Topic: rode videomic and which recorder- m10, zoom x1, dr-07mkII, etc

[lt-cartman]

Hi all.

Toolman here

I just found this great forum last week and have been looking true the posts.

I have a question about which solid state recorder would be best to use with my rode videomic and my Lav mic (see below for specks).

My camera setup consists of a canon HF-S10 (with manual audio gain) and a hacked Panasonic gh1 (auto gain)

I mostly use the rode videomic on the canon HF-S10. Just wondering which of the recorders in the header would be best with the rode videomic -re- input sensitivity of the "mic in" or if there are better alternatives keeping the budget under the US price of the M10 $225

I just got the rode videomic a few weeks ago. I mostly video local bands in small pub venues (i know its not the best mic for this but i also like to video the kids and family). With that in mind does anyone out there have experience in using the rode videomic in a loud band environment with regards to the following, what setting the videomic was at, I.E. the setting of the mic db gain being set to 0, -10, or -20 db and the setting of the lo bass cut filter being set to ON or OFF.

Also any thoughts on the actual solid state recorder (from list above or similarly priced below $225) being used with the videomic in the above setting I.E. a recorder that can record from the rodemic weather the videomic is set to 0db, -10db or -20db with out adding too much preamp noise (i know the m10 has a pre good preamp).

One final consideration being the following. I also want to be able to use the recorder with a lav mic (vivanco EM-216 Omni-directional stereo lav mic, 500 Omh in mono, 1k in stereo). So if the chosen recorder had the mic input sensitivity range to cover both the lav mic above and the rode videomic @ 0,-10,-20db that would be great.

PS. I was wondering if the Sony M10 would be too bulky/heavy to put in an inside jacket pocket or on a belt strap.

thanks in advance

Toolman

[Ozpeter]

Is this the mono Rode videomic or the stereo one?  Hopefully the latter.

[earmonger]

I can't offer definitive answers to your mic questions, but I suspect both mics are both made to work with the plug-in power--2 or 3 volts--supplied by the mic plug of the PCM-M10 (and your camcorder).  For a loud band, you'd probably want to get a battery box,  which supplies 9V or 12V of power to help the mic handle louder sounds, and record through Line-in rather than Mic-in.  Like this one, which takes a basic 9V battery.

http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/item/SP-SPSB-8

The PCM-M10 is fine in a belt pack. It's the size of an iPhone, a bit thicker and heavier but beautifully portable.  I put mine in a Lowepro Ridge 30 camera case, which also has a pouch that holds the battery box and an outside zipper slot that's perfect for the flat PCM-M10 remote. 

[lt-cartman]

Hi Ozpeter - no its the mono one

Hi earmonger - the rode videomic is powered be a 9 volt battery so does it need a battery box. Line in rather than mic... - interesting

cool about the size

thanks

[Toki]

Hi
I can only say that I'm using Rode stereo videomic for loud bands in small venues, and I have never feel that I should use bass roll-off or -10db switch. The sound comes good with the "most default" settings both on mic and recorder (I am using Edirol R-09, usually without preamp). In rare occasions when I get too "boomy" bass I can easily correct it in post-processing, and I never have problems with recording noise level as crowd noise always occur much higher.
Hope this helps a bit.

[sunjan]

Go with the M10, it's the quietest of the ones you list. Not worth skimping and buying a cheaper recorder.
You might even find that you prefer the internal mics if you try - at least it'll be stereo instead of the Rode mono.

[lt-cartman]

Hi Toki

interesting about never using the bass roll off or the -10 db / -20 db switches (it must be the canon hfs-10 thats introducing a little distortion even on manually setting it to -6 to-12 db

ill wait till i get enough money to gether for the sony m10

re - sunjan - will do.

[Toki]

Once I tried plugging SVM straight to my camcorder (Canon HG20). The sound came out grainy, with quite unpleasant bass, and I never record my sound with camera since than. M10 should greatly improve the results.

[lt-cartman]

right update for all - just nabbed the sony m10 off ebay and it should be here in a week or 2.

i will let all know how it performs with the rode videomic (i need to do extensive testing)

Toolman