Just wondering about how people go about this. In the past I have used my EX1 with rode ntg2. I stick the audio on auto and give the mic over to guests. As long as they speak right into the mic, it allows for taking messages in really loud environments (i.e. wedding receptions).

I have the rode videomic pro for my 5d, and was wondering if there is any attachment out there to make this a hand held 'voxpop' type mic? Or I was thinking maybe i could buy a boom pole and guests could just hold that?!

Thanks in advance! :)

I'm currently in the process of switching completly to DSLR for filming weddings and this is one of my concerns. At the moment I'm using my sennheiser mic which connects via XLR to my Canon XH A1 and I was also hoping there would be an attachment which would allow me to plug this mic into my DSLR or a similar solution.

I've done a little research online and i'm not over joyed with the options I've found so far. This video suggest recording sound and video separately which means extra work in post (having to sync the video and audio)

How to Record sound when shooting video with a DSLR camera « Digital Cameras (http://digital-cameras.wonderhowto.com/how-to/record-sound-when-shooting-video-with-dslr-camera-418961/)

This is time consuming. I already have 3 zoom recorders, which I use for the church. I'm trying to cut back on editing time not increase it!

Agreed, I definitely want to avoid recording the audio separately (I also have 3 zooms!). If theres a cheapish handycam out there with which i could use the rode ntg, i'd rather buy that and use it purely for messages, rather than have to record audio separately with the 5d..

I don't know what your budget is, but the Tascam DR-60 is really nice. It allows you to use it as an external recorder or you can use the two xlr inputs and have it forward into your DSLR (or both). Really good quality too.

Have you checked out Plural Eyes 3? Awsome bit of software that allows you to throw any number of tracks at it (from your comment, all 3 zoom sound tracks, your video footage inc. sound footage) and it will prepare synchronise it all automatically.

I have recently moved to DSLR and having the 12 min cut off and using 3 cameras when filming live events and also stage mics, zooms, cd tracks etc etc I have shaved days off of my work process...

Well worth a look at and means you dont have to be concerned about having offline recording of sound?

Hey Vince... I'm already using Plural Eyes and it’s a fantastic aid. The problem is; it doesn't always automatically work and sync can take ages! It help the sync process if your audio clips are long and the thing with video messages is they can be really short so there is a good chance PluralEyes won't always work. Also you would have one long audio with several little video clips trying to align correctly ...messy!

I love PluralEyes its saved me so much time for speeches etc but I don't think its the best solution for video messages. Also I don't want to invest heavily into special audio equipment just for the guest messages simply because I might only have at most 3 weddings a year who want this little extra.

I was hoping for an adaptor that would allow me to plug in an xlr directly into my DSLR but maybe it doesn't exist...I haven't found anything yet???

When I need a wireless hand mic with my MK3 I use my RE50 and this Sony UTX-P1 Wireless Plug-in Transmitter UTXP1/4244 B&H Photo which goes into a Sony wireless receiver, which mounts on the MK3s flash shoe. Awesome audio.

I was hoping for an adaptor that would allow me to plug in an xlr directly into my DSLR but maybe it doesn't exist...I haven't found anything yet???

I'm terrible with audio, but I believe (please feel free to correct me, anyone) that one of these would do the trick: Mini to XLR Cables| B&H Photo Video (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Mini-to-XLR-Cables/ci/4172/N/4289288135)

About the source of the sound, there's lots of options, from handheld microphones (wired or unwired), to just getting the guests to hold a lavaliere microphone and talking into it (can mount receiver on hot shoe, as per Charles' suggestion).

I'm terrible with audio, but I believe (please feel free to correct me, anyone) that one of these would do the trick: Mini to XLR Cables| B&H Photo Video (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Mini-to-XLR-Cables/ci/4172/N/4289288135)

About the source of the sound, there's lots of options, from handheld microphones (wired or unwired), to just getting the guests to hold a lavaliere microphone and talking into it (can mount receiver on hot shoe, as per Charles' suggestion).

That’s exactly the kind of plugin I was looking for....it looks like it should work. I've already spent a fair bit on a good mic so didn't want to have to discard my XLR mic. I had a good Google for something like this but found nothing. I would need a bit of a longer lead but I'm sure that will be easy to find.

