Decent mic for the HM100
 

I have just bought and tested the shotgun mic - Audio-Technica AT875 on the HM100
and it has doubled the volume of audio picked up and got rid of that hiss!

I have had to move to -20db on the audio reference level to ensure i have enough headroom for loud sounds!

I can give this mic 10/10 on the HM100 worth upgrading for sure.

~(PS its about 1/2" longer than the JVC mic but sits in the holder just as comfortable) and looks pretty much the same as the original.

I bought an AT875 a while back, and I agree that it is excellent. It is small with excellent quality sound and low handling noise.

I works on the camera and it also works very well on a boom.

First Wedding with HM100
 

Hey Matt. Hope you got my email on Friday, I sent it from my mobile. I was in Bucks for a Wedding in Milton Keynes. I decided to use the HM100 as A cam, and used my trusty little Canon HV30 as B cam. It went far better than I could have hoped for. I used my Sennheiser ME66 shotgun and Evolution G2 radio mic for sound. Both these mic are very hot, I spent the best part of a day setting them up to get the sound just right. I have just started editing the 2 cam service shoot in MultiCam. They mix pretty well, I used the HM100 on the Bride and Groom and varied shots of the congregation using the HV30. With a little tweaking in Magic Bullet Looks, everything is looking pretty good. I took your advise and knocked back the detail on the HM100, by quite a bit, it does, as you say, take away those hard edges, thanks for the advice. I am going to check out the AT mic, at the price you cant go wrong. I will keep my ME66, its very handy to move it around with the plug in transmittor fitted.

Thanks for flagging this microphone up to me guys, it looks interesting.

I've bought a HM100 for travel films so am keen on the smallest, but good/high quality, microphone possible (that will also take a Rycote or similiar).

How does it compare in size to the JVC in box mic for example?

Can anybody recommend anything else?

Thanks in advance....

Here is Dan Brockett's microphone review/shootout that includes the Audio Technica AT875R. If you haven't read this, it is worth it:
As I Hear It - Choosing the Right Microphone

I don't think there is another mic that compares for the intended uses of this mic when considering size, quality of sound, handling noise and use on camera and on a boom. That's before considering the price.

Of course there are more expensive mics used off camera that may be better in specific situations. However, each of these mics have drawbacks when used as a small, all around travel shotgun.

I have a nice furry cover (goes over the foam) for this mic. It is the Koala "MiniMax" Windsock, size 120. Here is the website of this Australian company:
Koala Windsocks, Professional Microphone Wind Protection

Even if you have other mics for some situations, the AT875R is so inexpensive, small and light, that I think it is worth getting in any case.

I just purchased the Audio Technica AT875R for this reason. It's really one of the only acceptable mics that's small enough for the HM100's smallish form factor.

No wide angle and crap microphone are the two biggest "beef" points with this camera. I can live with a funky- amateur exposure adjustment and focus/zoom control. However charging customers any dollars for the microphone of that quality is simply slap in the face. The mic is simply utterly garbage, and it is not possible to record any decent sound with it whatsoever. The only reason they were able to get away with it on HDXXX series was that the cameras were compressing the sound, so it was lame from the get-go. I don't see a point in paying for a mic you can't use anyway, subsequently forcing you to spend additional 200-300 bucks on a mic that actually works.

I think they just put it on there because it looks better. Kinda professional. And to skip it would probably save them 50 bucks or so. Anyway, it´s no doubt nothing you really want to use. I can´t wait to try my AKG 300 with the hyper cap on it. It´s a great mic and very small also, I am sure it will do very well.

I'm quite sure the mic adds $7 or much, much less to the cost of the camera. My guess is much, much, much less.

I just bought an original equipment Siemens AC adapter for a cell phone. I paid $18, and that included $5 priority mail shipping.

It turns out I actually bought a lot of 50 of these adapters, all in with their big wide black rubber bands holding the cable together and all in their fancy little OEM plastic bags. That means each unit cost 26 cents, and that includes ebay fees, Paypal fees and profit for the seller.

The mic probably cost JVC about 37 cents.

Add together the number of cameras sold, divide by the worldwide expenses and staff, and don't forget taxes, and see how much a little plastic add on costs.

