List Price: $329.00
Sale Price: $229.00
Today's Bonus: 30% Off
I've been a Canon user and Canon fan for many years, but Canon video cameras always seem to have some sort of sound problem. In the case of Canon DSLRs with video capability, the problem is the loud and annoying hiss that occurs when you use an external microphone in a quiet setting. The first time I used my new Canon 60D to make a video, I quickly realized that the onboard microphone, while adequate for perfect circumstances, was not a good fit for outdoor use or pro-style interviews. I decided to buy an inexpensive $45 shotgun mic big mistake which produced the loudest ambient hiss I've ever heard on a recording. After a bit of research, I found that the 60D and other Canon DSLR cameras (and no doubt other brands as well) almost always produce a notable degree of "quiet room hiss" when used with most external microphones--and of course it's usually worse with a cheap mic. Further research led to further frustration, with all the "experts" suggesting that quality in-camera recording is just not feasible on DSLRs and you should buy an expensive independent recording system and then "sync" the sound to the video in post. What?!?!? I don't work for Sony Pictures, I just want to do some good quality commercial work for Internet posting. Then I ran across a YouTube video of a guy testing Rode microphones. He said that, after posting his video of a test with a Canon DSLR, Rode contacted him and told him that by setting the Rode Videomic Pro's dB switch to +20 and adjusting the manual sound level setting on the camera to about 20%, he could achieve a virtually hiss-free recording. Thus I ordered this mic from Amazon. It arrived on-time and in perfect shape, I ran a series of tests under various conditions, and I couldn't be more happy with my purchase. Interestingly, the suggested DSLR setting is right there in the Rode manual--perhaps they added it after the YouTube video was made. Bottom line, if you're shooting video with a DSLR and you want simple, high-quality sound for a reasonable price, this is your mic. Buy anything less, and in my opinion you will be unhappy with the results.
One small caveat: This is a professional mic with a 10 year warranty, but it's not for people who don't take care of their equipment. The mini-jack cable is thin and could easily catch on something and break or be ripped from the mic if you aren't careful. The "rubber band" shock mounting system--while clever and effective--is easily pulled from its mountings and could be easily lost. (One extra set of replacement bands comes with the unit.) In other words, be prepared to handle with care, and you'll no doubt get years of use from this excellent pro microphone.
0 comments:
Post a Comment