Thanks that's my guest messages sorted with the DSLR!

I'm pretty sure that the dSLRs don't supply phantom power to XLR mics so you would need to ensure that the mic in question does not need it e.g. the Rode NTG2 with an AA battery inserted. That mic is quite long so you have to ensure that it doesn't protrude into your compositions when its mounted on the camera's hotshoe but if you're using a rig you can probably get it to go further back. The mic is also very directional being a shotgun pickup pattern so is well suited for scenarios where you want to minimise sound from the surroundings. It is mono.

If you use something like a Zoom and with Plural Eyes it can be easier just to let the Zoom record for the whole time rather than start and stop it multiple times. Then sync in post and cut out the surplus. Run the actual dSLR video capture longer than the actual interview so that Plural Eyes has more to work with than would be the case with short clips.

Pete

Hi Pete

That method makes for much easier editing too..With my Sony EA-50 which of course already has a shotgun mic and phantom power I go around guests and compile a "video guestbook" and just let the camera run .... Guests will rarely wait for you to cue them so I normally ask them a question while I'm recording and that way at least the first few words are not chopped off ..quite often there is a mere 1/2 second between me finishing talking and them starting their message which would never be enough time to physically push record so keep on rolling works out nicely and naturally you cut out your own audio!

Chris

I'm pretty sure that the dSLRs don't supply phantom power to XLR mics so you would need to ensure that the mic in question does not need it e.g. the Rode NTG2 with an AA battery inserted. That mic is quite long so you have to ensure that it doesn't protrude into your compositions when its mounted on the camera's hotshoe but if you're using a rig you can probably get it to go further back. The mic is also very directional being a shotgun pickup pattern so is well suited for scenarios where you want to minimise sound from the surroundings. It is mono.

If you use something like a Zoom and with Plural Eyes it can be easier just to let the Zoom record for the whole time rather than start and stop it multiple times. Then sync in post and cut out the surplus. Run the actual dSLR video capture longer than the actual interview so that Plural Eyes has more to work with than would be the case with short clips.

Pete

So obvious but never though of the power supply! I did consider just letting the DSLR and audio roll on in order to have larger files that would sync better...but I would still prefer avoiding an extra sync...I actually though of another solution... I have this set Sennheiser Worldwide - ew 100-ENG G3 (http://www.sennheiserireland.com/ie/home_en.nsf/root/professional_wireless-microphone-systems_plug-on-transmitter_021118) which should work really well

But I hate getting the receiver to read the transmitter it seems really fiddly... sometimes it work right off the bat but other times it can take ages! I don't know why I'm giving this so much though because I'm actually consider pulling the guest message completely. Its hard work on the day of a wedding it takes so much extra energy to get people to take part.

Thanks Peter, I had no idea that the NTG2 would work with the 5d! I tried before, but didn't realise it would need a battery

:)

I can't understand you guys having such a problem with seperate audio - I've been shooting with DSLR's for 3 years now and have at least 2 seperate audio recorders running as well as audio on the camera. I never had a problem syncing sound - sure it takes a little time but with Pluraleyes it's a doddle - start it going and make a cuppa and you're done.

I've shot interviews with the DSLR and I just start the Zoom and lock it - hand it to the guests and the 1st table and start the camera recording and don't stop till I finish the interviews - I have a long video file and a long audio file - match them up and you're good to go.

ohh - sorry I forgot you're most probably using a camera with a recording time limit - I use Panasonic GH2's (I had to get that in - ahhh feels good)

surely having a mike and camera connected via a cable at a wedding is a recepie for disaster, especially with a mix of guests and alcohol.

the only other option I'd consider is a plug on transmitter

Sennheiser SKP 100 G3 Plug-on Transmitter for Dynamic SKP100G3-B

I have the rode videomic pro for my 5d, and was wondering if there is any attachment out there to make this a hand held 'voxpop' type mic?
Thanks in advance! :)

Sennheiser SKP 100 G3 Plug-on Transmitter for Dynamic SKP100G3-B

I can't understand you guys having such a problem with seperate audio - I've been shooting with DSLR's for 3 years now and have at least 2 seperate audio recorders running as well as audio on the camera. I never had a problem syncing sound - sure it takes a little time but with Pluraleyes it's a doddle - start it going and make a cuppa and you're done.

