66 (which maybe I can get with the savings on VX), would it work ok as far as hot mic etc.?

Kevin

ONly experimentation can tell with that microphone. Some really pick up the camera noise. Others are reported to be OK. You don't have anything to lose if you already have the microphone.

Add a standoff mount to the hot shoe to move the microphone up off the camera another inch or so.

My MKE300 is useless on the VX2k, and the D version is very much better.

Any chance you could give me a link to a standoff mount Mike or anyone else? I'm having a problem with my mke 300 picking up the camera noises.

Maybe you need a shock-mount.

The MKE shoe mount is next to useless for the reasons you write about. The design of the mke300 makes it difficult to mount properly. That is why it has been unfavorably received

Call B&H or Markertek or Trew Audio. They all carry mount extenders.