Difference between Mic input and Headphone Jace at DVinfo.net

Danny Frucht · July 19th, 2006, 07:39 AM

Hey guys,
I'm going to be conducting a very long interview over the coming weeks and am still looking for a camera. Audio quality is very important, but there's only two voices, both from the same area, that I'll need to be picking up on the camera. What kind of equipment do I need for that? And what is the difference between a Mic input and a headphone jack? Which one is appropriate for my project?
THANKS!

K. Forman · July 19th, 2006, 08:21 AM

That is simple- you plug the mic into the line in or mic jack, and the headphones into the headphone jack, to monitor what the mic is recording... or not recording. The two are not interchangeable. If you are doing this as a one man operation, you should use a pair of wireless lapel mics, and plug the receiver into the mic or line in jack (Same thing), and monitor the dialogue through the headphones. This is important, because glitches will happen, and there will be times the audio doesn't record.

Chris Hurd · July 19th, 2006, 10:32 PM

Just wanted to throw in that the mic jack is red and the headphone jack is green. Usually.

K. Forman · July 20th, 2006, 07:09 AM

I hate color codes, like on a PC... "Which color is speaker, which one is mic? And even the mouse and keyboard are color coded now! Is the mouse pink or green? I haven't a clue, because the mouse I bought has a black plug! OY!

Whatever happened to plainly labling things?

Chris Hurd · July 20th, 2006, 07:38 AM

On today's consumer camcorders, plainly labling things went away when the real estate did. There just isn't enough room on the body anymore for a text label. At least, not in a readable font anyway. Don't forget, blue for LANC and yellow for A/V output.

July 19th, 2006, 07:39 AM	#1
Danny Frucht Tourist Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Stamford CT Posts: 3	Difference between Mic input and Headphone Jace Hey guys, I'm going to be conducting a very long interview over the coming weeks and am still looking for a camera. Audio quality is very important, but there's only two voices, both from the same area, that I'll need to be picking up on the camera. What kind of equipment do I need for that? And what is the difference between a Mic input and a headphone jack? Which one is appropriate for my project? THANKS!

July 19th, 2006, 08:21 AM	#2
K. Forman Capt. Quirk Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle of the woods in Georgia Posts: 3,596	That is simple- you plug the mic into the line in or mic jack, and the headphones into the headphone jack, to monitor what the mic is recording... or not recording. The two are not interchangeable. If you are doing this as a one man operation, you should use a pair of wireless lapel mics, and plug the receiver into the mic or line in jack (Same thing), and monitor the dialogue through the headphones. This is important, because glitches will happen, and there will be times the audio doesn't record. __________________ www.SmokeWagonLeather.us

July 19th, 2006, 10:32 PM	#3
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Just wanted to throw in that the mic jack is red and the headphone jack is green. Usually. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

July 20th, 2006, 07:09 AM	#4
K. Forman Capt. Quirk Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle of the woods in Georgia Posts: 3,596	I hate color codes, like on a PC... "Which color is speaker, which one is mic? And even the mouse and keyboard are color coded now! Is the mouse pink or green? I haven't a clue, because the mouse I bought has a black plug! OY! Whatever happened to plainly labling things? __________________ www.SmokeWagonLeather.us

July 20th, 2006, 07:38 AM	#5
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	On today's consumer camcorders, plainly labling things went away when the real estate did. There just isn't enough room on the body anymore for a text label. At least, not in a readable font anyway. Don't forget, blue for LANC and yellow for A/V output. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!