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Finding the right mic for your digital video

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There are several problems with using the microphone built in to your digital camcorder.One problem is that the sound you record include the sounds that you are making or the sounds in your general vicinity.This is great if you are interviewing somebody at close range and not so great if you are trying to tape something at a distance, like, for instance, a wedding.There are other problems with the built-in mics.The quality is not nearly as good as that of external wireless or handheld mics.Also, with the built in mic you will capture some of the noise made by the camcorder itself.There are quite a few options when trying to select a microphone.Hopefully this article will help you find the right mic for you.

An accessory microphone might be available as an option when you purchase your camcorder.A number of camcorders have a microphone accessory available that fits into the accessory shoe of the camera.This is a convenient option.The quality won't be quite as good as an specialized external mic but it will be better than the quality of the on camera mic.

The external microphone is probably the best option for capturing the highest quality audio footage.Before looking into buying an external microphone, make sure that your camcorder is equip to receive input from a wireless mic.The other thing you need to do before purchasing an external microphone is prepare to shell out some money.You will be able to find mics with of price tag of $50 or so, but most cheaper models create an inferior product.A good quality microphone will cost around $200.If you don't have the money, the Sony ECM-MS907 at about $60 is one of the better mics you can get on the cheap.

External mics don't have to be placed far away from the camera.They are often attached right to the camera and will work well from that position.However, they will still pick up some of the camera noise that the built-in mics pick up.To help eliminate that noise, you might want to consider an external float.This simple device "floats" the microphone above and away from your camera.

When choosing an external microphone there are several types to choose from.One popular option is to use a small lapel mic. These microphones, called "lavalier" microphones, are commonly used for events like speeches and weddings when all of the important audio is coming from one person or a group of people who are close together.Two types of lavalier mics are available.There are omni-directional mics that pick up sound for all directions and uni-directional mics that focus in one direction.The omni-directional mics are more versatile than the uni-directional but in many situations, you will need more versatility from your microphone than what a lapel mic can give.

The versatile shotgun mic is the most popular external mic.If you watch footage of professional events being filmed, you will see shotgun mics.These long, slender microphones are pointed at the audio subject to pick up specific sounds.This is a great option if you need to mic different areas of the scene and you don't want to pick up a lot of background noise.These microphones can be purchased in any price range from $50 to $1000s.Typically, if buying a shotgun mic, the more you spend, the higher quality recording you will end up with.

There are hard-wired and wireless external mics.The hardwired mics are attached to the camcorder by a cord.Wireless mics use batteries.The hardwired mics are great for quality and also dependable but you have to drag the cord.Wireless mics are more convenient but the batteries are expensive and the quality suffers.This is a choice you will need to make before buying a mic for your camcorder.

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