Audio
This quick demo shows what a few cheap parts can do to disable AGC on your canon 7d. Lets hope canon releases an updated firmware soon to fix this problem. The parts used include an old mp3 player, a Studio 1 production mixer, a XLR to 3.5mm Adapter and a cold shoe mount.
July 1st, 2011 at 9:04 am
I was watching your tutorial on better audio tips…you mentioned that you should bring one channel (left or right) down a little bit as a back up audio channel. I have the basic H4 with the XLR inputs. Is there a way to go into the H4 and adjust one channel down??
July 4th, 2011 at 6:08 pm
If you’re using the older Zoom h4, you might be able to adjust your levels in 4 track mode. I sold my H4 when I received my h4n so I don’t actually have one laying around to mess with. Hope that helps.
November 2nd, 2012 at 11:07 pm
Deejay you are the man!!!
I have a T2i and a Rode Video Mic that I use for audio and the audio sucks. I shoot training videos for my students to watch and need an audio solution that will work for both “run and gun” shooting as I video skills being performed etc, as well as an audio solution I can use for screen casts I’m making.
I no NOTHING about audio and am wondering if you can help. Would the H4n for example take care of these needs? I don’t have lav’s and don’t have the budget to spend $6-800 on a Sennheiser.
Your videos are so dang helpful AND they crack me up. Thank you.
July 5th, 2011 at 8:16 pm
Hi, where I can download you mp3 files for disable the agc?
Thank you
July 14th, 2011 at 11:30 am
Hi. I just brought at Juicedlink DT454 so that I could monitor sound with my headphones and also for all of the other necessary sound options it provides. One problem I am having is that I am getting a tone of feedback on my headphones. I see you use the Zoom H4n alot. What do you recommend? I like the fact that I don’t have to sync sound in post using the Juicedlink but I feel limited.
What do you recommend?
Thanks,
Joanes.
July 14th, 2011 at 3:23 pm
The noise you are hearing is probably caused by the AGC circuit running. If you’re using the 60D you shouldn’t need to use the AGC disable feature. Check out page 5 of juicedlink DT454, it explains what you need to do in order to set everything up. You’ll probably still get some noise, but you shouldn’t get a tone anymore unless you’re picking up something else with your mic or cabling.
The Headphone amp on the DT454 and DS214 isn’t very clean so your audio might still sound like it has a little bit of hiss in it when your monitoring with your headphones. Once you get your audio into post you shouldn’t have this problem.
I switch back and forth between my field recorders and my DS214 depending on what i’m working on. When I need multiple tracks of audio I usually use dual system sound and sync with Dual eyes in post. When I only need one channel of audio I record directly into the camera.
July 14th, 2011 at 11:33 am
Opps. I forgot to mention that I own a Canon 60D
August 1st, 2011 at 8:16 am
Hi
I have the 7D and Rode stereo mic and what are your thoughts about using a Zoom H1 or other recorder, to record the sound?
Or are there other solutions to the problem with AGC?
I often records music videos for my friends with my 7D so I want it to be in stereo.
September 13th, 2011 at 8:43 am
How do I monitor the audio on the camera T3i? The magic lantern does not enable the audio output functions.
September 15th, 2011 at 8:54 pm
You’re out of luck until ML finishes there firmware, Unless you want to use something like the Juicedlink DS214 audio preamp.
November 16th, 2011 at 1:52 pm
heloo, my friend!
i’m brazilian audio operator and like a lot your website.
November 20th, 2011 at 8:24 pm
Thanks!
November 26th, 2011 at 3:02 am
Hey Deejay,
I picked up your zoom h1 shock mount, and I am loving the simple and effective design. I am curious if you could explain how to use an external/lav mic and record to the zoom h1 (or if this is even possible). Just looking to improve audio quality with the budget limitations I have.
Thanks so much for all the work you do! It’s a pleasure to watch your videos.
December 11th, 2011 at 9:15 pm
I’ll second that. 🙂 Love your site, love your work you are doing a great thing here.
I’d like to better understand a way to buy a pair of H1’s and a pair of the $20 AT lavs to use instead of wireless systems, and knew you’d be the man to explain it. 🙂
December 29th, 2011 at 11:56 am
Hello!
First your tutorials are unbelievebale, how can you find all those stuff, wow! There is my question, i bougt a GH2 and like to record some tutorial and shoot my fishing show whit my Gh2 but need two wireless mic working (one for me and the other for my guest). I want good sound and the solution can be cheap or not. I’m new in the dslr fiming and my english is not very good so i’m totally lost. I think you are the best outhere thank you.
December 29th, 2011 at 9:24 pm
A small 2 channel mixer from beachtek or juciedlink and a set of sennheiser g2 or g3 wireless mic’s on 2 different frequencies should work out well for that sort of thing. Just send me an e-mail if you need more info.
January 9th, 2012 at 3:14 am
As a noob/newb to sound, I have been drafted into it on the small project I am involved in. I have read, watched and learned all about boom mounts, poles, wireless and recordings in the field.
As one of the masses that has limited to no budget, I have seen that its clear, a good audio recording device can make or break a mediocre shoot. Without the funds at the moment to get both a zoom h4n, build a pole and buy a shotgun mic, can the zoom h4n be mounted at the end of the boom pole in a shock mount of some sort (DYI most likely) in place of the shotgun mic until one can be purchased?
