External Mic for voiceover at DVinfo.net

Charles Newcomb · April 6th, 2009, 09:20 PM

I know this is slightly in the wrong place, but I can't get the Apple Support forums to work right tonight, for some reason.

I'm trying to lay a voiceover track on a FC sequence. The on-board mic on my 24" iMac works fine, but I can't get any external mic to work when I plug it in even when it's selected. I'd hate to think I'm going to have to do it using the on-board mic. I've tried several mics (all preamped), including a wireless mic.

If I can't get it to work, I'm just going to record to my Z1U and capture it.

Battle Vaughan · April 7th, 2009, 01:49 PM

To use the voiceover in FCP you need to select the mike you are using in both the system prefs audio setup/input page and in the FCP voiceover tool itself. Check also in system prefs to be sure the input isn't muted, sometimes it "mutes" itself for reasons I can't fathom. You may need either a USB mike or an analog-to-usb adapter for a regular mike; we have not had great luck with regular mikes in the apple audio input --- either it is a conversion from xlr to miniplug issue, or the computer likes a little higher impedance mike, but we have gone to using USB mikes exclusively for this purpose....HTH // Battle Vaughan/miamiherald.com video team

Charles Newcomb · April 7th, 2009, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battle Vaughan

To use the voiceover in FCP you need to select the mike you are using in both the system prefs audio setup/input page and in the FCP voiceover tool itself. Check also in system prefs to be sure the input isn't muted, sometimes it "mutes" itself for reasons I can't fathom. You may need either a USB mike or an analog-to-usb adapter for a regular mike; we have not had great luck with regular mikes in the apple audio input --- either it is a conversion from xlr to miniplug issue, or the computer likes a little higher impedance mike, but we have gone to using USB mikes exclusively for this purpose....HTH // Battle Vaughan/miamiherald.com video team

I've already discovered what you say to be true. Thanks. I owe you for taking the time to verify. If I can return the favor with any footage/audio from the Rocky Mountains, don't hesitate to ask. Charles mtntvguy@q.com

Les Wilson · April 7th, 2009, 04:41 PM

Macs don't have a mic-in port. That's a line level input. If you run your mic into a mixer and plug in the mixer's line out into your Mac, it'll work fine.

Battle Vaughan · April 7th, 2009, 04:56 PM

Les: (sad and log sigh, here) pray for us, we got some OLD macs....I was visualizing our laptops when I wrote that, thanks for clarifying! / B. Vaughan

Les Wilson · April 7th, 2009, 08:31 PM

I was wondering ... I've never known you to post misleading information. The universe is restored to its proper order now. Whew!

Brian Luce · April 7th, 2009, 09:51 PM

At least on a macbook, an me66 works from the line in port. Maybe becauese it's self powered.

Nigel Barker · April 8th, 2009, 12:34 AM

We use a Rode Podcaster which is a great microphone which connects to the USB port.
RØDE Microphones - Podcaster

Cheers

Nigel

Gary Nattrass · April 8th, 2009, 07:34 AM

I use voice over in final cut all the time and it is superb, a USB mic such as the podcaster should be fine for V/O work.

Battle Vaughan · April 8th, 2009, 10:04 AM

Brian: Aha! We at one time were trying to use dynamic mikes --EV re50--and couldn't seem to get a decent level. So maybe the higher output from a condenser mike would work; thanks for the info!

Or we had mistaken the line port as being a mike input, as Les has pointed out. At any rate, our V/O mikes have been USB mikes since 2005 when we really got down to business, and they work really well. /B Vaughan

Guy Cochran · April 8th, 2009, 12:05 PM

A little MXL Mic Mate works well if you already have an existing XLR mic and just need a fast and easy way to convert XLR to USB. It's surprisingly clean for a $49 device. I watched a demo where they put it up against $1000+ systems and it held up astonishingly well. There is now a couple of models out for dynamic mics as well as Line level sources and a version with headphone out MXL USB Microphones

Charles Newcomb · April 8th, 2009, 06:50 PM

Good info. Thanks again to all.

M. Paul El-Darwish · April 14th, 2009, 12:14 PM

Kinda late but here goes. I use a Sennheiser MKH416 shotgun inside a Harlan Hogan Portabooth (DIY). The Mic is going into a Samson Zoom H4n that I use as a standalone recorder and on occasion as a pre-amp/mixer for input to my Macs via USB. This is the dream set up IMHO!

Marshall Staton · April 16th, 2009, 11:12 PM

Push comes to shove you can always record into your camera.

