Drummer Cafe Community Forum
MAIN LOBBY => Gear / Equipment / Instruments => Topic started by: Corey on April 17, 2008, 08:01 AM
|
Title: Single microphone to input into video camera for practice Post by: Corey on April 17, 2008, 08:01 AM I have found it useful to take video of myself practicing to critique myself and improve. Obviously the audio is more important but having the video adds more information (I can see areas where I'm not comfortable, I can assess posture, how I'm hitting a drum or cymbal when it doesn't sound good, etc.).
In the past I have simply used the very, very low quality internal audio microphone on my digital video camera. I would like to improve the audio quality. Obviouly I'm not looking for studio quality sound, just an measured improvement over the internal mic. Would a single overhead or out-front microphone of decent quality give me improved results? If so, what would be a good single microphone for this application? Has anyone else done anything like this? Ultimately I'd like to build a more sophisticated system, but for now this is what I have to work with. Thanks, Corey Title: Re: Single microphone to input into video camera for practice Post by: Bart Elliott on April 17, 2008, 08:27 AM Corey,
The first thing you need to do is check what kind of mic your camera will handle. Look for things like impedance ratings. You'll probably have to purchase a mic that is designed for video cameras. I didn't want to do this, meaning purchase another mic that would only be used on my video camera. So what I did was purchase an audio adapter for my video camera which allows me to use dynamic or condenser microphones with my video camera. I can also take line feeds from my Pro Tools rig and run it to the camera. If you watch DCTV (http://www.drummercafe.tv) as well as the video lessons (http://www.drummercafe.com/content/category/5/15/19/) I've created here at the Drummer Cafe, you are seeing what my set-up can do. The audio adapters range in price. I purchased a BeachTeck DXA-4P (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000ARKWY?ie=UTF8&tag=drummercafe-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0000ARKWY) for under $150 and works great ... and more importantly is compatible with my Canon GL1 video camera. If you go the audio adapter route, be sure that you find a unit that is compatible with your camera, plus good ratings and reviews by consumers. BeachTek is a reliable manufacture, but there are others. Now I can use all my nice audio gear (i.e. mics, mic-pres, etc.) with my video camera. If you decide to purchase an external microphone, you'll have to choose from a handheld, lapel or shotgun microphone. Each has their purpose as well as advantages and disadvantages. There is no one external mic that’s best for everyone, so you’ll have to do some research to find one that fits your needs and budget. Title: Re: Single microphone to input into video camera for practice Post by: Corey on April 17, 2008, 08:49 AM Bart:
Thank you so much! That is outstanding information! It sounds like for a couple hundred dollars I can not only vastly improve the video sound quality, but also have a mic that is compatible with a more sophisticated setup when my system advances. Thanks again! Corey Title: Re: Single microphone to input into video camera for practice Post by: New York Frank on April 17, 2008, 09:35 AM Good thread. Anyone find any of the lower end flash-based video recorders worthy of capturing decent video and audio of music? I have been thinking - again - about a better way to record myself. The lowest device I see is that Zoom H2 at 200. I'm thinking it might be worth trading audio quality down to get some video - if some of those low end flash digital recorders aren't awful. ?
Title: Re: Single microphone to input into video camera for practice Post by: Corey on April 22, 2008, 10:54 AM Okay, let me turn this up one notch. Now let's say that I want to mix that room mic into music in a quality pair of isolation headphones.
How difficult would that be to pull off? (And I'm thinking minimal cost and equipment.) I am currently using a set of Peltor ComTac electronic muffs for practice. That lets me input my iPod and also control the volume of my drums. But the problem is the microphones are on my head, which is not the ideal place to mic a drumset, right? And the mics and speakers are not optimal for music. This would be an ideal practice studio setup. Real drums sounds (not muffled) with a user controlled drums to music mix. Thanks, Corey Title: Re: Single microphone to input into video camera for practice Post by: Nick on April 25, 2008, 11:09 AM The Extreme Isolation EX-29 are pretty good Isolation headphones:-
http://www.extremeheadphones.com/ex-29.html And you could plug them in to any cheap small mixer with a XLR (with switchable phantom) In, Line In & Headphone out… Something like the Behringer XENYX 502 http://www.behringer.com/502/index.cfm?lang=ENG Cheers N |