I've shot interviews with the DSLR and I just start the Zoom and lock it - hand it to the guests and the 1st table and start the camera recording and don't stop till I finish the interviews - I have a long video file and a long audio file - match them up and you're good to go.

ohh - sorry I forgot you're most probably using a camera with a recording time limit - I use Panasonic GH2's (I had to get that in - ahhh feels good)

surely having a mike and camera connected via a cable at a wedding is a recepie for disaster, especially with a mix of guests and alcohol.

the only other option I'd consider is a plug on transmitter

Sennheiser SKP 100 G3 Plug-on Transmitter for Dynamic SKP100G3-B (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/618849-REG/Sennheiser_SKP_100_G3_B_SKP_100_G3_Plug_on.html)

Don't get me wrong; I wouldn't have a bad word said about Pluraleyes! It’s an amazing tool and I already use it to sync the ceremony and speeches with my zoom's. At the moment I'm trying to cut back on edit time even in the smallest ways. If I don't plan ahead then I have to wait around for the sync. My edit time is too long and I just want a nice clean workflow. Having said that I do have the Sennheiser SKP 100 so that's me sorted. It might be a heavy investment for James if he is only buying it for the guest messages.

Hey all,

Few thoughts on this subject.

First, the H6N coming out for $400 looks promising.. with removable mic types on the front, plus 4 XLRs, recording to 6 audio channels.. to me it's on the list of things to get. I currently have a Tascam DR-40 and works great, except I bent the dang headphone jack (which all plugs were locking SDI like plugs!!). So I can still record but want the 6 channels anyway.

What about a BeachTek or similar 2XLR or 3XLR mixer/pre-amp/phantom powered? You use that, feed the output to the DSLR input and you can record two or so XLR mics for great audio right on the camea, don't need to sync or anything. It works well, although I still prefer the external recorders along with a sync track on the camera.

Have a look at JuicedLink. They make good quality mic preamp/mixers that allow XLR inputs to be used on cameras without them. I use a riggy with my GH3. I end up with better quality than my Sony HVR Z5 which uses compressed Dolby audio, whereas the GH3 is uncompressed. The preamps on the riggy are of better quality than your typical Zoom and Tascam recorders, and I get the assurance of headphone monitoring on the camera which I consider essential.

Cheers,

Mark

That was the other one..Juicelink. Couldn't remember the name of it. If you want near high-end quality, pairing a JuiceLink with an external recorder will give outstanding quality. Like the other guy said, the pre-amps are no doubt a bit better on a device that costs more than a recorder and basically provides pre-amps and mixing of channels and that's it. I am considering the Juicy with the H6N down the road, but will need 3 Juicy's for the 6 inputs on the H6n (probably just get 2 and use 4 inputs + mic on the H6N).

"The pre-amps are no doubt a bit better on a device that costs more than a recorder and basically provides pre-amps and mixing of channels and that's it. I am considering the Juicy with the H6N down the road, but will need 3 Juicy's for the 6 inputs on the H6n (probably just get 2 and use 4 inputs + mic on the H6N)."

There's nothing to gain by connecting the juicedlink into the Zoom. That would just be an unwieldy monster. It plugs directly into the DSLR, so you don't need a separate recorder or sync'ing up later. You do need a camera with a headphone output though to check what's going in.

To me the H6 looks way too big for a DSLR rig. You may as well have a full sized ENG camera. 6 inputs is pretty cool though!

I use an H2 and an H4 and sometimes also a tiny little old iRiver mp3 recorder with a lav mic. Sometimes I even manage to hit record on them all in my pre-wedding panic :)

Sorry to the OP for getting a bit off track.

Cheers

There is no substitute for getting the microphone as close to the mouth of the speaker as possible. If you don't have a skilled boom operator the only other choice is a lav mic. Connect it to a wireless unit or any of the digital recorders & you are set.

I'm so glad Nigel said that. Everyone seems to want gizmos to make thin, distant and weak audio sound good. Get the mic in close, and forget all these worries about preamp noise, and sleep easier! You rarely see people who wish to shoot everything on the lens wide setting, then spend time trying to avoid the extra noise, and loss of definition when you have to crop the image in the edit and expand it to zoom in!