Onboard-Stereo Mic quality? at DVinfo.net

Jan Luethje · March 23rd, 2007, 06:16 PM

I'll have to do some 'normal ENG stuff' next week (not a concert or anything..) and the director insits in 'stereo'. We'll be just a 'two-man team', what means: No sound engineer and therefore no point in operating a SQN-4S or sophisticated microphone sets.

What do you think? Would it be okay to record atmos with the onboard stereo mic? Or should I better rent an external mic like Sennheiser 418S for that? And would it fit on the A1?

Thanks,
Jan

Don Palomaki · March 23rd, 2007, 07:22 PM

Should give what most users would find to be reasonable ambient sound for the area near/front of the camcorder, with cardoid pickup along axises at 45 degress to directly in front of the camcorder, but har to say whether or not that meets your needs. Do a test before the shoot to see if it meets your needs/expectations. But keep in mind that it is not a $2000USD MSRP mic, and it is on the camcorder, not at the talent.

Alex Leith · March 24th, 2007, 05:15 AM

Personally I think the sound of the on-board mic is exceptionally good (for a "free" mic). Previously I would NEVER have considered gathering NAT-SOT using a built-in microphone (I use a BeyerDynamic MCE-86 'cause I love the warm Beyer sound and it's a LOT than the nearest Sennheiser equivalent). But several times I have worked with just the built-in. (Not for narration, interviews, or presenter to camera, I might add.)

Kiflom Bahta · March 24th, 2007, 06:24 AM

I like the onboard mic but you should have a backup mic, i got oktova and it works well

March 23rd, 2007, 06:16 PM	#1
Jan Luethje Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Berlin, Germany Posts: 89	Onboard-Stereo Mic quality? I'll have to do some 'normal ENG stuff' next week (not a concert or anything..) and the director insits in 'stereo'. We'll be just a 'two-man team', what means: No sound engineer and therefore no point in operating a SQN-4S or sophisticated microphone sets. What do you think? Would it be okay to record atmos with the onboard stereo mic? Or should I better rent an external mic like Sennheiser 418S for that? And would it fit on the A1? Thanks, Jan

March 23rd, 2007, 07:22 PM	#2
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,487	Should give what most users would find to be reasonable ambient sound for the area near/front of the camcorder, with cardoid pickup along axises at 45 degress to directly in front of the camcorder, but har to say whether or not that meets your needs. Do a test before the shoot to see if it meets your needs/expectations. But keep in mind that it is not a $2000USD MSRP mic, and it is on the camcorder, not at the talent. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

March 24th, 2007, 05:15 AM	#3
Alex Leith Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Northampton, England Posts: 500	Personally I think the sound of the on-board mic is exceptionally good (for a "free" mic). Previously I would NEVER have considered gathering NAT-SOT using a built-in microphone (I use a BeyerDynamic MCE-86 'cause I love the warm Beyer sound and it's a LOT than the nearest Sennheiser equivalent). But several times I have worked with just the built-in. (Not for narration, interviews, or presenter to camera, I might add.) __________________ Alex

March 24th, 2007, 06:24 AM	#4
Kiflom Bahta Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Seattle Posts: 203	I like the onboard mic but you should have a backup mic, i got oktova and it works well