Basic Audio Question
 

I have an XL1 and I have purchased a mini jack to XLR adpater to be able to run a decent microphone from.

My question is with whatever microphone I use since the mini jack to XLR adapter I have purchased only has one mini jack to connect to the camera with whatever microphone I use I will need this microphone to have its own power source? Is the correct term phantom power? EG Batteries within the actual microphone.

Since I need to do a shoot with interviews and the on camera microphone just picks up too much ambient noise. So I plan on having the person doing the interview using a handheld microphone ie: ENG style.

Also any suggestions on a good microphone for this style of shooting?

Thanks
Simon Duncan is online now Report Post Edit/Delete Message

Note that 'phantom power' and internal battery power are two entirely different things. Condensor mics need power for their internal electronics. This can be supplied EITHER in one of two ways, either by a battery in the mic itself or from an external power source known as 'phantom power.' The phantom source can either be internal to the device the mic is plugged into - the Canon XL2 camera or a Sound Devices MixPre preamp are two examples of devices that provide phantom - or through an inline power supply, a couple of Beachtek's XLR adapters also provide phantom, for example. So yes, if you use a condensor mic you will need one that has its own internal battery or use something as an external phantom power supply between the mic and your camera. But not all mics require power, there's an entire class of mics called 'dynamic mics' that don't need power at all. And since you're looking for a reporters style hand-held stick mic, it turns out that a good portion of them are dynamic mics anyway. One of the classic's for this application is the Electro-Voice 635B or 635N/D-B http://electrovoice.com/products/101.html

Hi Simon,

Hope all is well in downtown Angers...
I do a lot of interviews for our web and DVD films.... I use two systems depending on various factors...for static interviews:
1) A boom mic with a Rode NTG2 either held by a sound op or on a stand with a boombuddy...
2) A Lav mic Sennheiser G2 wireless, I've a pair of these so if I've two people in shot (interviewer and interviewe for example) I prefer this set up.

Whatever I feed these into a Sound Devices Premix... these are fabulous little mixers and it has improved my audio noticeabley...it provides phantom power, has excellent limiters etc...

This set up has been very good this year for the audio I've been doing...

best Regards
Gareth
Lyon

I find lavs are the best choice to reduce background noise.