I don't recall saying my camera had no mic input. It does. Its just your standard 3.5mm (1/4 inch) walkman input. Thats the main reason I need a mixer. If the mic input does'nt take stereo sound, then whats the point in having a stereo camcorder?
Oops. That was Untamed who had said he didn't have a mic input.
I think your next step is take your camera to whomever you might want to buy a mike from and actually connect their mikes to your camera and see what options are available to you. Do not buy a mike that only works because of the mixer because sometimes you won't need the mixer at all.
I will need the mixer one way or another - My camcorder only has a 3.5mm jack, not the canon one that the shotgun mic has (I think). So it definitely won't work without the mixer. But if my camcorder was compatable, I imagine the mixer would still add alot.
lets clear some stuff up..
Not all D8 cameras have mic input or headphone output, the new Sony models for example have been stripped down and no longer include these fetures when the old ones did. This is just sony deciding people dont want these features for recording holidays or whatever. My guess is they think film makers will opt for DV cameras instead.
Peter you dont need a mixer if you only intend to use the one mic, but its reccomended becos the weight of the converting socket might damage the 3.5 imput (unlikely tho). If you intend to use two mics theres a really simple way to issolate each mic in the mix... using a mixer to pan 1 all the way to the right and the other all the way to left. That way in the editing room you can issolate both tracks. This little trick is especialy cool since shotgun mics are mono anyways.
BM, some of the stuff you mentiond was covered earlier. The Beachtek interface specifically prevents the possible damage to the connector to the camera.
But do the tapered audio pots work well?
Just because a mixing board can be panned to the left and panned to the right does not mean you have to use it when using two mikes on location.
There's really no point in any further discussion, go to an audio house, show them your camera, and SANS mixer, see what microphone or microphones they can come up with that will work with your camera.
Figuring out the best way to protect the delicate camera audio interface located on your camera is part of their job. Make them earn their sale. The fact that they're willing to sell you gear without seeing the camera it will be used with is a BIG WARNING.
The Audio house that wants to earn your money needs to design a method that won't put stress on your camera audio in connectors and they should also figure out the optimal way to attenuate any audio disparities between your mikes and your camera, WITHOUT USE OF A MIXER.
YOU CAN ALWAYS ADD THE MIXER LATER, you can add the mixer the next day if you want, but at the very least, have a working microphone to camera system that works properly without a mixer from the get go.
Once you do that, everything else will fall into place easier.
<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ August 29, 2003 10:28 PM: Message edited by: Alex ]</font>
Peter, in another week it will be TWO WEEKS since you posted on this topic. Are you waiting until the day before your first shoot before moving forward, or have you gone ahead and solved your situation? If you have not solved your situation, I would like to suggest the following.
Pretend you are a bank robber. [img]eek.gif[/img] Place a handkerchief over your lower facial extremeties. Keep a digital camcorder of choice concealed in your pocket. Enter an Audio facility of choice.
I presume you've already cased the place once or twice. Thrust your camera up in the air and whip pan it back and forth (ala Martin Scorsese's the "Color of Money") at the newly frightened audio employees, and shout, "NOBODY MOVES OR I'LL DIGITIZE YOU!"
"Nobody gets hurt if I can walk out of here with a fully functioning microphone that plugs into my Mini-dv camcorder. If you don't meet my expectations, I will digitize you".
It works everytime. [img]tongue.gif[/img]
[img]graemlins/bat.gif[/img]
<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ September 06, 2003 05:00 AM: Message edited by: Alex ]</font>
:-)
I think I've made the right decision. I won't be shooting for months. I need to raise the cash first (I'm about half done with that, but I'm going to start college on wendesday so there goes any kind of regular income). I'm going to get my uncle, who operates a recording studio business to quiz my friend, the supplier about his suggestions. I met the supplier through my uncle. My uncle will make a suggestion, and then thats what I'll do. I'll don't won't to skimp on the audio.
Thanks alex and everyone else
<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ September 06, 2003 08:08 AM: Message edited by: Peter_G ]</font>
hmmmm.
Waiting until just before a shoot to figure out your audio needs is probably a mistake. Even if you can't afford to purchase your audio gear now, knowing what combination you need now will help you out immensely later.
Also, whether you've raised all your money or not, if you feel that your audio purchases will result in owning audio gear that you will use many times over, it's probably better to get a few practice shoots in before you go for it and make your movie.
In my opinion bad audio kills more independent movies than bad visuals.
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I agree.In my opinion bad audio kills more independent movies than bad visuals.
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