more than one mic for the Z1U.

Jay Massengill · December 1st, 2014, 07:34 AM

You may also consider a small stereo audio recorder, such as those from Tascam, Zoom, Olympus, Sony, etc., if you have any video editing software to combine and adjust your video and audio tracks.

That would be the fastest and least expensive way to try some stereo experimentation. There are a number of these recorders available from $75 to $200 with current sale prices in the US.

Not all of them record a STRONG stereo image, for example my Tascam DR-05 that I posted about on this forum, but it is stereo and would give you some idea of what you can get. I haven't tried any train recordings with it.

This recorder could be easily set up separate from your camera with its mono mic, so the stereo image would not be affected by camera movements. A simple sync-clap of your hands on-camera once both devices are recording is all you should need to align the separate audio later on.

John Mahoney · December 1st, 2014, 02:34 PM

Greg, thanks for your comments. When I made the clip mentioned above, I didn't have that camera and shotgun mic. Audio was done with the built-in mics.
My original idea of separating two mics involved mounting them on two tripods, set low enough so I can pan the cam to follow the locos and not get the mics in the picture.
Jay, I don't think I'll go down that track, this is a fun thing, a hobby from which I get lots of enjoyment as I spent years on the footplate before being injured at work.

December 1st, 2014, 07:34 AM	#16
Jay Massengill Trustee Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Burlington Posts: 1,976	Re: more than one mic for the Z1U. You may also consider a small stereo audio recorder, such as those from Tascam, Zoom, Olympus, Sony, etc., if you have any video editing software to combine and adjust your video and audio tracks. That would be the fastest and least expensive way to try some stereo experimentation. There are a number of these recorders available from $75 to $200 with current sale prices in the US. Not all of them record a STRONG stereo image, for example my Tascam DR-05 that I posted about on this forum, but it is stereo and would give you some idea of what you can get. I haven't tried any train recordings with it. This recorder could be easily set up separate from your camera with its mono mic, so the stereo image would not be affected by camera movements. A simple sync-clap of your hands on-camera once both devices are recording is all you should need to align the separate audio later on.

December 1st, 2014, 02:34 PM	#17
John Mahoney Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Gympie Australia Posts: 47	Re: more than one mic for the Z1U. Greg, thanks for your comments. When I made the clip mentioned above, I didn't have that camera and shotgun mic. Audio was done with the built-in mics. My original idea of separating two mics involved mounting them on two tripods, set low enough so I can pan the cam to follow the locos and not get the mics in the picture. Jay, I don't think I'll go down that track, this is a fun thing, a hobby from which I get lots of enjoyment as I spent years on the footplate before being injured at work.