AT897 or RODE NTG-2 or other mic for HV20

Bob Kerner · November 10th, 2007, 08:27 PM

I went with the Canon mic, the DM-50, I think it is. Check the owner's guide. It is a noticeable improvement over the built in mic. You can hear the difference when monitoring with headphones. You can find them cheaper than the Rode.

What pushed me in favor of the Canon mic was two things:
1) runs from the accessory shoe. No external power needed
2) Small form factor.

No offense to anyone who answered already, but I couldn't see the ergonomics of mounting a big shotgun onto a tiny camera. Same with the Beechtek XLR adapter. I like the HV20 because it's almost inconspicuous, like a Leica still camera. Mounting a big mic and adapter negates that. I might as well carry around a bigger rig.

Some one here once posted a comparison of the Canon and Rode mics. Do a search....I think they were comparable in terms of sound.

Cheers
Bob

C.S. Michael · November 12th, 2007, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Kerner

No offense to anyone who answered already, but I couldn't see the ergonomics of mounting a big shotgun onto a tiny camera.

A big shotgun & wide-angle adapter definitely raises the profile of the HV20, and upsets its ergonomics a bit. But the improvement in sound is worth it. You are still saving a significant amount of size & weight over a bigger camera (ie. an XHA1).

Although I use an AT897, I may also pick up a Rode or a DM-50 for a lower profile mic option.

Jack Walker · November 12th, 2007, 03:23 PM

Here's an Audio Technica mic that is short, 7 inches, made for video camera use:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...r_Shotgun.html

The AT897 is 11 inches long.

Here is a matching adapter:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...w_to_High.html

Here is a shockmount:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...hockmount.html

For stereo, the Rode VideoMic is a good choice:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...ic_Camera.html

The Rode VideoMic also comes in mono:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...a_Mounted.html

For the HV20 I think the best choices are the Rode VideoMic (built-in shock mount, size, quality sound) or the Canon DM50 (with sound indistinguishable from the Rode VideoMic, but with less of a shockmount). Both (in mono) cost $150:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...icrophone.html

Bob Hollifield · November 13th, 2007, 04:54 AM

I want to play around with recording a band with my HV20, and after reading everyone, I'm thinking the Rode videomic...am I correct in thinking the stereo version for music? Later I think I will add a recorder once I get comfortable and get some more $$ to play with. So...stereo or mono? Tks folks. bob

Bruce Foreman · November 13th, 2007, 01:37 PM

I would go with the Rode StereoVideoMic for music. While I don't do music I've had excellent luck with mine mounted on a stand with boom and suspended close to the talent (with a 16' stereo extension cord).

For mounting on the camera I use this bracket meant for mounting a flash centered over something like a Hasselblad.

http://www.veachco.com/j120mhBW.jpg

While the grip is meant for the left hand I mount the camcorder the other way and grip with my right so the fold out LCD isn't blocked. If you don't use something like this that gets the mic up high, the Deadcat windmuff (which I wouldn't be without outdoors") lets "fur" hang down into the field of view.

Hope this helps.

Bob Hollifield · November 13th, 2007, 03:55 PM

Thanks Bruce for the info. I've got a flash mount I use with my Nikon 35mm stuff, so that would work pretty good. bob

Pedanes Bol · November 13th, 2007, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Foreman

I would go with the Rode StereoVideoMic for music. While I don't do music I've had excellent luck with mine mounted on a stand with boom and suspended close to the talent (with a 16' stereo extension cord)..

Bruce, do you experience any background noise due to unbalanced connection? (long stereo extention cord). I have an inexpensive audio-technica stereo microphone and it works OK if I connect it on my camera, but when I connect it using a long stereo extention cord, then the camera picks background humming noise.

Thanks.

P.

Ben Hillier · November 14th, 2007, 10:28 AM

Check out the new post 'ME64 and Sony wide angle combo'.....should have postedd it here too...

Jimmy Finn · November 14th, 2007, 05:43 PM

Thanks for all the comments.

I ended up checking out online reviews.

Here's one that lets you listen to recordings made with various mics.
http://www.dvcreators.net/shotgun-shootout/

I also asked both online and local video store which mics they recommend.
bhphotovideo.com and ebay.com others offer plenty of choices also.