April 6th, 2009, 09:20 PM	#1
Charles Newcomb Major Player Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Salida, Colorado Posts: 561	External Mic for voiceover I know this is slightly in the wrong place, but I can't get the Apple Support forums to work right tonight, for some reason. I'm trying to lay a voiceover track on a FC sequence. The on-board mic on my 24" iMac works fine, but I can't get any external mic to work when I plug it in even when it's selected. I'd hate to think I'm going to have to do it using the on-board mic. I've tried several mics (all preamped), including a wireless mic. If I can't get it to work, I'm just going to record to my Z1U and capture it.

April 8th, 2009, 07:34 AM	#9
Gary Nattrass Trustee Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Cornsay Durham UK Posts: 1,992	I use voice over in final cut all the time and it is superb, a USB mic such as the podcaster should be fine for V/O work. __________________ Over 15 minutes in Broadcast Film and TV production: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1044352/

April 8th, 2009, 12:05 PM	#11
Guy Cochran DVCreators.Net Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 892	A little MXL Mic Mate works well if you already have an existing XLR mic and just need a fast and easy way to convert XLR to USB. It's surprisingly clean for a $49 device. I watched a demo where they put it up against $1000+ systems and it held up astonishingly well. There is now a couple of models out for dynamic mics as well as Line level sources and a version with headphone out MXL USB Microphones __________________ Guy Cochran DVinfo Sponsor, Cool Gear - DVeStore!

April 16th, 2009, 11:12 PM	#14
Marshall Staton Major Player Join Date: May 2004 Location: Myrtle Beach, SC Posts: 241	Push comes to shove you can always record into your camera. __________________ www.marshallstaton.com

April 7th, 2009, 01:49 PM	#2
Battle Vaughan Trustee Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Miami, FL USA Posts: 1,505	To use the voiceover in FCP you need to select the mike you are using in both the system prefs audio setup/input page and in the FCP voiceover tool itself. Check also in system prefs to be sure the input isn't muted, sometimes it "mutes" itself for reasons I can't fathom. You may need either a USB mike or an analog-to-usb adapter for a regular mike; we have not had great luck with regular mikes in the apple audio input --- either it is a conversion from xlr to miniplug issue, or the computer likes a little higher impedance mike, but we have gone to using USB mikes exclusively for this purpose....HTH // Battle Vaughan/miamiherald.com video team

April 7th, 2009, 04:41 PM	#4
Les Wilson Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 3,014	Macs don't have a mic-in port. That's a line level input. If you run your mic into a mixer and plug in the mixer's line out into your Mac, it'll work fine.

April 7th, 2009, 04:56 PM	#5
Battle Vaughan Trustee Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Miami, FL USA Posts: 1,505	Les: (sad and log sigh, here) pray for us, we got some OLD macs....I was visualizing our laptops when I wrote that, thanks for clarifying! / B. Vaughan

April 7th, 2009, 08:31 PM	#6
Les Wilson Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 3,014	I was wondering ... I've never known you to post misleading information. The universe is restored to its proper order now. Whew!

April 7th, 2009, 09:51 PM	#7
Brian Luce Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,290	At least on a macbook, an me66 works from the line in port. Maybe becauese it's self powered.

April 8th, 2009, 12:34 AM	#8
Nigel Barker Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK Posts: 3,531	We use a Rode Podcaster which is a great microphone which connects to the USB port. RØDE Microphones - Podcaster Cheers Nigel

April 8th, 2009, 10:04 AM	#10
Battle Vaughan Trustee Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Miami, FL USA Posts: 1,505	Brian: Aha! We at one time were trying to use dynamic mikes --EV re50--and couldn't seem to get a decent level. So maybe the higher output from a condenser mike would work; thanks for the info! Or we had mistaken the line port as being a mike input, as Les has pointed out. At any rate, our V/O mikes have been USB mikes since 2005 when we really got down to business, and they work really well. /B Vaughan

April 8th, 2009, 06:50 PM	#12
Charles Newcomb Major Player Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Salida, Colorado Posts: 561	Good info. Thanks again to all.

April 14th, 2009, 12:14 PM	#13
M. Paul El-Darwish Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Gaithersburg, MD Posts: 107	Kinda late but here goes. I use a Sennheiser MKH416 shotgun inside a Harlan Hogan Portabooth (DIY). The Mic is going into a Samson Zoom H4n that I use as a standalone recorder and on occasion as a pre-amp/mixer for input to my Macs via USB. This is the dream set up IMHO!