XLR Mic for Canon XA10
 

Hello,

I was very lucky yesterday as I could order a XA10 as a internet seller had exactly one unit. In any case I bought the XA10 due to the XLR inputs and I am now looking for a shotgun mic that can be mounted on the camcorder and I was looking for the Rode NTG-2.

Now my questions:
1) does it fit on the handle ?
2) could I get a problem with this as it gets in the picture on wide shoots?
3) overall feedback on that setup?

As always - thanks a lot
Andreas

Re: XLR Mic for Canon XA10
 

RODE NTG-1 is perfect. Ther larger "2" model too big for the camera.

Re: XLR Mic for Canon XA10
 

Understood, so the NTG2 would be visible at wide angles ? Not good. Ok. I will look at the NTG 1 instead.

Re: XLR Mic for Canon XA10
 

The Rode is a very nice mike. You might also look at the Audio-Technica 875, which is about 7 inches long and made for compact cameras. Like the Rode, it requires phantom power, which the camera supplies.

Re: XLR Mic for Canon XA10
 

The NTG2 also is powered by a 1.5 AA battery, something that may be of interest. Remember that if you are powering your XLR mic, out in the field, you will be depleting your battery that much quicker, and an XLR mic I've read can take 30 minutes off your battery life.

I was under the assumption that the NTG1 and NTG2 are the exactly the same diameter.

Btw, the NTG1 needs a bit of foam or tape to fit into the XA10's mic holder from what I've also read ( I have no experience with this mic, but was also look at this as a possibility, however I want a stereo mic instead of a mono unit like the NTG1 or 2.

Re: XLR Mic for Canon XA10
 

The NTG1 and NTG2 are different lengths!

Re: XLR Mic for Canon XA10
 

Hello,

I received the camcorder and the Rode NTG1 today. In fact the mic is too small to fit and I need to organize in fact some foam. I ordererd the SM5 as well and that adds quite some weight.

Re: XLR Mic for Canon XA10
 

If the xa10 mic holder is the same as the xh-a1....

Re: XLR Mic for Canon XA10
 

Made the foam myself with some carton qnd now the mic sits and holds very well but I still have to be very careful otherwise the mic is visible in the picture. In other words no full wide angel shooting. Need to play around with it a little more.

Re: XLR Mic for Canon XA10
 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/497310-REG/Azden_SGM_PDII_SGM_PDII_On_Camera_Short_Shotgun.html
Anyone used this? Apparently it comes with O rings, and according to a review at B&H it fits great. I like the price, no negative reviews, and it's less than 6", which sounds good to me.

Edit: I attempted to hihack the thread inadvertently, sorry, I'll start a new thread or something later.

Re: XLR Mic for Canon XA10
 

You should be able to position the NTG-1 such that you can not only shoot full wide, but can shoot full wide with the WA adaptor as well

Re: XLR Mic for Canon XA10
 

The specs for the Azden SGM-PDII on the B&H web page do not match the specs on the Azden web page.

Though folks appear to be satisfied with the Azden - based on published specs (and reviewer satisfaction) I would give serious consideration to the AT875. (In fact, I may get one this week)For a bit more money you get better signal to noise, higher output and wider dynamic range, and it will tolerate a higher sound level before distortion. One potentially significant point is that the Azden has a rated impedance (on the Azden site) of 1.5K ohms, A bit high I think for a 600 ohm input.

As to the one reviewer on the B&H who complained about the AT needing phantom power, the XA10 provides phantom power.

I use a few turns of gaffer tape on the mic barrel to mount my Rode NTG-2, and it does NOT extend into the full wide zoom image, even with the foam on the mic. However, the mic does look a bit long on the camcorder, the XA10 being as compact as it is.

Re: XLR Mic for Canon XA10
 

The mic in question here draw about 2.5 ma phantom power at 48 volts. Stepped up from 7 volts that would translate to about 20 ma of battery current. Since the camcorder draws a nominal 400 MA this would net to a 5% increase in power draw, or a 5% reduction in battery run time. That corresponds to 30 minutes if you have a nominal 10 hour battery.