And don't forget that about half the people who buy the HM100 get it as a toy as they have money to burn. Those people will use the mic forever and be perfectly happy.

Well, you can always cut the Neutrik plug off of the mic and use it for making your own XLR cables. Will save you 5 bucks or so...

I used camera shooting for 2 days. I think it a consumer camera capable of producing good images. It fits a bill for my next 2 projects, but this is NOT a professional camera at all. It has an easy workflow for FCS2. But to call it a pro camera is out of the question . EX1 is an entry level cam, this one fall way short on the features. But there are people out there who will produce killer content with HM100. Simply the technology evolved in the past several years and these camera can produce nice images, way better then 20-30K cameras 10 years ago.
Like I said, the quality of the microphone is about as good as one from a cell phone, so I would expect better in a $3500 unit.
With good microphone there is zero hiss in the recordings I did.

Depends on how you define "pro". This camera will make me tons of money and the workflow will allow me to take jobs I could not take before simply by cutting down the post-production time dramatically. And for most of its quirks there will be a work-around. So that´s "pro" enough for me. But your mileage will vary, of course. As for the price: My feeling is that the people who are speculating that the codec JVC had to buy from Sony did cost a pretty penny and makes up for most of what it sells for may be right. The other thing many people seem to forget is that in its nich the HM100 has no competitors right now. There is no other camera that has the small form factor, the high quality codec with 35 Mbit recording and the easy workflow using cheap SD media...

I used to be a "pro" snob. I thought only shoulder mounted cameras with interchangeable lenses were pro.

Then I saw my colleagues using cameras that cost less than half of what mine cost and they were charging the same. Then I saw the images from the smaller cameras were equal- sometimes better because of their Chromatic Aberration Correction.

Then I bought a Canon A1 as a third C Cam. Ergonomics aside that camera's image is higher quality than our two HD200's. Alas they are for tripod/steadicam/jib use only in my shop.

If it makes money for you- it's pro.

Has anyone ever used Audio-Technica Pro 37 on a camcorder? It is an instrument microphone, the specs look really good, small and XLR connection?

I'm going to order the Audio Technica AT875R for my HM100. Is there anything else I need to order at the same time? Will it fit into the Hm100 mic holder? or a Cable?

Many thanks!

If you are going to be outside, you might consider a wind cover. I have the Koala Mini-Max, size 120 as I mention in a different post in this thread. This cover fits over the foam cover that comes with the mic. There are other options for wind protection (e.g. Rycote), but I don't know what size or type is available.

A short cable with right-angle connectors works well with the small cameras. Here is an example:
Remote Audio | 3-Pin XLR Angled Male to XLR | REM CAXJ12RTMF

Anyone have a pic of the AT875 mounted on the HM100?

Also what length XLR are you guys running? Would that right angled XLR be much of help?

A little late on this thread, but I purchased the hm 100 (great camcorder), and purchased the AT 875 a couple days later. The mic fits perfectly in the shock mount, though I think I need to build my own o-ring shock mount, the mic picks up too much handling noise. Anyway, the stock AT cable is way too long for my liking, so I bought a straight Neutrik plug, right-angled plug, and a Canare mic cable.

http://img33.imageshack.us/i/img00202.jpg/

http://img21.imageshack.us/i/dsc5576.jpg/

http://img196.imageshack.us/i/dsc5573.jpg/

http://img525.imageshack.us/i/dsc5572.jpg/

hmm, i don't think it is letting me post pictures because I am new, here are the links.

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/8364/dsc5572.jpg http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/d...jpg/1/w800.png

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/5331/dsc5576.jpg http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/dsc5576.jpg/1/w800.png

http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/4358/img00202.jpg http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/img...jpg/1/w800.png

Hi Sam

Nice cable, what's the length of the cable? I'm using a short one hand-made one too. I haven't experienced the handling noise but I haven't used it all that much. The AT875 seems to be a really nice mic for the price, quite a bargain and quite compact.

How would you go a about adding more shock mounting to the HM100?

I also picked up some fur windcovers from 'thewindcutter.com' they have a softie cover that slips pretty snugly over the stock AT foam cover and works very well. They also have clever stick-on windscreens that go over the on-camera mics, quite effective when you don't want the bulk of the handle/audio unit on the HM100 but want some sound (in the wind).

