Scratch mic options for Epic / Scarlet...

[Dave Draper]

Apologies if this has already been covered, but I couldn't find a related thread.

What are the current scratch mic options for Epic / Scarlet? Looking for something we can just plug into our WC A-Box, mount to the top of the camera, and leave there.

DD.

 

[paulherrin]

http://nofilmschool.com/2013/11/rode-introduces-the-videomic-go/

not a bad option for $99

there are a lot cheaper pin-mics out there. i found some old sony (i think) one lying around that works, you might be able to do a google advanced search of reduser.net, i remember an extensive thread on this at some point where guys were testing different cheap pin mics - i think some worked well and others didn't.

 

[Michael Hillman]

Ive used button Mics if im just looking for scratch, with great results. If you wanna go with the A-Box look at Rode mics
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/388984-REG/Sony_ECMDS30P_ECM_DS30P_Compact_Stereo.html

 

[Dave Draper]

Cheers, guys -- I'll look into those pin / button mics. My only immediate concern is how easy they'd be to snap off, especially in the rental scene.

Is there any confirmation that the RODE Videomic Go works with the Epic / Scarlet? And if it does, how hot of a signal you can get from it, being that it lacks its own power source?

 

[Arnold F.]

I got this and it works great. Having worked in feature, studio film and tv sound in both production and post-production for two decades, I've yet to understand why people put a shotgun mic on the camera.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...055_ME_52W_Noise_Cancellation_Microphone.html

 

[Dave Draper]

I got this and it works great. Having worked in feature, studio film and tv sound in both production and post-production for two decades, I've yet to understand why people put a shotgun mic on the camera.

You have the VideoMic Go, or... ?

 

[Elsie N]

Something to consider... if you are using a mic only for scratch, find something with less DR. I think you will find you are recording less extraneous noise and are able to focus in on what you are pointing at better. At least, that's what works for me.

 

[Dave Draper]

Thanks for the heads up, Elsie.

Another thing I was wondering was; what actually IS the issue with certain microphones on the Epic / Scarlet? Do some of them not pick up a signal at all? Or is it something else? We've only used an ME66 with the Scarlet, and it worked fine.

 

[Doug Beatty]

I have been told that ear buds work. I haven't tried it, but I have used headphones as a PA before so it stands to reason that this could be a 0.99 solution.

 

[Michael Hillman]

Most button Mics I've used dont fall out and work well for scratch. Im using a Button Mics I got from Cinema Oxide. They work great.

 

[Dave Draper]

Most button Mics I've used dont fall out and work well for scratch. Im using a Button Mics I got from Cinema Oxide. They work great.

Checked out Cinema Oxide, but couldn't find any button mics.

After further thought, however, I'd prefer not to go with a button mic for a rental cam, as I'm just not convinced that it won't get lost, or broken off, etc.

 

[Arnold F.]

Sorry, I forgot to post the link, which is below. I confess I don't understand the need for a Rode videomic or a shotgun. I guess maybe for B-roll. One sees pictures of them on DSLR's even the RED everywhere.... We've had shotgun mics for decades so why does one never see a picture of one on an Arri 35mm camera from say the 60's or 70's or 80's or 90's?

I got the mic below just to record a reference track on music videos.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...055_ME_52W_Noise_Cancellation_Microphone.html

You have the VideoMic Go, or... ?

 

[Marc Wielage]

Sorry, I forgot to post the link, which is below. I confess I don't understand the need for a Rode videomic or a shotgun. I guess maybe for B-roll. One sees pictures of them on DSLR's even the RED everywhere.... We've had shotgun mics for decades so why does one never see a picture of one on an Arri 35mm camera from say the 60's or 70's or 80's or 90's?

When news film was being shot in the 1950s and 1960s on Auricons, there was almost always a sound crew with a sound mixer responsible for the boom, checking levels, and feeding sound (via a cable) to the sound-on-film camera. Later, when videotape came in around 1975-1976, this continued until budgets slowly cut the sound man out of the news crew, and they just bolted a Sennheiser 416 to the top of the ENG cameras. The ENG cameras were generally very quiet, since most of the noise came from the VTR on the rear of the camera (by the battery).

