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-   -   External mic for Kodak Zi8...?? (https://www.audiobanter.co.uk/uk-rec-audio-general-audio/8196-external-mic-kodak-zi8.html)

Keith G[_2_] July 19th 10 09:59 AM

External mic for Kodak Zi8...??
 

I have a little pocket videocam for You Tubes and it has a (unique amongst
these things, apparently) socket for an external mic. Any recommendations?

http://shop.kodak.co.uk/store/ekcons...ctID.147430700


The spec says 'support stereo' which I take to mean it will record two
channels in a single mic sort of way - worth bothering with or not? I've no
idea!

The built-in mic is actually far from useless, but I suspect benefits would
be gained from plugging in the right external mic, which would not be too
bulky or heavy for starters...??

Suggestions appreciated.



David Harris[_2_] July 19th 10 06:08 PM

External mic for Kodak Zi8...??
 
On 19/07/2010 10:59, Keith G wrote:

I have a little pocket videocam for You Tubes and it has a (unique
amongst these things, apparently) socket for an external mic. Any
recommendations?

http://shop.kodak.co.uk/store/ekcons...ctID.147430700



The spec says 'support stereo' which I take to mean it will record two
channels in a single mic sort of way - worth bothering with or not? I've
no idea!

The built-in mic is actually far from useless, but I suspect benefits
would be gained from plugging in the right external mic, which would not
be too bulky or heavy for starters...??

Suggestions appreciated.



Audio-Technica make a half decent stereo single mic

http://www.millennium-music.co.uk/pr...ail/key/p/ppp/

or maybe Sony :

http://www.laptopguts.co.uk/sony-ecm...new-5721-p.asp

Ive used both on recording MP3 boxes (my iRiver for example) and they
are both OK

DH

David Harris[_2_] July 19th 10 06:09 PM

External mic for Kodak Zi8...??
 
On 19/07/2010 19:08, David Harris wrote:
On 19/07/2010 10:59, Keith G wrote:

I have a little pocket videocam for You Tubes and it has a (unique
amongst these things, apparently) socket for an external mic. Any
recommendations?

http://shop.kodak.co.uk/store/ekcons...ctID.147430700




The spec says 'support stereo' which I take to mean it will record two
channels in a single mic sort of way - worth bothering with or not? I've
no idea!

The built-in mic is actually far from useless, but I suspect benefits
would be gained from plugging in the right external mic, which would not
be too bulky or heavy for starters...??

Suggestions appreciated.



Audio-Technica make a half decent stereo single mic

http://www.millennium-music.co.uk/pr...ail/key/p/ppp/


or maybe Sony :

http://www.laptopguts.co.uk/sony-ecm...new-5721-p.asp


Ive used both on recording MP3 boxes (my iRiver for example) and they
are both OK

DH


Hmmmm, the spec on your recorder does say : mic, monaural....

Time to read the handbook carefully methinks.

Keith G[_2_] July 19th 10 08:58 PM

External mic for Kodak Zi8...??
 

"David Harris" wrote in message
news:_x01o.296782$w51.29405@hurricane...
On 19/07/2010 19:08, David Harris wrote:
On 19/07/2010 10:59, Keith G wrote:

I have a little pocket videocam for You Tubes and it has a (unique
amongst these things, apparently) socket for an external mic. Any
recommendations?

http://shop.kodak.co.uk/store/ekcons...ctID.147430700




The spec says 'support stereo' which I take to mean it will record two
channels in a single mic sort of way - worth bothering with or not? I've
no idea!

The built-in mic is actually far from useless, but I suspect benefits
would be gained from plugging in the right external mic, which would not
be too bulky or heavy for starters...??

Suggestions appreciated.



Audio-Technica make a half decent stereo single mic

http://www.millennium-music.co.uk/pr...ail/key/p/ppp/


or maybe Sony :

http://www.laptopguts.co.uk/sony-ecm...new-5721-p.asp


Ive used both on recording MP3 boxes (my iRiver for example) and they
are both OK

DH




Thank you for taking the trouble to dig those up, David. I think a main
requirement will be some wind protection, so I don't think either of those
will fit the bill, certainly not the Sony due to the way it attaches.



Hmmmm, the spec on your recorder does say : mic, monaural....

Time to read the handbook carefully methinks.



Except you don't really get one! That is the onboard mic being referred to -
it also says 'stereo supported in the I/O device list, but I'm thinking mono
will do in a ny case - outdoor subjects sre likely to be far enough away for
it not to matter.

Many thanks for your efforts.




Dave Plowman (News) July 19th 10 09:58 PM

External mic for Kodak Zi8...??
 
In article _x01o.296782$w51.29405@hurricane,
David Harris wrote:
Hmmmm, the spec on your recorder does say : mic, monaural....


