Topic: Recomendation for ZoomH4/HV30??

[cotis]

Hey all,

New taper here, just got a Zoom H4. I'm looking to get a good microphone setup to capture some great sound at MOSTLY rock concerts. I'm going to be seeing NIN in June and plan on taping them. I'm willing to spend up to $150 for a good mic, and I'm also looking to get a good external for my HV30 as well. Can spend up to $250 all together (both mics). Stealthy mics are better for me I think since I'll be stealthing some shows in the near future...

I have heard good things about Church mics from other various sites.

Figured I'd drop in here and ask you guys for some help.

Thanks very much!

[sunjan]

CA-14 + CA-9100 for stealth, but it will bust your budget.
Or you just pick up the Church mics, run them mic-in and rely on the H4 to power them and boost the signal, but I can't vouch for the quality...
If you want to rely on P48, maybe AT853Rx could be an alternative? I don't know how they would perform vs. Church mics on plug-in-power?

And you wanted a separate video mic? Don't know what you can get for $100, follow the links here:
http://www.highdefforum.com/high-definition-cameras-high-definition-camcorders/78195-microphone-hv30.html

[cotis]

Hmm, didn't think mics were that expensive.  But I guess I was wrong.

I have heard good things about the Rode Mic for the HV30 but that is pretty big and not very good for stealthing...

For the Zoom H4, I was thinking about getting some Church Mics. I know that the owner is a member here (right, someone told me that...) however I looked on the eBay page and they only have 3/4 things for sale.

I'm not very 'audio' inclined so some terms I'm not sure about.

If someone would rather help me via e-mail or PM let me know and we can do it that way if you prefer...

I really appreciate any help I get. Thanks a lot.

[Cheesecadet]

Don't bother contacting Chris though eBay.  You can PM him here on this site or shoot him an email.  He will custom build you mics, preamp or both.  Very nice guy and great customer service!

cchurch32@mountaincable.net

[J.Maye]

The CA setup would only go over budget by $22 + an 1/8th to 1/8th cable. http://taperssection.com/index.php/topic,90474.0.html

[fmaderjr]

Church mics are great but don't use E-Bay (much more expensive). Contact Chris directly as Cheesecadet suggests.

One problem. The Zoom H4 does not provide plug in power, so unless you get the Church preamp as well, you will still need something to convert phantom power to plug in power. You really need the preamp with the Zoom though. It will allow you to keep the record level at 100 and attenuate the signal with the preamp when necessary. This will solve one of the Zoom's major problems (if it is necessary to set the record level below 100 to keep the meters from hitting 0 dB you not prevent a distorted recording). You will need the proper 1/8 stereo to dual 1/4 mono cable to connect the preamp to the Zoom. I believe the 1/4 plugs can be TS (don't have to be TRS) since you are not going to be transferring phantom power over the cable.

It is possible to make good sounding recordings with the Zoom H4, but its the last small recorder I would recommend.  It's larger than most, very unintuitive to use, and there are a number of problems than can cause less than great sounding recordings if you don't put a ton of work into learning how to use it. Worst money I ever spent on taping equipment. I would sell the Zoom (if you can) and upgrade your recorder as soon as you can afford to.

[Chaosu]

CA-14 + CA-9100 for stealth

I were recently into mic upgrading but those CA-14 come with windscreens, makes them highly unstealthy for me! I can't imagine sticking them with tape to my baseball cap (because of windscreens), if I would put adhesive tape on cables then they would be moving for sure. Clips are solution but they are not removeable, and I prefer tape than clips.

[fmaderjr]

PM sent on use of CA-14's with baseball cap. Don't tape-hide them in the liner.