Cleaner audio

gadgeteer

gadgeteer

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OK, so I know next to nothing about videography. But I am getting married later this year and unfortunately the budget doesn't really stretch to employing a videographer. Plus that and the only part of the day we both really want to have a video record of are the speeches so we can't justify the expense.

So my idea was to have my Sony A77 set up on a tripod which a friend will start/stop and move to the right person. But I'd like some good audio. So I've been reading up. Simplest of course seems to be to get a shotgun mic but I'm worried that it won't be good enough at the distance the camera will be (approx 4m away).

Ideally I'd like to use a lapel mic which seem inexpensive but the cheap kits I see on eBay look firstly a bit TOO cheap. Secondly they have the 6.3mm plug which I then have no clue how I could convert to plug into the Sony.

Does anyone have any ideas the best way to get a cleaner audio feed?
 
What Benny said.

Zoom H1 on the top table. Shock mount it to avoid clinky glasses noises.

Easier with continuity too.
 
JonathanRyan said:
What Benny said.

Zoom H1 on the top table. Shock mount it to avoid clinky glasses noises.

Easier with continuity too.
Click to expand...

The Zoom H1 is perfect but I would tape it to the hotel microphone so everyone who is making a speech will be speaking directly into it. Audio will then be perfect. Set the levels to about 60% and you should be good to go.
 
Another vote for the Zoom. Make sure that whenever there's a speech, the speaker raps the table or whacks a glass with a spoon first. It makes syncing the audio a breeze ;)
 
They look like they'd be perfect and I like the idea of taping it to the mic.

One more question, would I be able to connect a small lapel mic to the mic input on the Zoom H1 and capture the vows? It wasn't something I had thought about until now.
 
gadgeteer said:
One more question, would I be able to connect a small lapel mic to the mic input on the Zoom H1 and capture the vows? It wasn't something I had thought about until now.
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You sure will. Pop the Zoom into your pocket and connect up the lapel mike. I usually have the levels at about 75% for the vows and that should be enough to pick up them up cleanly
 
Make sure the zoom is set to PCM 48 kHz, then there's no chance you editing software will do any nasty conversions.
 
Ballyman said:
The Zoom H1 is perfect but I would tape it to the hotel microphone so everyone who is making a speech will be speaking directly into it.
Click to expand...

That's true. But I've found you get a lot of handling noise on the H1 so if they are hand holding the mic it can pick up a lot of bangs.

They work great with a lapel mic - some really cheap ones on Amazon.
 
I've ordered the Zoom H1. Found a refurbed one for £50 inc delivery so can't grumble at that price and I've ordered a couple of lapel mics from Amazon at a couple of quid each. Thought sod it, get a spare since reviews said they were ok but the clip easily breaks. They're not going to be used professionally so i didn't want to spends loads.
 
Stratman said:
Another vote for the Zoom. Make sure that whenever there's a speech, the speaker raps the table or whacks a glass with a spoon first. It makes syncing the audio a breeze ;)
Click to expand...

That is the tip of the century. Thankyou. Sorry to hijack the thread
 
Hi guys

I stumbled across the Zoom H1 refurbished at Maplin's of all places.

Just go to their website and type Zoom H1 and it should show you they have B grade stock in. They are on promotion until 15th Jan and come with full 12 month warranty. So anything goes wrong, I can take it back to the shop.

Or this link may work, just scroll down past the full priced one at the top.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/zoom-h1-handy-recorder-398518


Hope that helps someone.
 
Ah thanks. I knew they had them at a good price but the refurbs are a steal :D
 
My tip, sadly not for hardware but a free piece of software great for tidying up audio after recording called Audacity. Once you get the hang of it has some great features.
 
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