Ron Priest
Veteran
Sep 23, 2007, 9:54 AM
Post #4 of 15
(2367 views)
Shortcut
|
|
Re: [szerangue] Need audio equipment suggestions
[In reply to]
|
Can't Post
|
|
Hi Shane;
Again, I’m sorry about your loss. As Mark mentioned I do have the Rode NT3 and it is a very nice mic. I use it mostly for interviews with family and B&G along with the Zoom H4 recorder and a pop filter. Rode does have a new mic, the M3 which is a very versatile mic with a 3 position Pad switch maximizing headroom up to -10dB and 20dB with a high pass filter. It can be powered by a 9v battery or 24-48 phantom power. And yes, it is black. The foam windscreen that comes with the M3 is better (thicker) than the one that comes with the NT3, and they actually describe it as a pop filter. I have not actually had the chance to use the M3 in the field, but have tested it connected to the Zoom H4 and am very pleased with the results. I ordered a pair of M3s before I purchased the AT825 Stereo mic (at Marks suggestion) with the plan to have a pair of mics that I could use to capture stereo, but I needed a stereo mic before I received my M3’s which took 8 weeks to ship from Australia. However, B&H currently has them in stock for a reduced price than what is listed on their website.
If your budget allows you to purchase the Zoom H4 before your deadline of next weekend, I would recommend it. It would be a good replacement. Just give yourself a couple hours to insure you know how to operate it or you could end up having a problem. Mostly I’m referring to the simple record function. When you first press the record button, the light is flashing, it is in pause mode, you must hit the record button again for it to start recording. I remember it this way. When your driving, a flashing light means caution, so be cautious if your zoom record light is flashing, you’re not recording but in pause.
Another thing you want to keep in mind about the Zoom H4 is that you cannot set the internal mic input levels independently. You can however independently set the levels if you’re using external mics. Here is the reason I caution you about this, don’t make the same mistake I made. The first time I used the H4 at a reception I had an external mic plugged up to the DJ’s sound board for input 1 (left) and I had an external mic connected to the H4’s input 2 (right channel). I was in a hurry trying to get my sound set up before the grand entrance and was trying to independently adjust the input levels without success. I just didn’t have enough time to think about it, so since the levels look okay anyway, I just went with it. Well the next day when I got to listening to the audio, I realized I had not recorded with my external inputs at all, but with the internal mics, which explains why I couldn’t adjust the levels independently. So be careful, make sure you have the external inputs selected instead of the mics if your recording with that configuration.
If however your budget allows, get an Edirol R-4, you’ll never look back I guarantee you. In any case, you will probably still want the Zoom H4 anyway, for backup or portability such as in my case; I use the R4 at the reception to capture the entire night. I connect my AT stereo mic to capture ambient while capturing a pure stereo signal directly from the DJ’s soundboard on the other 2 channels. I then use the Zoom to capture interviews with the parents and B&G (to be used as sound-bites) during the 2nd half of the reception in another room somewhere. I’ll also purchase the H2 somewhere down the road I suppose for backup, I just appreciate the H4 because it has the XLR inputs, and with the money I’ve invested in mics, I want to be able to use them. One final thought here concerning the R4. If your capturing all of your audio independently of your camera’s onboard mics, aren’t pressured to purchase a Z1 for example over an FX simply because the Z1 has XLR inputs, you really don’t need them. But then you already have your HD cams, so that’s probably not as much of an issue for you than it is for me. I’ll probably end up purchasing at least 1 Z1 and probably 2 FX’s or whatever is their replacements by the time I save up that kind of cash.
So, I don’t know if this has helped you or not, but I hope nothing but the best for ya, and maybe you’ll still recover your property, you never know, I hope so.
_____________________________
Ron Priest - Louisville KY
New Website/Blog
Live StudioCam
(This post was edited by Ron Priest on Sep 23, 2007, 10:00 AM)
|
