Decent microphone for 60D? at DVinfo.net

Sebastian Alvarez · May 19th, 2012, 06:23 PM

I just got the 60D, and I'm blow away by the photo and video quality, but not so much by the tiny mono microphone. I tried two things, an Azden SMX10 microphone I've had for years, which is not terrible but has a lot of hiss, and I had read about some people using the Zoom H1 connected to the mic input, and that has a far worse hiss than the Azden.

I'm trying to get a stereo sound quality that matches the built in microphone in my Canon XF100, which to me is excellent, crisp, realistic sounds without any hiss, even when in a silent day out in the yard. I really can't spend $500 on a microphone because I'm already paying thousands between these two cameras, but I would like to find an inexpensive option that doesn't have so much hiss. I know that it's difficult and usually if you want quality you have to pay for it, but I found many items that don't cost much and are still of good quality.

Any recommendations?

Tom Miller · May 20th, 2012, 01:43 PM

I got the rode video mic i think it was $150 well worth it seems to do a good job

Sebastian Alvarez · May 20th, 2012, 01:54 PM

Thanks Tom, but I believe that one is mono. It doesn't say on the website, but it says it's directional, and most of those are mono with a few exceptions.

Jon Onstot · May 22nd, 2012, 04:28 AM

If you have an H1, you might wnt to try using an attenuator cable to reduce the line level signal out the Zoom. There are threads on the topic for connecting an H4N to a camera. Not sure if the same applies to the H1; perhaps others here will know.

Allan Black · May 22nd, 2012, 05:24 AM

The Rode stereo Videomic Pro should fit the bill very well ...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/839897-REG/Rode_STEREO_VIDEOMIC_PRO_Sterei_VideoMic_Pro.html

Cheers.

Brett Sherman · May 22nd, 2012, 07:40 AM

I've never found stereo microphones mounted on camera's all that useful. Especially X-Y microphones as they just widen the pickup field and make it more likely to get camera operator noise. Now M-S mics can be used in either stereo or mono arrangements, but the Rode stereo mic is X-Y. I have the Rode VideoMic Pro and it works well. Not great sounding, but passable. I'm waiting for the VideoMic HD which should solve a lot of problems.

Victor Nguyen · May 22nd, 2012, 10:38 AM

I also recommend the VideoMic Pro. It's not the best but it's perfect for run and gun.

Andy Wilkinson · May 22nd, 2012, 10:55 AM

I agree. I have it on my 7D. It is pretty susceptible to wind noise (even with the Rode deadcat on it) but is, I think, the best solution for run-n-gun, i.e. when you can't do double system sound.

Taky Cheung · May 23rd, 2012, 09:27 AM

It depends on your application. If you are filming with lots of dialog, and you want to filter side and rear noise, then you will need a shotgun mic. they are mono. Rode VideoMic or Rode VideoMic Pro is a popular choice.

If you need to record concert, ambient sound, stereo, then Rode Stereo VideoMic is good for that purpose.

Allan Black · May 23rd, 2012, 07:19 PM

If you're shooting dialogue with a shotgun on location and it's windy, even though you have a windscreen fitted .. if possible, try and mic the talent at 90 degrees to the direction the wind is coming from.

Cheers.

Sebastian Alvarez · May 23rd, 2012, 07:34 PM

Actually I was looking for something less expensive, say $100 or so. Price aside, I really don't like how that $300 Rode stereo mic looks at all. But for now I'm still using the Zoom H1 on top of the camera, I played with the levels and realized that the hiss was because the input level on the H1 was low, the output level was also low, and the input level on the 60D was high. I did some tests and set the rec level in the H11 to 80, the output to 50 and the input level in the camera to about a quarter. That gives me good sound without much hiss. The only problem is that the thing I use to put the H1 in the shoe doesn't have any vibration absorption, so I have to find a better one.

May 19th, 2012, 06:23 PM	#1
Sebastian Alvarez Major Player Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 309	Decent microphone for 60D? I just got the 60D, and I'm blow away by the photo and video quality, but not so much by the tiny mono microphone. I tried two things, an Azden SMX10 microphone I've had for years, which is not terrible but has a lot of hiss, and I had read about some people using the Zoom H1 connected to the mic input, and that has a far worse hiss than the Azden. I'm trying to get a stereo sound quality that matches the built in microphone in my Canon XF100, which to me is excellent, crisp, realistic sounds without any hiss, even when in a silent day out in the yard. I really can't spend $500 on a microphone because I'm already paying thousands between these two cameras, but I would like to find an inexpensive option that doesn't have so much hiss. I know that it's difficult and usually if you want quality you have to pay for it, but I found many items that don't cost much and are still of good quality. Any recommendations?

