Hello Everyone,

I am looking for a reasonable quality stereo microphone to mount on my PV-GS400 for general indoor/outdoor ambiance recording. (I already have a Sennheiser K3U/ME80 shotgun for mono situations.)

I am not ready to purchase an audio adapter with phantom power and I would prefer a lighter, battery operated mic. So after a bit of reading on the subject, it comes down to the AT822 or AT825 (I think I would have gone with the Rode NT4 if it had not been so heavy).

The AT822 seems to be a good fit: I heard good things about it, it is a light mic, it has an unbalanced output for the cam’s minijack and the price fits my budget. However, I might be tempted to go with the slightly heavier AT825 because of its balanced output, in case I decide to go for an audio adaptor in the future.

My first question is about the cable to be used with the AT825. I already have an XLR 3-pin to stereo miniplug for my ME80, which I made myself (works well). Would there be a problem with a similar XLR 5-pin to stereo miniplug cable for the AT825? I can’t seem to find such a cable on the Hosa site.

And finally, I am looking for audio samples of the AT825 or AT822. I found a few on the Web, but these were for loud music recording. Would anyone know of a sample recorded in quieter situations?

Thanks in advance!

François

I guess I should indicate how I would wire the cable.

According to the Audio Technica AT825 documentation, the XLR pins go like this:

1 - shield
2 - left (hot)
3 - left
4 - right (hot)
5 - right

So based on this:

http://www.hosatech.com/hosa/products/yxf-247_and_yxf-305.html

I would wire pins 1-3-5 to sleeve, pin 2 to tip and pin 4 to ring.

Does that make sense?

1 - shield
2 - left (hot)
3 - left
4 - right (hot)
5 - right

So based on this:

http://www.hosatech.com/hosa/products/yxf-247_and_yxf-305.html

I would wire pins 1-3-5 to sleeve, pin 2 to tip and pin 4 to ring.

Does that make sense?
__________________

Yup. That should work.

OK thanks, Jacques. It is simple stuff, but I just needed a confirmation.

Still looking for AT825/AT822 samples recorded in (relatively) quiet environments...

François

I have the Panasonic GS250 as well as the AT822 for my Sony VX2000, though I've never tried the mic on my new GS250. It's a sweet microphone, but it's pretty much as big and heavy as the camera.

I just read the on-line technical info for the AT822 at BH Photo. Apparently, phantom power will damage this microphone.

" Power Requirements Battery AA (1.5v) WARNING: The AT822 is designed for battery use only. Do not attempt to use when phantom power is present. Possible damage to the microphone could result! "

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=68194&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

Gints, thanks for the info. That was a while back and I got the AT822 since then. Yes, the microphone documentation clearly states that phantom power can damage this mic.

And you’re right, it is a sweet microphone.