Hi-Def Audio IN Camcorder?

Question

Does anyone know a good Hi-Def Cam that has an Audio IN feature. I want to record my ROCK band's live shows but the noise is too much for a standard mic. I want to shoot the video normally but run the audio out of the soundboard directly into the camera. Any information would be appreciated. Thanks!

Answer 1

Audio in is only part of the problem. You need to control the mic gain - the audio level - that gets past the mic and into the camcorder.

The least expensive camcorders with a mic-in jack and manual audio control are the Canon HV20, HV30, Sony HDR-HC7 and HC9.

DO NOT use a board mix - unless the audio engineer knows what they are doing (they will send a discrete AUX send to your camera - and everything needs to be mic'd and mixed perfectly). Remember, vocals don't use their own amp but use the PA - the guitar and keys use their own amps and may not come through the PA - so you will get lots of vicals and not very much of the amplified instruments or drums... unless everything is mic's or connected with a DI box.

There is no such thing as a "standard mic"... shotgun? dynamic? cardioid? condenser? stereo condenser?

If your camcorder has a mic in jack and you want to use mics with XLR adapters (I've used Shure SM-58's but now I use an Audio Technica AT-825), then get an XLR adapter like those from juicedLink or BeachTek - plus they have mic gain controls... to use in conjunction with the camcorder's manual audio control.