Anyone know a good Handycam + Podcast mic?!

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Griff86

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Hi all,

I work in politics and have a very nifty Sony Handycam AVCHD for recording youtube and facebook pieces for my boss. We wanted to get a microphone to record podcasts and audio clips in the office, but I was recently thinking that it would be great to get a mic that records both set audio and can also be hooked up to the handy cam to enhance the audio on straight to camera pieces. While the picture on the handycam is supurb, the sound quality can often make the videos look very amateuristic.

Anyone have any thoughts?? Would very much appreciate the advice!!
 
Hopefully the boss isn't a politician. That whole never saying anything, in 100,000 words and all. Might be a bit hard to adhere to with video evidence.

You probably want one with audio inputs. HD2000 was all the rage a few years back. Many Rode and Canon mics that'll terminate in the 1/8" jack (3.5mm) that favors those camcorders. Kodak Zi8 on the cheap for video devices with audio input. But still kind of amateurish without extras. i.e. the video devices save in AAC or MP3 aka highly compressed formats. Some of those terminate in a 2.5mm jack and need an adapter. To be had at any radio shack, but extra expense, extra possible point of failure. avsforum, dvxuser, and other sites might better suit your needs.

I do something similar, and use a Sanyo FH1, Korg MR-1000 and Avenson STO-2 microphones. Plus other stuff. Not for use for conference calling (skype) or live podcasts, but completely editable for other pursuits.
 
A friend is quite good, he did a few things for my GF (not THOSE kind of things, he's gay! :p ) when I was out of town for a few weeks... Oh, you said HandyCAM.

Sorry. Carry on.:o
 
I'm thinking suggestions for a camcorder mic are going to be based on how you want to use it. Will you be mounting it on top of the camera? If so, you'd probably need a shotgun mic. Will a person be holding it? Probably want an Omni. Outdoors? Maybe a shotgun would be best here. Will you mount it on a boom? Maybe a condensor or shotgun. I think in most cases, your camcorder mic isn't going to perform double duty as a podcast mic. Maybe if you plan on using it on a boom and get a condensor mic.

I'm no video expert, just my opinions here.
 
Actually, I'm a fan of the (? discontinued)SONY ECM-MS957. It should do both jobs fairly well.-Richie
 
Various fig rig and other means to mount a mic on/near a camcorder. You don't "need" one with a hot shoe or other things. Unless your camcorder is part of the shoot and you want it to look cool.

Senn. MKE 400
Azden
Canon
Rode
and others.

My next DIY project

YouTube - The Frugal Filmmaker: Camera Stabilizer Rig for Under $5

Beyond the electrical work that I need to do on my car to undo what rabbits do. Chevy needs to make cars with less tasty wires. Rabbits love mine apparently. Anyway, lots of mics, many are use specific. Talking head in a noisy parking lot? Or something more controlled? Outside / Inside? Sans or Con audience? Many means to an end. Most of which are noticeably better than what ships with a camcorder. Although some camcorders have okay-ish onboard mics. Until your camcorder gets old and starts making a lot of racket, then you want to distance the mics from it a bit.
 
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