Could you do a video showing pros/cons and recommend one way or another for those of us that have to decide exactly where the few dollars need to go and DYI the rest?
February 9th, 2012 at 8:20 pm
You can mount the Zoom h4n at the end of a boom pole and I’m sure you can build a Shock mount from PVC if you like. I’ll add your request to my que.
March 20th, 2012 at 6:11 pm
Can you mount the tascam dr100 onto a reg tripod with the same method? trying to attach a ntg 2 and a wireless to it but don’t have enough mounts on the dslr…? HELP!
May 21st, 2012 at 5:55 am
I own the Zoom H4n, and even used your tutorials to mount it to my bom pole.
Question is ,what SD card do you recommend for the Zoom H4n?
I’ve been using a 2GB that came with it, but it’s not big enough. When I tried my 16GB SDHD, it took forever to boot. Can you recommend one? Have you seen this problem before?
May 21st, 2012 at 7:40 am
I usually clean the audio off of my zoom h4n after each shoot. A 4GB card has worked for that purpose. The h4n does tend to boot slower then other field recorders. If you need something that starts fast, take a look at the Tascam Dr-40.
May 29th, 2012 at 1:05 pm
Hi, Is the Zoom H4n still the best to go for? I know it’s been around a while so wasn’t sure if anything else better has turned up since. I need something to capture background audio – crowd noise at a track meet and want something better than the sound off my 7D DSLR. Alternatively, would I be better off spending less, say a Tascam Dr-40 and buying an external mic? I guess 500 bucks is my top budget. Thanks for a great site.
August 3rd, 2012 at 10:56 pm
I love your video tutorial. I have a Handy Recorder H4n at my office. I want to record sound from 4 different sources (4 Musical Instruments) at the same time, but I have no idea about it. Hope to learn more from professional audio visual practitioner like you. I am looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Best,
Piseth
August 4th, 2012 at 4:54 pm
Depending on your sources, 4 track mode is easy to use. If you have 4 xlr sources you’ll need an 1/8 inch to xlr stereo adapter box for you zoom h4n. That gives you independent level control of the audio being recorded into the jack on the back of the unit.
August 7th, 2012 at 11:29 am
I have a Canon T1i. Just did my first interview video clip accompanied with music in the background. I used my nifty fifty lens to record the footage and it came out really good. However, the audio left MUCH to be desired since the internal mic picks up everything and anything. And it just flat out sounds bad…plus with the subjects being 5-6 feet away, their voice isn’t that loud.
I stumbled upon your youtube vids and was wondering what you would suggest I get to accompany my T1i when I record interviews. Although the Zoom H4n is nice, it’s way out of my budget and plus I don’t see myself recording much else other than interview type audio. Which lower end unit would recommend? A Tascam or Zoom (DR-05, H1). I like the idea of mounting a smaller PDR on top of my T1i with your noob mount, but would you also recommend using a mic that through the external mic input? Or the built-in mics would more than suffice for my uses? And how about the kitten windscreen for outdoor interviews? Worth getting?
Thanks,
Hank
September 23rd, 2012 at 10:27 pm
My Zoom H1 has terrible noise interference in one of the mics. It only appears in the right ear using the internal mics. You can actually hear the clicks and buzzing of the electronic circuitry as it writes data to the memory card, similar to interference you might get from a mobile phone on the radio.
If I plug in a lapel mic to the Line In the buzzing goes away. I haven’t seen or heard any reviews that mention any issues with the mics picking up noise from the internal circuits. Mine is going back ASAP. Something to watch out for.
November 6th, 2012 at 1:57 pm
Bro I love you! You have help me so much with your videos!!!
My shots are amazing after i have seen your movies! So i just wanna thank you for being so kind and make all those videos! You are a HERO for me man! Keep goin!
December 18th, 2012 at 7:56 pm
I see you also have the same recorder I do, the Tascam DR40. Would be interested to see you compare it to the H4N
December 18th, 2012 at 8:25 pm
You can find that here.
December 30th, 2012 at 3:28 pm
Deejay,
After using your iRig Pre, would you say the preamp is better or worse than the Art USB Dual Pre?
January 29th, 2013 at 4:29 pm
Hey Deejay,
Love your site, very helpful indeed!! I’m working on a project in which I’ll be recording guitar classes. Right now I have a Canon 600D but I might buy a second camera for multi cam use.
Probably the most practical thing would be to use to mics and hook them straight up to the camera but then you have the hiss. I’ve seen several devices on the market such as the FiiO, Beachtek and JuicedLink but quite frankly I don’t know which one would work best.
Is there any of these options that you would particularly recommend? I’ll be shooting lots of clips so ideally I would want to record the audio into the camera.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Best regards,
Detmar
January 29th, 2013 at 9:32 pm
Chances are you’ll be using microphones and a mixer. If you are looking for a second camera the t2i + magic lantern will give you the best results (for the price). With magic lantern you can run the audio from your mixer directly into your camera, set your levels and you should be good to go.
April 9th, 2013 at 8:46 am
I thoug the Knobhead just was for the look
September 28th, 2015 at 11:46 pm
I’m planning on filming a couple of horse riders next month, and want to know how capture some audio while they are moving.
I have a Canon 6d, Rode Video Mic Pro, Tascam DR-05, and Sony ECM-CS3 Tie Clip Microphone.
Any suggestions?
Thanks