Re: XLR Mic for Canon XA10
 

Thanks Don, good info.

Re: XLR Mic for Canon XA10
 

Per your commnet, I was looking at the specs of the mic, compared to to some others, and noticed the Rode Videomic has what appears to be excellent specs, better than many of these shotguns.

I went and got my Videomic out, which I don't use anymore, removed the shoe mount contraption, slid it into the mic holder of the XA10, and PRESTO, it's looks perfect. a $10 XLR adapter and I might be good. No shock mount, but I'll test it out, I'm stoked.

Re: XLR Mic for Canon XA10
 

Doesn't the Videomic have a 3.5MM stereo plug that woudl work in the XA10 mic jack - no need for an XLR adapter?

Re: XLR Mic for Canon XA10
 

Absolutely it does. However, for wedding ceremonies I will use the Rode mini to XLR plug adapter so that I can run my wireless also. For all other work, like the reception, I'll simply remove adapter and just go with mini plug. That way I won't have to change the settings on the XLR switches, which could lead to problems for me, as I have a bad memory.

Re: XLR Mic for Canon XA10
 

Sounds like a reasonable plan.

Re: XLR Mic for Canon XA10
 

Which model Rode Mic were you referring to?

Re: XLR Mic for Canon XA10
 

The Rode Videomic. "Videomic" is a model.

Re: XLR Mic for Canon XA10
 

Hi Jeff,
For your xa-10 setup, are you using the rode videomic or the rode videomic pro? How'd you find the quality?

To all,
I tried using the rode videomic pro via both the 35mm and via xlr adapter, the result:

Via the 35mm: I am getting a lot of hissing/background noise when using the "Automatic" mic level. When I use the "manual" level, the hissing noise is gone but I have to adjust it everytime I am at a different place.

Via the xlr adaptor: the volume is very low even when I crank it up to "Max". When I turn on the ATT, the volume is at good range but a lot of hissing noise.

Via wireless lav mic (to xlr): sounds perfect

I thought I would post this here to find out how you guys setup your audio with your xa-10 and how to get the best volumn.


Any help appreciated.

Re: XLR Mic for Canon XA10
 

Aaron, I haven't played it back yet. But I have used the Videomic on many cameras, it's as close to perfect as anything I've ever used, but I have very limited experience with other mics.

I am using the Videomic on the XA10. The Videomic pro I also have, and they are very close to the same, at least for me. I use the Videomic Pro on my other cameras. I believe there specs are nearly the same. I'm not sure what the ATT setting is for, I need to read my manual. It is a common feature, and I should know what it does, but I don't.

Re: XLR Mic for Canon XA10
 

Aaron, I'm no sound guy, but here's what I know, hope it can help. I just researched ATT.

ATT basically drops your signal 20db on the Canon. Use only when you are in conditions so loud you cannot drop the volume enough with the dials, generally in situations with the line in, but you can choose to use it anytime when your source, like a band, or dj, is too loud.

On the hissing during auto gain, the hissing is because the auto feature is turning up the gain because you are in a quite environment. If you record someone speaking, the hiss will go away, but as soon as they stop, it will return if there is no other noise to pick up. It's a downside to auto gain.

For quite enviornments, you are better off with manual control, which will eliminate hissing. 5 setting should be good most of the time if using XLR.

There is a setting on some newer Rode Videmics, and it's hidden inside the battery compartment. It is very tiny affair, and you change the settings using something very tiny. I changed my settings years ago on my Rode to an optimal setting recommended by someone, and it's perfect. Google it and you can find it. I tried to see what my setting were but I can't make them out, my eyes are just too poor.

Re: XLR Mic for Canon XA10
 

Actually, you are usually better off using the ATT setting when you have very high output mics. If you just rely on turning down the the level control when you have a high input you maybe saturation the input preamps.

Hiss can be from the noise floor of the preamps in a camcorder, or from the noise floor of the mic in the case of condensor mics. Sometime you can sort out the level from the specifications, but not always.

One needs to spend some time with the gear at hand to determine which setting work best in a given application.

FWIW: The Videomic and Videomic Pro have similar electrical specifications, so they should sound very similar.