what's the best way to monitor audio?

[Jon Bickford]

When not using a Zoom recorder or the like how can I go about monitoring audio? I can control the line level of a mic going into the camera but how do I monitor it on the fly?

I was thinking I can use the A/V output to an RCA-1/4" adapter but then I would have to hook my monitor up with RCA instead of HDMI and lose a lot of my video monitoring ability.

Is there a solution?

[Bill Pryor]

That's about it. If you're using a Juicedlink or some other device to defeat the auto gain, it probably has a headphone out jack, but you're only monitoring what's coming to it, not what the camera is really getting. I've started recording some of my audio to my 5D since it can now do manual gain, but I always double record to the Zoom. I use a Y-adapter from the Zoom's output, with a pad cable to take it to mic level for the camera and calibrate the camera's meters so it's matching the zoom. So I know the audio going to and coming out of the Zoom is good, but there's no easy way to tell what the camera is doing till after the fact. So far it's been fine, but what if the cable dies or something like that? So double recording is the only safe way. And the Zoom quality is better anyway. I find the camera sound acceptable for somethings, but not for something that might be shown with theatrical sound.

If you can use a monitor and go that route then it's the safest for camera sound.

[J.J. Kim]

this is how i do it.

H4N monitoring+recording straight to DSLR on Vimeo

[Markus Nord]

J.J.
that is the exact way I'm going to monitor audio and record on my 7D, I just got the cables last week (have not tried it yet, but I guess it works after viewing your video). I got the Zoom H2 coz most of my mics got 3.5mm stereojack, so I didn't se a point geting the more expencive H4.

thanks for sharing

/Markus

edit:
The only thing that I've been thinking of is if the audio signal gets weaker if you split it?

[Jonny Norquist]

I personally use a 3.5mm to bluetooth dongle, and wireless bluetooth headset, connected to my h4n zoom.

[Jonny Norquist]

I use this;

Amazon.com: Robust 3.5mm Universal Bluetooth Wireless Stereo Music Audio Transmitter for iPod/iPhone/iPad/iTouch, Tablets, SONY PSP, Nintendo DS, MP3/MP4, PCs, PDAs, any 3.5mm Jack Device: Electronics

 

Amazon.com: Robust 3.5mm Universal Bluetooth Wireless Stereo Music Audio Transmitter for iPod/iPhone/iPad/iTouch, Tablets, SONY PSP, Nintendo DS, MP3/MP4, PCs, PDAs, any 3.5mm Jack Device: Electronics

This provides a slight delay when paired with a headset, though the guys that manage the sound for me find it far more convenient