From one end of the plug to the other end, the cable is around 9.5 inches. You haven't noticed much handling noises? When I plug in my in-ear-monitors to the headphone jack, man every bit of camcorder handling is registered. Are you using a right angled xlr plug with your cable? It is SO much cleaner that way.

For the shock mount, I thought about the Rode SM5 SM5 Rode SM-5 Suspension Shock Mount with Ring Clamp Adapter for NT3, NT4, NT5, NT55, NTG-1, NTG-2, and NTG-3 Microphones , however I cannot justify the $50 in price when it can be done diy. So I am going for an attempt using some filter rings (filter without the glass), cutting, gluing, and o-rings.

I'd love to get some furry windcovers, but haven't been able to find them in Hong Kong yet, and I don't want to pay for overseas shipping from the US. Right now though a better shock mount is my main priority.

Just ordered the AT875R
 

Just ordered one from B&H. Love the Cable as well. Was wondering if you had considered going with two right angles XLR adapters? I'm going to try to rig one up and I'll post picts as soon as it arrives. Has anyone gotten good setting recommendations for the Sennheiser 100 ew G3s? I seem to be all over the place and it's been hit or miss. Thanks for the great recommendations. Cheers

Hi all,

I have been following this thread with interest as I have to film the kids school play in a couple of weeks so that the parents can have a copy of the resulting DVD. Options for sound etc., are very limited so I will be restricted to on-cam options. The audio technica sounds ideal for the task (will be about 10 metres or so from the stage) but can I ask someone to please explain:

1, More about the fit so that the mic uses the existing mount - or do I have to use other options?

2, The XLR lead - was wondering why the existing one can't be used? The discussion about making your own lead - is this because the one that comes with the audio technica is too long?

Any other tips gratefully received!

Thanks, Mike

Pad
 

Hi All;
I have two cameras with AT875 Mics on them. It is a responsive mic and gives great performance. One problem I am seeing is with loud venues, like a concert. The mic is so hot that I have to turn the Volume pots down to almost 1 or 2 too avoid peaking. At this low range, the response curve is really tight and difficult to adjust.

It would be great to have a cable with a -10db pad built into it. This way the pots could be operated in the mid-range where the best adjustment is possible.

Hello there, I thought about using two right angle, but it wouldn't work well and be a hard fit, with no real benefit, so here is the new cable I've made a couple months ago.

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/1825/dsc5952.jpg

The AT mic fits perfectly into the hm100 mount, however, be careful when handling because the mic will pick up anything such as using the rocker zoom etc.

The cable that comes with the AT mic works perfectly, I am just picky, like to do-it-yourself, so I decided to make my own cable that is cleaner and better looking. It is purely a cosmetics thing. :)

Your Absolutely Right
 

Thanks so much Sam. I got all the connectors and was ready to solder and came to the same realization. Thanks for sharing. That is a great looking cable. I'm going to follow suit and copy yours exactly. Thanks for sharing.

Also have to say that I'm very impressed with this mic.

Glad I was of help! Good luck on your cable. For the right angle, I used the Neutrik NC3MRC right angle plug: Neutrik NC3MRC Right Angle Male XLR Connector from zZounds.com

As you can see in the picture below, the circular 3 prong connector (the thing the wires are connected to) is free from the actual housing, so I rotated the the round connector to the correct orientation below. Works out very well.
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/531/dsc5950.jpg

Hi Sam,

Many thanks for this - if the mic picks up handling noise like this then would you say it is a show-stopper? I wanted to see LANC support but the cam obviously does not have this therefore I can see lots more use of the rocker switch for zoom etc., but will this mean every action will be recorded?

Thanks again, Mike

I have never had any problem with either of my 2 cameras, both with AT875 mics, picking up noise from the camera. I think this worry is overblown.

Dan

Thanks Dan for the update - decided to buy the AT mic and it arrived without the cable. Looking at the box contents then this is normal for the UK supplied ones at least.

Sadly the cable for the JVC mic is hard wired to the standard mic so I will have to either make a cable or buy one custom made from somewhere.

Really want to try the mic but gonna have to wait!