OT: Best on-camera mic for "all-around" sound?

MilesCrew wrote on 2/6/2009, 1:09 PM
In the next month or so I'll be buying the new Canon HF-S100 to replace my 6 year old Sony Handycam. I've always heard that the built-in mic on cameras is nothing to write home about, so I was looking at possibly getting a small hotshoe-attached mic for a little better sound. Something like maybe the Canon DM-100 or the Azden ECZ-990 (both good reviews on B&H). However, I know nothing about mic's. I see that there are different types of mic's and all, but I'm just looking for an "all-around" general sound improvement over the built-in mic. Suggestions? Preferably want to stay under the $150 mark.

Comments

Coursedesign wrote on 2/6/2009, 1:29 PM
Check out the Rode Videomic, should fit your budget.

I thought it was absolutely acceptable (I find a lot of other less expensive mics aren't), even though I'm used to mics at 10x that price.
johnmeyer wrote on 2/6/2009, 1:58 PM
Based on many recommendations in this forum, I purchased an Audio Technica AT822 mic several years ago. I got a complete kit, used, on eBay for $105.95, including shipping. The quality improvement from the on-board mic on my FX1 (which is obviously not a shabby camcorder, in general) is phenomenal. It is an unbalanced mic, but uses XLR connectors. The kit I purchased had XLR to 3.5mm stereo adapters, along with various mic stand adapters, and other goodies. I can't say enough good things about it.
Geoff_Wood wrote on 2/6/2009, 2:24 PM
There is also a stereo version named, oddly, the Stereo Videomic !

geoff
Coursedesign wrote on 2/6/2009, 2:45 PM
I have an AT822 that I've been using for nearly 10 years for ambience recording.

Great mic, good sound, very handy, and I like it a lot, but I never thought of it as an on-camera mic.

Of course it could be attached to a handycam with a 3rd party hot/cold shoe adapter, or worst case gaffer's tape and foam insulation.

farss wrote on 2/6/2009, 2:56 PM
For oddball bits to attach mics to cameras that don't have a cold shoe DM Accessories has most problems licked.

Bob.

John_Cline wrote on 2/6/2009, 3:24 PM
I'm also going to recommend the Audio Technica AT-822, it is a terrific on-camera microphone. (I have the AT-825 which is the balanced version of the 822, but sounds the same.) I've used the AT mic in all kinds of situations and it has always performed exceptionally well. I was in Monterey, California last October for a ALMS car race at the Laguna Seca racetrack and used the AT-825. The HD video has that "you are there" feeling that would not have been possible without the stereo imaging and the full-range frequency response of the AT-825. I've also used it to record some amazingly delicate audio as well. It's just a good all-around microphone.
craftech wrote on 2/6/2009, 3:45 PM
My AT822 is and has always been my favorite mike. I have six mikes now. The AT822 was my first.

They run around $250 and come with everything you need. The only thing I designed extra for it was an XLR adapter cable that could split the Left and Right signal from the mike and feed each into separate mono mike inputs on the mixer. That allows me to adjust them separately as if it were two mikes.

[IMG=http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y40/craftech/AT822toXLR.jpg]


John
MilesCrew wrote on 2/9/2009, 7:04 AM
Does anybody have a picture of an AT-822 or Videomic attached to a small camcorder (like the HF-S100 I'm going to buy). I'd like to see how "huge" these things are going to look.

Thanks for all the input! This is great.
jabloomf1230 wrote on 2/9/2009, 9:34 AM
http://www.hv20.com/showpost.php?p=3418&postcount=55

Those are some photos on the similarly-sized Canon HV20. Both the mono and stereo Rodes are out of scale with the small camcorders. The Canon mic and the Sennheiser MKE-400 are more in line with the size of the HF-S100, but most people prefer the Rodes. You also can look at the Zoom H2 recorder. It can be used as a microphone and as a sound recorder in parallel. I have an H2 and it's not a pro level device, but the sound quality is substantially better than the built-in microphones on the Canon consumer camcorders.
craftech wrote on 2/9/2009, 10:34 AM
You should probably get a shock mount for it as the supplied mount is kind of noisy and too close to the camera. I would recommend the Audio Technica AT8415.

John