18Nov More iRig Pre audio testing
I had a chance to run another quick tests with iRig Pre. For this test I wanted to see how well the 48 volt phantom power performed. In this case I have the AT4073 plugged into and powered by the iRig Pre which is feeding directly into the Zoom h1.
iRig Pre phantom power test (download mp3)
For this recording I had the Zoom h1’s input level set to 11 and the iRig Pre turned all the way up. If you have the software at home, take a look at the noise floor during the none speaking parts at the end and you’ll see that for $35 the iRig Pre does very well. So far I’ve been very impressed with the price to performance that the iRig Pre has to offer. Having phantom power and a decent amount of gain in such a small package real seems to make this thing a bargain. Still working on the full review, i’ll keep you posted.
November 18th, 2012 at 10:51 am
What software do you use to evaluate audio?
November 18th, 2012 at 11:56 am
I generally use Sound Forge, but you can use any audio program that allows you to look at the wave form to get a general idea of where the noise floor comes in.
November 18th, 2012 at 11:30 am
Sounds good!
Does it work plugged straight in, or do you have to rewire it to do that?
November 18th, 2012 at 11:39 am
You either have to use the adapter (pink and green thing) or rewire the output plug. The adapter is probably easier.
November 18th, 2012 at 11:59 am
Thats what I thought.
A rewire would make things a bit more tidy.
I’m thinking about rewiring two of these into one stereo minijack and make a cheap mans Juicedlink…
November 18th, 2012 at 1:14 pm
I’m working on a poor mans Juicedlink build right now. Once I’ve finished and tested it, I’ll put up a build guide. No phantom power but you’ll end up with 2 XLR inputs, a stereo 1/8 inch in, 2 1/4 inch inputs and left and right channel gain. All running off a 9 volt battery. The price should be under $35 with all the parts.
November 18th, 2012 at 1:44 pm
Hey, that sounds pretty cool! Keep us posted!
October 19th, 2013 at 6:55 am
Hi Deejay. Did you by any chance finish the “poor mans JuicedLink” The promised setup sounded.. promising! 🙂
November 20th, 2012 at 11:53 am
Something that might be easier then rewiring the plug is getting one of these. Not 100% sure if this adapter will work, but I’m guessing you could take it apart and rewire it if needed.
November 18th, 2012 at 12:00 pm
Wow, $800 microphone? How would this sound with a lesser mic with less output gain?
November 18th, 2012 at 12:12 pm
What is the purpose of the adaptor? Where do you plug in the headphones for monitoring if the green plug goes into to headphone input of the camera? Can you draw a really simple diagram, because I could really use this.
Thanks for sharing with us.
November 18th, 2012 at 1:21 pm
The iRig Pre has a headphone output. I’ll sketch something up when I post the full review.
November 18th, 2012 at 3:27 pm
Great, thanks for helping. I guess I don’t understand what is the purpose of plugging into the headphone out of the camera or the zoom. Does that somehow feedback into the headphone out on the preamp? Whey not plug the headphones into the camera or zoom?
November 18th, 2012 at 1:15 pm
The first test was with a Sure SM57 here. That’s a $100 microphone.
November 18th, 2012 at 3:31 pm
Yes, I bought it… VERY Impressed!
November 18th, 2012 at 5:03 pm
I’m selling my JuicedLink box..
November 19th, 2012 at 10:02 pm
Which JL box did you have and what is your set-up camera & Mic with the iRig? Thanks!
November 18th, 2012 at 3:32 pm
I’ve been running and gunning with the iRig PRE since it came out July – like you’re seeing here, it’s terrific quality for the price. The battery life also surprised me.
November 18th, 2012 at 7:43 pm
I am currently using the Juiced Link DT454 on my 5D MKII with the Rode NTG-1 Boom Mic. I am mostly doing testimonial, introduction, type videos with a portable green screen studio. Am I understanding this set-up with the iRig etc. would this be compatible to what I am doing with the JuicedLink? I know its a $400+ product but I really like the fact this set-up with the irig seems so simple and less bulky? Would it be silly to think the iRig set-up would be something to consider vs. the DT454 set-up? Samples of the type of videos I am doing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1toKpvo8mA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrzqvEEalrU
Thanks
George
November 18th, 2012 at 9:41 pm
I you are just shooting talking heads with a single microphone, the iRig pre would probably do the trick. Watching your second video, you might want to use fill left or fill right in the effects pain in CS5 so that the audio plays back on both the left and right channels.
November 18th, 2012 at 11:13 pm
Hey Deejay
Thanks for the response and yes I sent you the wrong link to that particular video where I had fixed the dual audio I edit in Final Cut Pro X : ) but then learned I had failed to select the mono switch on the JL : ) I just feel like the DT454 is really overkill and I always seem to have to fiddle with the audio controls and having to calibrate. Now will this set-up allow me the ability to bypass the AGC on the 5d MkII? I think this was the reason I went to the JL DT454 at the time I originally set-up rig. Just trying to make it simpler and keep my audio as professional as possible.
