The Basics
Today's camcorders are packed with features and conveniences. They are often so compact that they fit into your shirt pocket or even a large fanny pack. One of the drawbacks of personal camcorders is that their small size does not give users great sound quality because the internal microphones have been downsized to fit the small frame. Therefore, many video enthusiasts use an external microphone to improve the audio quality on their camcorders.
To use an external microphone, you need a camcorder that has a built-in microphone jack. Look for camcorders outfitted with an accessory shoe so that you can mount the microphone on top of the camcorder instead of holding it in your hand. The microphone's cable connects to the jack with an audio cable. The pin on the end of the cable must match the jack size.
Styles
External microphones for camcorders come in several styles. Omnidirectional microphones pick up sound coming from any direction near the camcorder. Unidirectional microphones only record sounds coming from the direction that the microphone is pointing. Both these styles have low-end options that cost less than $50. The pricier varieties can run you several hundred dollars. A shotgun microphone is helpful when you need to point the microphone at a particular location or person. This allows you to isolate that sound from others near the camcorder. You can purchase shotgun microphones for less than $50, but better quality shotgun microphones can cost thousands.
You can also use a lavalier microphone to add audio to you video recordings. These microphones can clip onto to the clothing of the speaker, instead of being mounted on an accessory shoe or a microphone stand. Standard lavalier microphones are usually omnidirectional. Some camcorders work with wireless microphones. This setup requires a microphone and receiver and a transmitter. A good quality wireless microphone with a receiver that is small enough to fit on a camcorder will normally cost around $500. Radio interference is one drawback associated with wireless microphones.
Usage Tips
Some camcorders have settings that allow you to adjust the audio mode from 12-bit to 16-bit input. Although 16-bit produces CD-quality recording, 12-bit mode only uses two sound channels. This leaves two free channels for future dubbing and adding tracks to the original audio. Most professionals prefer lavalier and shotgun microphones over handhelds. They also recommend using a wind jacket to decrease wind noise when recording.
Once you connect your external microphone to the camcorder, you will need to check the sound quality and the position of the microphone. Unless your camcorder is mounted on an accessory shoe, it may cast shadows on the lens or even show up in your video. It takes some practice to position the microphone properly for optimum sound and video quality. Do a few test videos. Use headphones to listen to the audio recording, if your camcorder has a headphone jack. Adjust the microphone position until you get the sound quality that you need.
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