video camera

In that case, forget about using on-camera mic's and instead, record from whatever your dad's mic is plugged into, then replace the camera sound with this. You will achieve better results.
 
The mic is plugged into a busking box , the backing music comes from his laptop through amplified speakers. I'm trying to work out a better way to do this.
 
Is this a controlled environment (at home or in a studio etc), or is it in a live setting?
 
In that case, do away with the busking box and speakers and record directly into the laptop using something like Cubase, GarageBand, Reaper etc. You can then process or add effects to the audio if needed or desired.

If you don't already have one, you will be best off using an audio interface to plug the mic into, which then sends the signal to the laptop.

Look for a cheap one from Tascam, M-Audio, Prosonus. These start from about £60 and nearly always come with a cut down (but very useable) version of the aforementioned software, known as Digital Audio Workstations or DAW's.

Your recordings will be a lot cleaner, although you will need to think about monitoring (how your dad will her the music and his voice). For this, you would use headphones, but if you don't want then seen in the video, use the in-ear variety.

When you have finished recording, you import the video into some video editing software (iMovie, Windows Movie Maker or Premier Elements will do) and you replace the camera sound with the audio recorded into the laptop (just export if from the DAW software as a WAV.

When setting your recording settings for the audio, choose 16 or 24-bit and 48KHz. 24-bit is preferred if the option exists in the DAW software.
 
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The quality from on camera microphones leave a lot to be desired. It's not only the mic quality but it's the position of the mic from the subject. Ideally you'd take the audio feed from the source, but this may not be possible with your set up and budget.

With only £300 to play with, I think you are looking at one of the entry level Canon Legria models.However I don't think you'll see a significant improvement over using your 600D. You might like to consider using an external mic with the 600D as this may improve the sound quality and reduce some of the reverb on the audio, by placing it nearer the vocal speaker
 
He actually uses a camcorder he bought from aldi for £100
 
realspeed said:
Sennheiser 400 directional mike with extra muffler if required. I wanted a good small lightweight mike and came up with this one £200 .its what I use for my camcorder. Can be seen on this link

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=5571291#post5571291

Realspeed
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Nice mic, but not going to cut it for this application!

Ideally I would be using a large diaphragm condenser mic, or perhaps something like a Shure SM58.

For vocals you really need to have the mic a lot closer to the vocalist than a camera mounted mic will allow - roughly 2-8 inches depending on the mic, vocalist and the characteristics you want the recording to have (proximity effect as an example).
 
artyman said:
Recording in a sound dead enviroment would be better as well. Hang some cloth backgrounds around.
Click to expand...

Good advice, although I would recommend duvets, as density is key to deadening the room.
 
Don't understand why no one has mentioned lighting yet... I know it wasn't asked about, but it will record the video's a hell of a lot better.

In regards to just the video camera as you have plenty of information with regards to audio, unless your dad want's to go down the dslr route (which would work quite well for his video's), then he will be fine with something like:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-CX280-...&qid=1368669593&sr=8-7&keywords=sony+handycam

Along with this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/160-LED-D40...F8&qid=1368669663&sr=1-2&keywords=video+light

Audio has been recorded, but if he want's to take is seriously get one of these with a decent mic:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zoom-H4n-Bo...=UTF8&qid=1368669730&sr=1-1&keywords=zoom+h4n


But to begin with, I'd go for a reasonable 1080p cam corder, which can take a mic input (the sony one's can). That with some decent light will give him massive improvements.
 
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