Brandon S. shared his set up with the AT and bracket mount which looked like the way to go.

I went with the RODE NTG-2 with xlr/mini adaptor plus bracket with Rode mount from bhphotovideo.com.

After a couple outdoor and indoor tests, I am happy with the improved sound. There is a big improvement in sound quality. For indoor, I will use lav mics though when able.

November 14th, 2007, 10:28 AM	#23
Ben Hillier Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Cali, Colombia Posts: 46	Me64 Check out the new post 'ME64 and Sony wide angle combo'.....should have postedd it here too...

November 10th, 2007, 08:27 PM	#16
Bob Kerner Major Player Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New York Posts: 388	I went with the Canon mic, the DM-50, I think it is. Check the owner's guide. It is a noticeable improvement over the built in mic. You can hear the difference when monitoring with headphones. You can find them cheaper than the Rode. What pushed me in favor of the Canon mic was two things: 1) runs from the accessory shoe. No external power needed 2) Small form factor. No offense to anyone who answered already, but I couldn't see the ergonomics of mounting a big shotgun onto a tiny camera. Same with the Beechtek XLR adapter. I like the HV20 because it's almost inconspicuous, like a Leica still camera. Mounting a big mic and adapter negates that. I might as well carry around a bigger rig. Some one here once posted a comparison of the Canon and Rode mics. Do a search....I think they were comparable in terms of sound. Cheers Bob

November 12th, 2007, 03:23 PM	#18
Jack Walker Trustee Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Burbank Posts: 1,811	Here's an Audio Technica mic that is short, 7 inches, made for video camera use: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...r_Shotgun.html The AT897 is 11 inches long. Here is a matching adapter: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...w_to_High.html Here is a shockmount: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...hockmount.html For stereo, the Rode VideoMic is a good choice: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...ic_Camera.html The Rode VideoMic also comes in mono: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...a_Mounted.html For the HV20 I think the best choices are the Rode VideoMic (built-in shock mount, size, quality sound) or the Canon DM50 (with sound indistinguishable from the Rode VideoMic, but with less of a shockmount). Both (in mono) cost $150: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...icrophone.html

November 13th, 2007, 04:54 AM	#19
Bob Hollifield New Boot Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Roswell Ga. Posts: 19	I want to play around with recording a band with my HV20, and after reading everyone, I'm thinking the Rode videomic...am I correct in thinking the stereo version for music? Later I think I will add a recorder once I get comfortable and get some more $$ to play with. So...stereo or mono? Tks folks. bob

November 13th, 2007, 01:37 PM	#20
Bruce Foreman Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San Angelo Texas Posts: 1,518	I would go with the Rode StereoVideoMic for music. While I don't do music I've had excellent luck with mine mounted on a stand with boom and suspended close to the talent (with a 16' stereo extension cord). For mounting on the camera I use this bracket meant for mounting a flash centered over something like a Hasselblad. http://www.veachco.com/j120mhBW.jpg While the grip is meant for the left hand I mount the camcorder the other way and grip with my right so the fold out LCD isn't blocked. If you don't use something like this that gets the mic up high, the Deadcat windmuff (which I wouldn't be without outdoors") lets "fur" hang down into the field of view. Hope this helps.

November 13th, 2007, 03:55 PM	#21
Bob Hollifield New Boot Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Roswell Ga. Posts: 19	Thanks Bruce for the info. I've got a flash mount I use with my Nikon 35mm stuff, so that would work pretty good. bob

November 14th, 2007, 05:43 PM	#24
Jimmy Finn New Boot Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: St. Louis, Missouri Posts: 8	Thanks for all the comments. I ended up checking out online reviews. Here's one that lets you listen to recordings made with various mics. http://www.dvcreators.net/shotgun-shootout/ I also asked both online and local video store which mics they recommend. bhphotovideo.com and ebay.com others offer plenty of choices also. Brandon S. shared his set up with the AT and bracket mount which looked like the way to go. I went with the RODE NTG-2 with xlr/mini adaptor plus bracket with Rode mount from bhphotovideo.com. After a couple outdoor and indoor tests, I am happy with the improved sound. There is a big improvement in sound quality. For indoor, I will use lav mics though when able.