One can argue that this will be good enough for B-roll, but again, if you're using a camera with a fan as noisy as a Red, that noise will permeate all the footage and can not be easily removed. If the camera's cold, I think it could work adequately in some circumstances.

 

[Elsie N]

Hoping the OP doesn't mind my veering slightly off topic (If he objects, I will understand and delete this post.) Has anyone had any adverse experience using the Tascam DR60D as an on-camera audio solution?
http://www.bswusa.com/Portable-Digital-Recorders-Tascam-DR-60D-P9848.aspx

(It's currently on Amazon for a really good price.)

 

[Paramon Ivanovich]

Is there any confirmation that the RODE Videomic Go works with the Epic / Scarlet? And if it does, how hot of a signal you can get from it, being that it lacks its own power source?

it does with the stereo to mono adapter, but please , don't even think about getting it, just called B&H for RMA. If the unit i got is not defective this is absolutely the worst piece of shit i've ever tried. You can hear every light bulb on the ceiling, it interferes with any electrical device within 4 feet, and i am not even talking about signal level and sound quality. just don't.

 

[Dave Draper]

I got the mic below just to record a reference track on music videos.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...055_ME_52W_Noise_Cancellation_Microphone.html

Many thanks for the link, Arnold.

Hoping the OP doesn't mind my veering slightly off topic (If he objects, I will understand and delete this post.) Has anyone had any adverse experience using the Tascam DR60D as an on-camera audio solution?
http://www.bswusa.com/Portable-Digital-Recorders-Tascam-DR-60D-P9848.aspx

(It's currently on Amazon for a really good price.)

You're fine, Elsie.

it does with the stereo to mono adapter, but please , don't even think about getting it, just called B&H for RMA. If the unit i got is not defective this is absolutely the worst piece of shit i've ever tried. You can hear every light bulb on the ceiling, it interferes with any electrical device within 4 feet, and i am not even talking about signal level and sound quality. just don't.

Interesting. Can any RODE VideoMic be made to work with the Epic or Scarlet with a Stereo-to-Mono Adapter? And if so, how would you use it in conjunction with an A-Box?

 

[Bob Gundu]

The A-box is all you need to make the RODE VideoMic to work. Just need the 3.5mm to XLR adapter.

Many thanks for the link, Arnold.



You're fine, Elsie.



Interesting. Can any RODE VideoMic be made to work with the Epic or Scarlet with a Stereo-to-Mono Adapter? And if so, how would you use it in conjunction with an A-Box?

 

[Dave Draper]

The A-box is all you need to make the RODE VideoMic to work. Just need the 3.5mm to XLR adapter.

RODE recently mentioned to us that the issue with these VideoMics -- when used with RED cameras -- is that they are of "dual mono" configuration specifically designed for a majority of cameras that use a stereo mic input (such as DSLRs), and place the same signal on the left and right input. RODE went on to say that because the Epic and Scarlet use a balanced input, you won't get any audio unless you physically remove the signal that is hitting the inverted input by cutting the appropriate wire inside the microphone. Does the A-Box somehow bypass this issue by converting the signal, or... ?

 

[Bob Gundu]

RODE recently mentioned to us that the issue with these VideoMics -- when used with RED cameras -- is that they are of "dual mono" configuration specifically designed for a majority of cameras that use a stereo mic input (such as DSLRs), and place the same signal on the left and right input. RODE went on to say that because the Epic and Scarlet use a balanced input, you won't get any audio unless you physically remove the signal that is hitting the inverted input by cutting the appropriate wire inside the microphone. Does the A-Box somehow bypass this issue by converting the signal, or... ?

I have the A-Box and this mic and it definitely worked fine a year ago when I had the Scarlet. My camera won't be available until Friday, so I can confirm this. But for whatever reason the A-box made it work fine.

 

[ericyoung]

Sorry, I forgot to post the link, which is below. I confess I don't understand the need for a Rode videomic or a shotgun. I guess maybe for B-roll. One sees pictures of them on DSLR's even the RED everywhere.... We've had shotgun mics for decades so why does one never see a picture of one on an Arri 35mm camera from say the 60's or 70's or 80's or 90's?

I got the mic below just to record a reference track on music videos.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...055_ME_52W_Noise_Cancellation_Microphone.html

Well film cameras don't record sound, so it would be expected that you'd never see a mic on an Arri 35mm camera!