Need input on the DM-50 Directional Mic

Jason Casey · September 29th, 2003, 11:20 AM

I just got my new GL2, and I did a test the other night recording a band in a club. Although the audio was good, I was hoping it would be a little better. Would the DM-50 give me better audio than the onboard mic on the GL2, and also is it powered by the camera battery?? And can you still adjust the audio input manually using the controls on the side of the camera??

The sound guy the band has is an absolute god, he makes the band sound perfect and I just want to be able to capture that sound, it sounds kind of "tinny" through the onboard mic, there is not the rich bass and midtones I am looking for. Also I don't really want to record right from the soundboard becasue I like to have the crowd noise in there, and I tried recording from the board once and it sounded really bad.

Ken Tanaka · September 29th, 2003, 11:43 AM

Jason,
We already have many postings on the DM-50. I'm sure you'll find some guidance among them.

Jason Casey · September 29th, 2003, 01:03 PM

Well, I just ordered one, hopefully it will work since I won't have another chance to "test" it out in the conditions I will be shooting in untill I am actually there shooting it!

Corey Sturmer · October 1st, 2003, 02:02 PM

There's a post on this thread about using the GL1/GL2 at music shows. I think the advice was to get a recording through the mixing board, but leave your camera recording so you can insert some synched up stuff later to "Dirty it up" a little bit.

Jason Casey · October 2nd, 2003, 03:54 PM

I got the new mic and it does sound a lot better than the one on the camera, I think at least for the first show I am going to bring along my crappy old camera, the video isn't great, but it records great audio. Then I can either use that audio completley, or make a nice mix of the 2.

Yow Siang · October 8th, 2003, 01:50 AM

Is there anyway to still use the VL3 light after using the DM-50?
Do you use videolight? if so what would you do since the horse shoe has been taken up?

ys

David Ho · February 24th, 2004, 12:19 PM

I'm trying to "hear" the differences of the DM-50 mic vs. the mic thats already onboard.... Does anyone have the DM-50 mic and can film some footage, but just convert it into sound? I really want to see what the DM-50 sounds like and if it makes any good differences in trying to film documentaries or short films where you want the sound concentrated in front of you, but I want to see if anyone has some sound clips or two....

Chris Hurd · February 25th, 2004, 12:30 PM

David

The built-in mic on the GL2 has a wide pickup pattern and (like all on-board camcorder mics) can pick up zoom motor and tape transport noise in quiet environments.

The DM-50 has a narrow pickup pattern, is shock-mounted to reduce picking up camcorder noise, and has a couple of switchable pickup patterns, stereo and mono. Those are the differences in a nutshell. Hope this helps,

Joe Lloyd · February 25th, 2004, 01:08 PM

Some people will probably disagree, but I hardly hear the difference between the two. If you want a better mic, I would go the next step up.

Jason Casey · February 26th, 2004, 04:44 PM

I purchased a DM-50 when I first got my GL2, tried it on a couple diffrent shoots and I was very dissapointed in the sound from it. Very midrange, not a lot of bass or high end. I've tried it in all the modes in many diffrent situations and I just can't get it to produce good sound for me. I normally shoot live bands so I know that it is not easy to get good audio from that, but I was still very dissapointed in the DM-50. I'd save the hundred bucks and invest in a better mic.

John C Heid · March 6th, 2004, 08:12 AM

What about the EQ-GL? Has anyone tried this windscreen?
I have the equalizer on an XL-1S with MA200 and AT897, dual batteries, etc. The Eq looks great and works well.

I am trying to keep the GL2 (that I plan to order Monday 3/08/04 AM) as small as possible, as a travel cam. In most cases, the audio will be scrapped in post and replaced with MP3 files, narration, etc.

The EQ is not necessary, but I think it adds to the looks... and I plan to add a VL-3 on the hot shoe all of the time. This eliminates the place for an external mic.

Thoughts...?

David Ho · March 7th, 2004, 06:33 AM

Would you say the DM-50 compared to the onboard is better for interviews or short films possibly where you don't want to pick up the sound behind you?

David Ho · March 7th, 2004, 07:50 PM

Do you need to put on that plastic black wind/foam shield only for heavy winds? Can you remove it? Is it better to have it on or off at all times?

Chris Hurd · March 8th, 2004, 12:11 PM

There are two foam elements, the front one and the back one. They are removeable. There might be a tiny difference if you have them off in a very quiet room, but I kinda doubt it.

David Ho · March 8th, 2004, 12:56 PM

Yeah....I was just wondering if the wind shield is needed or recommended just to have it on (perhaps for protection and no hassle of having to put back the shield back on and forth or carrying it).

September 29th, 2003, 11:20 AM	#46
Jason Casey Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 93	DM-50 Mic, worth buying??? I just got my new GL2, and I did a test the other night recording a band in a club. Although the audio was good, I was hoping it would be a little better. Would the DM-50 give me better audio than the onboard mic on the GL2, and also is it powered by the camera battery?? And can you still adjust the audio input manually using the controls on the side of the camera?? The sound guy the band has is an absolute god, he makes the band sound perfect and I just want to be able to capture that sound, it sounds kind of "tinny" through the onboard mic, there is not the rich bass and midtones I am looking for. Also I don't really want to record right from the soundboard becasue I like to have the crowd noise in there, and I tried recording from the board once and it sounded really bad. __________________ Jason Casey www.jcmediaservices.com www.kickbacktracks.com Royalty Free Video Production Loops!