May 20th, 2012, 01:43 PM	#2
Tom Miller Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: PA, USA Posts: 112	Re: Decent microphone for 60D? I got the rode video mic i think it was $150 well worth it seems to do a good job

May 20th, 2012, 01:54 PM	#3
Sebastian Alvarez Major Player Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 309	Re: Decent microphone for 60D? Thanks Tom, but I believe that one is mono. It doesn't say on the website, but it says it's directional, and most of those are mono with a few exceptions.

May 22nd, 2012, 04:28 AM	#4
Jon Onstot New Boot Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Peculiar, MO Posts: 24	Re: Decent microphone for 60D? If you have an H1, you might wnt to try using an attenuator cable to reduce the line level signal out the Zoom. There are threads on the topic for connecting an H4N to a camera. Not sure if the same applies to the H1; perhaps others here will know.

May 22nd, 2012, 05:24 AM	#5
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,887	Re: Decent microphone for 60D? The Rode stereo Videomic Pro should fit the bill very well ... http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/839897-REG/Rode_STEREO_VIDEOMIC_PRO_Sterei_VideoMic_Pro.html Cheers. __________________ Drink more tap water. On admission at Sydney hospitals more than 5% of day patients are de-hydrated.

May 22nd, 2012, 07:40 AM	#6
Brett Sherman Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mount Rainier, MD Posts: 428	Re: Decent microphone for 60D? I've never found stereo microphones mounted on camera's all that useful. Especially X-Y microphones as they just widen the pickup field and make it more likely to get camera operator noise. Now M-S mics can be used in either stereo or mono arrangements, but the Rode stereo mic is X-Y. I have the Rode VideoMic Pro and it works well. Not great sounding, but passable. I'm waiting for the VideoMic HD which should solve a lot of problems.

May 22nd, 2012, 10:38 AM	#7
Victor Nguyen Major Player Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Houston,Texas Posts: 289	Re: Decent microphone for 60D? I also recommend the VideoMic Pro. It's not the best but it's perfect for run and gun.

May 22nd, 2012, 10:55 AM	#8
Andy Wilkinson Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cambridge UK Posts: 2,853	Re: Decent microphone for 60D? I agree. I have it on my 7D. It is pretty susceptible to wind noise (even with the Rode deadcat on it) but is, I think, the best solution for run-n-gun, i.e. when you can't do double system sound. __________________ Andy K Wilkinson - https://www.shootingimage.co.uk Cambridge (UK) Corporate Video Production

May 23rd, 2012, 09:27 AM	#9
Taky Cheung Inner Circle Join Date: May 2007 Location: Los Angeles, USA Posts: 2,114	Re: Decent microphone for 60D? It depends on your application. If you are filming with lots of dialog, and you want to filter side and rear noise, then you will need a shotgun mic. they are mono. Rode VideoMic or Rode VideoMic Pro is a popular choice. If you need to record concert, ambient sound, stereo, then Rode Stereo VideoMic is good for that purpose. __________________ LA Color Pros Blog RODE Authorized Reseller . Comer LED Camera Lights . TakyBox HTML5 Menu Generator

May 23rd, 2012, 07:19 PM	#10
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,887	Re: Decent microphone for 60D? If you're shooting dialogue with a shotgun on location and it's windy, even though you have a windscreen fitted .. if possible, try and mic the talent at 90 degrees to the direction the wind is coming from. Cheers. __________________ Drink more tap water. On admission at Sydney hospitals more than 5% of day patients are de-hydrated.

May 23rd, 2012, 07:34 PM	#11
Sebastian Alvarez Major Player Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 309	Re: Decent microphone for 60D? Actually I was looking for something less expensive, say $100 or so. Price aside, I really don't like how that $300 Rode stereo mic looks at all. But for now I'm still using the Zoom H1 on top of the camera, I played with the levels and realized that the hiss was because the input level on the H1 was low, the output level was also low, and the input level on the 60D was high. I did some tests and set the rec level in the H11 to 80, the output to 50 and the input level in the camera to about a quarter. That gives me good sound without much hiss. The only problem is that the thing I use to put the H1 in the shoe doesn't have any vibration absorption, so I have to find a better one.