Time to read the handbook carefully methinks.


I had a JVC camera before the days of camcorders, and that had a plug in
mic, which was mono. Removing the mic gave a standard stereo miniature
jack socket.

--
*If I worked as much as others, I would do as little as they *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Brian Gaff July 21st 10 03:31 PM

External mic for Kodak Zi8...??
 
But who wants videos of your pocket?

wanders off mumbling
Brian

--
Brian Gaff....Note, this account does not accept Bcc: email.
graphics are great, but the blind can't hear them
Email:
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________


"Keith G" wrote in message
...

I have a little pocket videocam for You Tubes and it has a (unique amongst
these things, apparently) socket for an external mic. Any recommendations?

http://shop.kodak.co.uk/store/ekcons...ctID.147430700


The spec says 'support stereo' which I take to mean it will record two
channels in a single mic sort of way - worth bothering with or not? I've
no idea!

The built-in mic is actually far from useless, but I suspect benefits
would be gained from plugging in the right external mic, which would not
be too bulky or heavy for starters...??

Suggestions appreciated.





Keith G[_2_] July 21st 10 04:16 PM

External mic for Kodak Zi8...??
 

"Brian Gaff" wrote in message
...
But who wants videos of your pocket?

wanders off mumbling




With a flea in his ear....




Iain Churches[_2_] August 4th 10 07:32 PM

External mic for Kodak Zi8...??
 

"Keith G" wrote in message
...

I have a little pocket videocam for You Tubes and it has a (unique amongst
these things, apparently) socket for an external mic. Any recommendations?

http://shop.kodak.co.uk/store/ekcons...ctID.147430700


The spec says 'support stereo' which I take to mean it will record two
channels in a single mic sort of way - worth bothering with or not? I've
no idea!

The built-in mic is actually far from useless, but I suspect benefits
would be gained from plugging in the right external mic, which would not
be too bulky or heavy for starters...??

Suggestions appreciated.


Keith, the spec for your camera says mono mic.

For most people that is probably fine for most of the time, but if
you want to record music peformances or something like that,
then better audio quality in stereo is desirable

A pal of mine has a very good Sony HD camcorder, also with a
mono built-in mic, which he uses to record the concerts by the
ensemble in which we both play.

We sit two only rows deep, and so need the whole width of the
conservatory stage with the result that he that the camera has to
be quite far back, about row 20, which is too great a distance
for the built in mic. So we have solved the problem by using a
separate pair of mics, much closer to the stage, feeding a separate digital
audio recorder.

We have a "standard" set up now, but the place for the mic pair was
established by a rule of thumb that might be of use to you. Listen to
the performers live, find a point that gives you the required ratio of
performer to auditorium, and then halve the distance between you
and the stage to establish the spot for your mic pair. Try both
AB and XY configuration to see which suits the performance
best.

There is aways a compromise, as as close proximity audio track
doesn't really fit a wide angle pictu-)

Using the camcorder audio as a guide track, you will have no difficulty
in visually aligning the proper stereo audio track in you editing software.
There are no problems with drifting sync as there used to be with
analogue:-)

Iain




Keith G[_2_] August 13th 10 07:23 AM

External mic for Kodak Zi8...??
 

"Iain Churches" wrote in message
...

"Keith G" wrote in message
...

I have a little pocket videocam for You Tubes and it has a (unique
amongst
these things, apparently) socket for an external mic. Any
recommendations?

http://shop.kodak.co.uk/store/ekcons...ctID.147430700


The spec says 'support stereo' which I take to mean it will record two
channels in a single mic sort of way - worth bothering with or not? I've
no idea!

The built-in mic is actually far from useless, but I suspect benefits
would be gained from plugging in the right external mic, which would not
be too bulky or heavy for starters...??

Suggestions appreciated.


Keith, the spec for your camera says mono mic.




Yes, the built-in mic is mono; the mic socket supports 'stereo'.


snip interesting miking procedure info


There is aways a compromise, as as close proximity audio track
doesn't really fit a wide angle pictu-)



Conversely, the built-in mics all too often sweep too wide, gather too much
ambient noise and throw the 'subject' into the background - like most
mobile phones these days!

There's a ton of reviews on YT - this one covers a few well-known models in
a fairly wacky way but with some cable problems, apparently:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFWjAH1zNMo




Keith G[_2_] August 13th 10 07:49 AM

External mic for Kodak Zi8...??
 

"Keith G" wrote


Conversely, the built-in mics all too often sweep too wide, gather too
much ambient noise and throw the 'subject' into the background - like
most mobile phones these days!




As perfectly demonstrated by this YT clip which appears to made using the
Zi8's own mic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yv0gC...eature=related


(Does a sales pitch that incredibly poor pass muster in the US these days?)




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