George
November 19th, 2012 at 8:34 am
You shouldn’t really need the AGC disable function on your 5d mark II if you are using the latest firmware. Canon’s firmware has built in audio meters and level controls now.
November 19th, 2012 at 12:39 pm
So I would just use the iRig straight into the 5D MkII? Have you had much experience using the Rode NTG1 vs. the 2 (which my understanding only different from the 1 because of the Phantom Power?) or 3 would I increase quality any better using the iRig vs. the JL DT454? Just want simplicity and quality sound and I think going the JL route may have been a mistake? or should I just really buckle down and learn (I know you can’t tell me what I should do LOL!) the JL DT454 and the NTG1 set-up. However I think I am going to try this iRig set-up, now I don’t need to run it through a ZOOM H1 do I?
November 19th, 2012 at 2:38 pm
George, With the adapter cable you can feed the output of the iRig directly into the 5d’s microphone jack. I’m working on a Video review and how to guide that I should have up sometime next week. The iRig provides quit a bit of gain, but doesn’t offer all of the mixing features that the JL has to offer. If you don’t take advantage of all the features the DT454 has to offer then it’s probably overkill for what you’re doing. If you’re not sure you could always order the iRig from amazon and return it if it doesn’t work out the way you wanted.
November 19th, 2012 at 2:36 am
Hi Deejay,
What sort of shotgun mic would you recommend with this sort of setup? something in the range of $150 – $200.
I was planning on getting either the RODE NTG-2 or Audio-Technica AT875. Which of these would be a better choice?
November 19th, 2012 at 8:31 am
In that price range it really depends on what you like better, to my ear the NTG-2 has a little more “body” and low end pickup, while the AT875 has more of a crisp sound. I would listen to some sample recordings and see which one sounds better to your ear. If it were me I would try to save up for a used NTG-3, Mkh 416, or at4073. In fact there is an at4073 on ebay right now for $285 buy it now price
which is a very good deal.
November 19th, 2012 at 10:19 am
Thanks for the reply Deejay. The NTG-3, MKH 416 are quite expensive for me, but the audio-technica sounds like a sweet deal.
I looked around for audio test, and stumbled on this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqK3DKLvqPU
The NTG-3 sounded just a tad bit nicer, but the AT4073 held its own! seems like it might be worth getting that.
November 19th, 2012 at 11:28 am
The AT4073 isn’t quit as warm, but it has the best reach of just about any boom mic I’ve used. If I’m shooting outside or in a large area where I can’t get the mic as close as I like, that is my go to microphone. Just be careful in small rooms with lots of flat walls, because its great reach also grabs sound reflections from walls. The Sanken Cs-1 is my favorite microphone for inside shooting in small rooms with a very nice, warm sound, and good pickup pattern. The MKH 416 kind of sits in between those to as a microphone that doesn’t have as good of reach and isn’t quit as good in a small flat room.
If I could only buy one and I was on a budget I would say the AT4073 is the best bang for the buck.
November 19th, 2012 at 3:08 pm
Hi,
I am wondering of you think it could be used with a 5DmkIIor a 7D.
Thanks
November 20th, 2012 at 8:41 pm
The adapter link is for the 2.5 mm to dual 3.5, is this right link? do i need to get a 3.5 to 2.5 adaptor now, will any step down adapter work. annoyed that i wasted my money on something i can not use
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002NQV0N0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002NQV0N0&linkCode=as2&tag=dfn0c-20
November 20th, 2012 at 11:30 pm
Oh Snap!! I did not order that piece thought it was all part of the iRig..Ugghh mine is due in today : ( I worked for Radio Shack for 13+ years they used to carry this adapter however not seeing it on the Radio Shack website. This cable is only for being able to have headsets while plugged into say my 5D MkII right? The iRig should work without the adapter until I get one right?
George
November 22nd, 2012 at 1:21 am
Thanks for the heads up on the iRig. It delivers very good sound from my AT-875R.
You’ve mentioned that you have some mounting ideas. Are you thinking on mounting it on top or under the camera?
I have the 60D and need to use the Magic Lantern/Canon cable to the the headphone audio back into the iRig in order to use the headset mini-jack output in the iRig. Has anyone come across a cheaper canon cable for audio output than the one some company custom-made a couple of years ago?
November 22nd, 2012 at 10:19 am
I figured I’d just add some cold shoe females and males around the outside so that it could be rig mounted as well as top mounted. As for the cable, you can make the cable out of the special usb cable that comes with your camera.
July 4th, 2013 at 12:50 am
Hi. I’m playing around with Magic Lantern raw, and want to connect an XLR mic to an H1 with the iRig Pre (because there’s no in-camera audio on my 60D when shooting raw). Would you say the iRig Pre is cleaner that the preamp in the Zoom H1?