NEW SOUND CONCEPT

[dalelpaq]

Tried something new yesterday that others may be interested in. My cam, Canon HV30, does great video but really bad sound. The built-in mike is useless. Adding an external mike works but distance from the subject becomes problematic unless I want to tow around a 25 foot cord or put out for a wireless mike. What I did was simply this - I set up my laptop in the vicinity of the subject (hidden) and attached an inexpensive shotgun to the mike input (any mike would have worked). Using the free download Audacity, I started the cam and Audacity recording more or less at the same time and then used a simple clap of my hands in view of the cam before the dialog started. When finished, I exported the audio recording to a file on my main computer, downloaded the video there as well. I opened the video in PE, unlinked the video and the sound, and removed the sound. Then I added the sound file from the laptop and with minimal effort, synch'ed up the claps. Worked perfectly! Good luck. Dale

[Bobby]

Sounds Interesting Dale - thanks.

But I wonder why this would be better than just attaching the mic to the camera input?

Also because I have no issue with the audio from my HV30, either with the built-in mic or with the Canon shotgun for it (forget the model number). What are you hearing specifically that makes you feel the HV30 audio is wanting?

Thanks...

[dalelpaq]

Much of what I shoot ends up being hand-held and every touch to the camera gets recorded. Also, even on a tripod, any breeze at all ruins the sound.

I think one of the advantages of using a separate recorder is breaking the tether to the camera thus allowing complete freedom of movement.

Anyway, no need for all occasions, but useful, I think, on occasion. Dale

[sidd finch]

I use my 5th generation iPod with a mic called iTalk from Griffin to do the same thing. The iTalk mic also has a 1/4 jack so that I can plug in and use a shotgun mic. the files are recorded as WAV and I just down load them when I am done. The iPod makes things a little less bulky.

Sidd

[Greg mgm]

Sid- I'm so glad you posted that. I've always wanted a hand held recorder, and considered buying a Zoom or similar. And I've always wanted an Itouch....so this application is perfect.

How clean/ clear are the recordings?
I didn't see the mic on the Griffin site...is it a separate item?

[sidd finch]

Hi Greg,

I found mine on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Griffin-Technolog ... 714&sr=8-3

The mic's in the iTalk are stereo condenser that work pretty well for voice. It has a hard time with loud sounds. It records in the iPod under voice memo and works really well. I have also plugged in my Rode video mic: http://www.amazon.com/Rode-VideoMic-Dir ... 919&sr=8-1 and that works really well too.

What I like is that it is so small and easy to use plus I did not have to purchase a seperate recorder.

Sidd

[Greg mgm]

That could be an excellent solution for me.

Thanks a lot for the links.