September 29th, 2003, 11:43 AM	#47
Ken Tanaka Retired DV Info Net Almunus Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,943	Jason, We already have many postings on the DM-50. I'm sure you'll find some guidance among them. __________________ Lady X Films: A lady with a boring wardrobe...and a global mission. Hey, you don't have enough stuff! Buy with confidence from our sponsors. Hand-picked as the best in the business...Really! See some of my work one frame at a time: www.KenTanaka.com

September 29th, 2003, 01:03 PM	#48
Jason Casey Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 93	Well, I just ordered one, hopefully it will work since I won't have another chance to "test" it out in the conditions I will be shooting in untill I am actually there shooting it! __________________ Jason Casey www.jcmediaservices.com www.kickbacktracks.com Royalty Free Video Production Loops!

October 1st, 2003, 02:02 PM	#49
Corey Sturmer Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Durham, NC Posts: 144	There's a post on this thread about using the GL1/GL2 at music shows. I think the advice was to get a recording through the mixing board, but leave your camera recording so you can insert some synched up stuff later to "Dirty it up" a little bit. __________________ Corey Sturmer Producer - Woffester Productions

October 2nd, 2003, 03:54 PM	#50
Jason Casey Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 93	I got the new mic and it does sound a lot better than the one on the camera, I think at least for the first show I am going to bring along my crappy old camera, the video isn't great, but it records great audio. Then I can either use that audio completley, or make a nice mix of the 2. __________________ Jason Casey www.jcmediaservices.com www.kickbacktracks.com Royalty Free Video Production Loops!

October 8th, 2003, 01:50 AM	#51
Yow Siang Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Singapore Posts: 153	cant use VL-3 Is there anyway to still use the VL3 light after using the DM-50? Do you use videolight? if so what would you do since the horse shoe has been taken up? ys

February 24th, 2004, 12:19 PM	#52
David Ho Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 354	Canon's DM-50 mic vs. original gl2 onboard mic (any soundclips?) I'm trying to "hear" the differences of the DM-50 mic vs. the mic thats already onboard.... Does anyone have the DM-50 mic and can film some footage, but just convert it into sound? I really want to see what the DM-50 sounds like and if it makes any good differences in trying to film documentaries or short films where you want the sound concentrated in front of you, but I want to see if anyone has some sound clips or two.... __________________ "Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film."

February 25th, 2004, 12:30 PM	#53
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	David The built-in mic on the GL2 has a wide pickup pattern and (like all on-board camcorder mics) can pick up zoom motor and tape transport noise in quiet environments. The DM-50 has a narrow pickup pattern, is shock-mounted to reduce picking up camcorder noise, and has a couple of switchable pickup patterns, stereo and mono. Those are the differences in a nutshell. Hope this helps, __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

February 25th, 2004, 01:08 PM	#54
Joe Lloyd Major Player Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Auckland, NZ Posts: 202	Some people will probably disagree, but I hardly hear the difference between the two. If you want a better mic, I would go the next step up. __________________ Catalina Productions http://www.catalina.co.nz

February 26th, 2004, 04:44 PM	#55
Jason Casey Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 93	I purchased a DM-50 when I first got my GL2, tried it on a couple diffrent shoots and I was very dissapointed in the sound from it. Very midrange, not a lot of bass or high end. I've tried it in all the modes in many diffrent situations and I just can't get it to produce good sound for me. I normally shoot live bands so I know that it is not easy to get good audio from that, but I was still very dissapointed in the DM-50. I'd save the hundred bucks and invest in a better mic. __________________ Jason Casey www.jcmediaservices.com www.kickbacktracks.com Royalty Free Video Production Loops!

March 6th, 2004, 08:12 AM	#56
John C Heid Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 54	What about the EQ-GL? Has anyone tried this windscreen? I have the equalizer on an XL-1S with MA200 and AT897, dual batteries, etc. The Eq looks great and works well. I am trying to keep the GL2 (that I plan to order Monday 3/08/04 AM) as small as possible, as a travel cam. In most cases, the audio will be scrapped in post and replaced with MP3 files, narration, etc. The EQ is not necessary, but I think it adds to the looks... and I plan to add a VL-3 on the hot shoe all of the time. This eliminates the place for an external mic. Thoughts...?

March 7th, 2004, 06:33 AM	#57
David Ho Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 354	Would you say the DM-50 compared to the onboard is better for interviews or short films possibly where you don't want to pick up the sound behind you? __________________ "Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film."

March 7th, 2004, 07:50 PM	#58
David Ho Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 354	DM-50 mic wind shield? Do you need to put on that plastic black wind/foam shield only for heavy winds? Can you remove it? Is it better to have it on or off at all times? __________________ "Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film."

March 8th, 2004, 12:11 PM	#59
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	There are two foam elements, the front one and the back one. They are removeable. There might be a tiny difference if you have them off in a very quiet room, but I kinda doubt it. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

March 8th, 2004, 12:56 PM	#60
David Ho Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 354	Yeah....I was just wondering if the wind shield is needed or recommended just to have it on (perhaps for protection and no hassle of having to put back the shield back on and forth or carrying it). __________________ "Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film."