Newbie question: need ext. mic input comparison for mini DV

Hi,
I make my living in audio, and want to buy or trade for a mini DV
which has specific features, such as an external mic input, and
hopefully a headphone output as well. I've been google searching, but
I can't even come close to finding what I need yet. I need to find a
comparison chart - preferably all brands - of available mini DVs that
can *exclude* those without my desired features. I don't need reviews
yet, just trying to narrow the field from 100 to 10 without
overlooking anything.

Does anyone have a link to anything like this? Feel free to email me
privately with specific info. I will try to check back here later.

Thanks for the bandwidth,
Mikey
Nova Music Productions

 

From what I have seen, it is mostly the very low-end
camcorders that lack a mic input.

Most DV camcorders have headphone outputs. Even the
palm-size micro camcorders, IME. Doesn't mean that
there will necessarily be anything worth monitoring! :-(

Do you mean a list of camcorders that have/lack mic
inputs, or camcorders that have/lack headphone outputs?
Likely doesn't exist. You'll have to look up specs for the
individual units.

Shouldn't you start with the camcorders within your budget
and then eliminate the products that lack the features you seek?
It wouldn't hurt to ask in a forum like this, state your budget,
and as many details about what you are looking for.

Several of us came to video production from the world of
audio production. And there are some authors (books,
columnists, etc.) that specialize in audio for video. Jay Rose
is a Clio and Emmy award winning sound designer and is
one of those authors. He writes a regular column on audio for
video for DV magazine, has written a couple of best-
selling books on DV audio, and features a bunch of good
info on his website: www.dplay.com

In particular, one of his DV Magazine articles might be of
specific interest to you: "DV Camera Audio: Real Numbers,
Real Recommendations"

http://www.dv.com/features/features...e&LookupId=/xml/feature/2002/rose_feature1102

After reading it, you might re-consider doing "double-system"
sound recording!

Note also that there is a newsgroup that specializes in sound
for production: As you might imagine, there is an ever-increasing amount
of discussion of video production there, particularly with
the amount of HD that is replacing traditional film-based
production. Discussion of which video cameras are most
audio-friendly is a semi-regular topic. A Google Groups
search would likely turn up some interesting reading.

 

I'm looking for a low-cost unit (~$300-$400) With mic input, headphone
output, Firewire (I)/O, Good video quality, Ext. video/SVHS I/O for
pass-thru transfers to computer. Stills would be nice, and card
storage, too. I'd like Analog zoom to be more than 10x - maybe
16x-20x. I'm not too concerned about LCD size or resolution, tho
brightness could be a factor as I do plan to shoot outside as well as
inside.

Question - I've seen lots of mDVs with the little 1/8" "A/V" jack. Is
this a stereo jack that allows mic in/headphone out at the same time,
or what?

I've seen both your's and Jay's posts on rec.audio.pro, as I've been
hanging there for many years now. I figure I have all this
under-utilized studio, so why not get my feet wet with video & see
what happens? I have a couple of casual projects lined up already.

A term I'm not familiar with...
I couldn't get to it. I signed up but I couldn't get to the link. I'll
try again.

Thanks Richard, I'll try that too.

Mikey
Nova Music Productions

 

Yikes! I hope you have a lot of time to try to find such a thing.
Your wish list and budget almost seem to be in different
universes. 8-/

4-pole (sleeve, tip, and 2 rings) connector that has composite
video, and left/right audio (line level) all on the same connector.
If you feed video/audio IN while recording, it will override the
camera and record the line-in. During playback, the same
connector is video/audio line-level output. Headphone is almost
always a separate connector.

I hope you don't think that we are in the same league! Jay
is a working professional that has been in the biz for decades
and has the credits and awards to show for it. I have been in
the engineering biz for decades (some of it audio and video)
and love making/hacking equipment as much as using it.

It means recording the audio on a separate machine from the
film/video. Still used exclusively for film production and
even on many (most?) high-budget HDTV. It is a somewhat
specialized area of audio production and is discussed by
working pros over in the r.a.p.s newsgroup.

 

But I've seen a LOT of units with most, if not all of those features
in that price range (street price @ Circuit City, etc.). The problem
is I've seen too MANY models & few have the mic/HPH I/O I'm looking
for. I did see a Samsung unit for $400 with everything, but I'm shy on
Samsung, as well as Sony. Any brand recommendations overall? My
opinion has always been high on JVC and Panasonic.

Therefore useable while shooting as a post-mic pre line in? Or not
useable because I'd not be getting video from the lens? Seems the
latter is likely to me. IOW, when *anything* is plugged into the A/V
jack EVERYTHING is bypassed in favor of both ext. audio and video.
Correct?

Ah - I get it. No, I'm not planning any DS work at this time. I think
with good mics, pres, technique, and placement, the 16/bit/44 or 48k
digital audio on-board the mini DV will do just fine. I'm assuming
it's approximately the same quality/conversion as a DAT machine. Not
Apogee quality, I'm sure, but 'good enough' for now.

I've check Jay Rose's site - he's quite entertaining.

Thanks for your help, Richard!

Mikey
Nova Music Productions

 

"Mikey" wrote ...

Not sure how important video quality is to you (or to whatever
projects you are considering). If there are only a "few" with
mic inputs and headphone outputs, that automatically cuts down
your list, doesn't it? Lots of us have a prejudice FOR Sony
(whether deserved or not). The majority of working video pros
out there shooting news and reality field stuff are likely using
Sony. But JVC and Panasonic certainly have their following
also. Dunno how the quality reputations (of any of them) translate
into the very low-end stuff, however.

[A-V jack]

Not usable, as it bypasses camera (video). There may not be
ANY cameras <$20K that have true "line" inputs. My Sony
DSR-300 (as all $5K-10K cameras and most conventional
mixers, Mackie, et. al.) have attenuators to knock line-level
down to feed into the balanced mic inputs.

Read Jay Rose's article before you make such assumptions.
You might be surprised. I think your expectations may
exceed whats out there in the market, particularly at the
low end.

 

Let me rephrase my OP, then:

Does anyone know of a miniDV cam under $500 ($400 street) with
external mic/line in, firewire/dv out, good video quality & resolution
(probably indoor and outdoor), a/v I/O for pass thru (mostly for
analog transfers)? Still capture capability to memory card would be
nice but not necessary. Headphone out while recording mic/line in
would be nice, too.

Thanks Richard for your advice.

Best wishes,
Mikey
Nova Music Productions