I don't have a mic input for my camcorder. Are there any alternatives?

Question

I use a Sony HandyCam MiniDV camcorder that doesn't have a mic input. i was wondering if there were any other alternatives so I can get better sound quality. Are there such things as FireWire external mics?

Answer 1

yes you can buy them at lemon-party.org

Answer 2

I thought sony made a propriety device that plugs into the hot shoe for the mini dv cams. I could be wrong though.

Answer 3

Nu'uanu is right - just remember to add a cue such as clapping your hands so that you can synch the audio when you edit it in.  Editors like Vegas Movie Studio include a visual trace of the audio level and allow you to lock tracks together, both of which help.

Answer 4

You can use a "field recorder" for audio capture. When you edit the video, replace the audio that cam in with the video with the audio from the field recorder.

M-Audio, Zoom, Marantz, Sony, Edirol, TASCAM... there are others. Some have built-in mics or can use external mics - or only work with external mics...

Answer 5

i have produced more than 25 feature length concert performances for television and never used a mic input on a camcorder. The purpose of the camcorder is to get tight shots, follow action, get crowd response, and no reason ever to be tied to audio cables. the main reason for the audio on the camcorder is to allow matching its video to the program audio during editing. that works far better than clappers which are used in film making only because a motion picture camera does not record audio. (really, the sound track is added later).

The best method is to use a studio class VCR, and feed to it the program audio microphone mix and a camera with a cover shot. That way you have visual cues sync'd to the program audio, and a usuable shot if ever needed. Using a studio deck also eliminates the discontinuity from tape and battery changes. This allows you to change tape/battery at ANY time with the field camcorders and not lose the set. This is especially helpful in my case where the band director did not take breaks for fear the audience might walk out (everybody has phobias and the videographer is not in charge of everything that happens on stage).