Hi Ken:

It does make a difference what type of device you plan to use a mic on.......at least for compatibility.

You could look up all the specs, but the easiest way is to just call someone like B+H photo (bhphoto.com) and ask them their opinion and get some prices. Since they sell both mics and Canon camcorders, they will be able to help you out.

Depending on your budget, one of the best inexpensive Lav's I've ever used is the Sony ECM 44 condenser series. There are better ones that have different pickup patterns, but again those will cost more (AKG, Sennheiser are examples). Audio Technica also makes some Lav's, but I don't like them over the Sonys.

What you want to do is stay away from the cheaper ones that you see at big box stores. They will not do the job in my opinion and don't have the durability.

Since your camcorder has (I believe) a 3.5mm jack for the mic input, you'll also need an adapter for the existing mic connector since most quality mics will come with a different connector. Again, whom ever you purchase the mic from will help you on this. I suppose the mic connector on the new mic could also be changed for a fee.

I would also recommend getting an extension so you can get farther away (the cable it comes with is short).

If online shopping isn't your "bag" then check out some of your local audio, PA, DJ stores and see what they have. "Guitar Center" comes to mind in the U.S.

A Lav mic is a great mic for all kinds of audio. Besides using it for talking heads and interviews, you can use it hidden (with some caveats) or formally on the lapel or tie. Placement can be critical for nose/mouth wind/pops and EQ, so read up on that. You can also use a Lav as a contact mic which works well for podium or Nat sound and for some musical applications.

Thanks Mixer!

Yes the camera does have the tiny mic input jack, which is not a problem. I have adapters. The input is also a stereo input. Since this is my first camcorder with a mic input, I wasn't sure if that was standard or not. My main use would be for "talking head" type stuff on tutorial vids, etc.

What I've been doing is putting up a dynamic mic (Shure SM-58) just out of view of the camera, and that works much better than not plugging a mic in at all. But then the audio still has some hiss in it, and it isn't in stereo.

So I am hoping to get advice, as it is my first experience using an external mic on a video camera.

Thanks again.

Ken

The SM 58 is designed for close proximity..........close to the mouth......as a vocal mic. It's a "Dynamic" mic which means little gain and depends on loud sounds.

Most quality Lav's are going to be a condenser which means that they'll have a built in amp built into the mic section which requires a small battery. This increases the gain of the mic and is ideal for what you need. That way you can run your levels lower on the camera.

The smallness of the lav mic also allows you to place it where it won't be seen too much. Tie or lapel is the best place for a Lav. Be careful about trying to hide it since you'll be off axis (skewed frequency more tubby sounding) or rustling noise from clothing. You may be able to get away with putting behind a shirt about where the second button is.

If you want to make videos "film style" with no evidence of mics, then you need mics that can be boomed. For instance a boom or shotgun mic would be like a Sennheiser MKH 60. Expensive, but it would allow you to place the mic above the persons head just barely out of the shot. Both Sony and Audio Technica have their versions that are cheaper.

Some people doing what you are doing eventually pick up a small portable mixer that goes between the mic and the camera. That not only powers the mic, but allows you to set levels, send tone to the camera...etc.

Regarding Stereo:

Just a thought. I don't think you can "split" out a single mic to feed to inputs (Left and Right) in a hard-wire fashion or via adapters. I wouldn't recommend it at all. However, you could get a mixer and run the mic into that and then feed both channels of the camera.

But.......

Consider the fact that with two inputs/channels on the camera you can keep two distinct separate audio feeds. For instance one for a person and another for something else or a second person. Of course that would require two mics. Lot's of possibilities.

Going with a single mic into just one channel/input isn't a big deal. Then you just do what you want in post.

I'm glad to hear you are considering better audio. IMO, it makes or breaks the final product.

You could try this:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/664437-REG/Audio_Technica_ATR3350_ATR3350_Omnidirectional_Condenser_Lavalier.html

It's not bad for a cheap mic, and comes with a 20 foot cable. You won't get "stereo", but few, if any, lavs will give you true stereo. If a mic has a "stereo" plug you will get sound on both tracks .. but that is not "stereo" sound.

In Vegas you can take that left side only sound and drop the empty right side and get a full track.

<<Does anyone have a good lavalier mic recommendation for a Canon Vixia HF21?>>

My Canon HV-20 is quite noisy with many mics. Through extensive testing I have discovered that the issue relates to a microphone's impedance, and the lower the impedance, the better. My cheap Audio Technica Pro 70 mic (150 Ohm impedance) has ZERO noise, whereas the much more expensive AT and Sennheiser mics (500 - 600 Ohms impedance) were noisy.

I have also tried it with a few mixers as well, with the same result: very low impedance = very low noise.

Other options: Juicedlink XLR adapter - active preamps, low output impedance - and use whatever mic you prefer. Also, Sennheiser G2 wireless system, has zero noise and works well HV-20.

Here's a link to a musical performance I shot with the Pro 70 lav to give you an idea of how the mic sounds. In this case it was sent wirelessly via my G2 system, but I've also used it connected it directly to the camera with a simple HOSA XLR>3.5mm stereo adapter and it sounds just as clean, if not a bit cleaner.

The mic also works well a few feet away from the subject - note its placement on the mic stand (right side of shot). I did not post this clip and the audio sounds unprocessed. You can search for Andrew Calhoun + Single Roses to hear how nice the mic can sound with a bit of audio processing in Vegas.