Recommendations for Camera External Mics

Lowend65

Lowend65

Supporting Member
Sep 21, 2006
1,842
3,355
5,386
San Jose, CA
www.levijack.com
#1
Next week a group I'm with will be recording a video for the NPR Tiny Desk Contest.
This is expected to be a very basic video generally recorded on a cell phone or maybe a GoPro

I'm concerned that internal mics will not be able to capture the whole band's sound well.

Does anyone have a mic they like to interface with an I-Phone or a GoPro? Obviously most of the big boys would need an adaptor to go from XLR to 3.5mm
 
#2
I've done the XLR down to 3.5mm thing before, and it works okay with most dynamic mics. I assume a GoPro will allow somewhat similar functionality. If that assumption is correct, try and use a dynamic mic that gets hammered by proximity effect as little as possible. An RE-20 immediately springs to mind. Broadcast style mics are probably your best bet in general.

Another option is to record the audio separately via an interface to a DAW, and then sync the audio to the video using a video editor after the fact.
 
#3
Lowend65 said:
Next week a group I'm with will be recording a video for the NPR Tiny Desk Contest.
This is expected to be a very basic video generally recorded on a cell phone or maybe a GoPro

I'm concerned that internal mics will not be able to capture the whole band's sound well.

Does anyone have a mic they like to interface with an I-Phone or a GoPro? Obviously most of the big boys would need an adaptor to go from XLR to 3.5mm
Click to expand...

I wouldn't take a mic with an analog connection. The problem with the iPhone is that the audio input has a high-pass filter that filters out everything sub 200 hz. And it is noisy. My recommendation for the iPhone is the Shure MV88 (ca. 150,-) with a lightning connector. Or if you have too much money the Lewitt DGT650 (But this needs more space and time to set up).
The GoPro and even more expensive DSLR-cameras have lowest quality mic-preamps.

An alternative for the Shure is an interface that has a tablet mode or runs on batteries that allows you to use your ordinary mics. Like the Zoom U44 and U24.
 
  • Like
Reactions: superheavyfunk
#4
Congratulations on the gig at NPR, I watch the Desk concerts all the time. Some famous talent they have. As for the video, is it for your own personal records? Even if so, I would have someone there to video the shoot with a video camera like a camcorder, or mirrorless or DSLR, with a external recorder for the best audio and video quality. I suspect, NPR will post your group on the Youtube, and it will be there whenever you need it. They have a camera crew and producer. You could ask them for some video footage for personal use.
 
#5
I should clarify - NPR put out a casting call and we are submitting, nothing has happened yet

Ended up up using a Shure MV51 - and I have to say it was pretty impressive given it was a single input.
We run it into a MacBook Pro with a USB cable and the whole thing worked great.
It's not AKG 414, but for this it fit the bill for $199
 
#6
If anyone is interested, here's a vid we did yesterday with the MV51
This is just the mic, plumbed into the lightning port on my Iphone 6 and the "selfie" camera. The mic is sitting on a shelf just below the camera lens

No post or EQ on this one, just straight signal for reference
Bass sound is pretty huge

 
#7
Lowend65 said:
If anyone is interested, here's a vid we did yesterday with the MV51
This is just the mic, plumbed into the lightning port on my Iphone 6 and the "selfie" camera. The mic is sitting on a shelf just below the camera lens

No post or EQ on this one, just straight signal for reference
Bass sound is pretty huge

Click to expand...


Can't listen to it here at work, but why did you choose the MV51 instead of the MV88? Isn't the large diaphragm condenser rather for vocalists or podcasters? Why not the MV88 that has M/S stereo and is a bit cheaper?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back