Topic: handycam mic - HELP A NEWB

[shatteredfocus]

First of all, yes I AM A TOTAL NEWB + many thanks for even looking at this!

I am talking about the tiny microphone on a sony digital handycam, specifically the DCR-TRV130 NTSC.

Is there a way to reduce the "muddy" and distortion sounds when recording live music performances?
... I've heard of the "put your finger over over the mic technique", which is quite impractical especially at small metal events.

We've tried putting a piece of electrical tape over the mic during a rehearsal. Surprisingly the audio was not terrible. The drums and guitars were a bit distorted but the vocals are the killer. (They may be guttural style but you're just going to have to believe me when I say they do not sound like that when you are standing in the room.)

You can view what I recorded that day, the band is Kynesys from Ingersoll Ontario Canada.
sorry for the conversion aliasing... at least it's free right.
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=8B3E611C4F38377B

 ... feel free to call me crazy.

[acidjack]

That mic is not designed to record high sound pressure levels, and therefore, there is nothing you can do to keep it from distorting.  Putting your finger over it is simply reducing the volume of the sound coming in, but you're also ruining the quality of the signal.

Your best option is to get an inexpensive set of mics you can wear and a small power supply, which will run you about $130-200, and plug that into the line input of the camera (I'm not that familiar wtih videocams, but I assume it has a line level input).

[shatteredfocus]

i figured there was pretty much nothing that can make low end gear good for that application
thanks for checking it out anyway

[bombdiggity]

The best low end mic for video cameras was the little realistic "twin head".  I forget the model number.  It's a fantastic mic for what was about $20.  A piece of tape to attach it to the camera and you're rolling. Of course it's long gone and in high demand in the videotaper world if you can find one.  I think they had to be rewired to a minijack.

Still the basic idea is to get something self powered (using an internal AA or similar battery) that stands up to high spl and terminates in a stereo minijack.  You might want a tight cardiod for metal since the crowd is probably loud and rowdy (unless you want them all over the tape), though if you tape right up in front as is often done with that an omni may be better to get a wide and full field. 

As the other poster said almost anything will be better than a built in.   Sound Professionals have some cheap ones that should be a big improvement.  I'd try to stay away from things that need a battery box, extra cables, or mounting on you.  Get something that can be taped on the camera so less can go wrong or get disconnected in the pit.