Topic: I want to upgrade my sound.

[Voltage]

For the past year I have been recording shows with my video camera.  For sound I have been using and Audio Technica Pro 24 plugged into the camera.  It has worked pretty well but I'm getting to the point where I want better audio.

Can anyone suggest a good digital audio recorder that is newbie friendly.

[twatts (pants are so over-rated...)]

I would suggest an upgrade on your mic, get a pre-amp, and continue to record your audio to your videocamera...

Terry

[Voltage]

That sounds like a good solution.  Do you have any suggestions on mic's or pre-amps?  Thanks.

[twatts (pants are so over-rated...)]

That sounds like a good solution.  Do you have any suggestions on mic's or pre-amps?  Thanks.

What kind of budget do you have??? 

This is a good place to start your hunt:  http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Camcorder-XLR-Adapters/ci/8673/N/4291085906

Terry

[Voltage]

$100 - $600 at the moment.  I obvioulsy would prefer to spend less money, but I am willing to wait and save up more play money if there is something out there worth waiting for.

[stevetoney]

For $400 - $500, you could buy a complete audio rig (Sony M10, Church Audio CA-14, 9200 preamp).  With this, you can record directly to your audio recorder in case you didn't want to do video on any specific night, or you could record into the audio recorder or video recorder with the mic/preamp combo.  Obviously, if you used the audio recorder while recording video, you'd need to synch them later but that's simple if you have the right software, like Vegas.

[F.O.Bean]

I, too, would go the Church Audio mic route, along w/ the CA 9100/9200 preamp and a Sony M10 recorder

[Voltage]

Yeah, I use Vegas mostly.  I have sync'd a few videos with soundboard recordings in the past, so I am familiar with how to do that.

I forgot to mention that along with quality, I'm looking for something easy to set up.  I run stage lighting.  So setting up an involved rig is not really what I am looking to do.  Usually we are pressed for time, and a camera and mic are low on the priority list.

What do you guys think of the Zoom 4n?

[mec111272]

Alternatively you can get great HD video from point and shoot cameras.   I have found the biggest problem is the low-light performance of most cameras that don't cost an arm and a leg. 

I have moved to a Canon HD camcorder with Church audio gear into the mic input.  The camcorder is great because you can use the remote control to adjust the zoom and other settings after you stick it up in the air.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Heavy-Duty-Photography-L-bracket-2-Standard-Flash-Hot-Shoe-Mounts-/160711257645?pt=Camera_Flash_Accessories&hash=item256b232e2d

http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/item/SP-GNA-10

Use this bracket to mount the camcorder to a camera head,  mount the camera head to a stand.   You can get a 1/4-20 mount adapter for the accessory shoe and use that for the SP-NS-10 flexible mount.  Then you just need to tape the preamp to the mounting bracket.  That makes a pretty portable easily put together rig.   

[Voltage]

That is pretty much what I am doing now.  I have a Cannon Vixia with a mic on a stand plugged into the camera.  The sound is okay, but I think there are better options out there.

[mec111272]

Not to beat the dead horse here, but the Church Audio gear gives great results in a compact, reasonably priced package.  That is where you stand to upgrade your sound.



It just takes a while to get your gear made.

[F.O.Bean]

So, what did you decide to do? I think you'll be VERY pleased w/ Church Audio[ca-14] mics and a Church Audio Battery Box/Preamp. And a Sony M10 so if you want to record you dont have to use your video camera on some nights When you're running your video camera, just plug the OUTPUT of the CA BB/Preamp into the MIC/LINE input of your video camera Let us know how it works out!

[TimeBandit]

i would record independent, recording into line in of the camera works fine, until something happens with your camera, someone doesn't like you filming or bad movement the cable drops out and you have only a tiny bit of video with sound and the other part with no sound.. (or still bad sound if the device switches back to internals after cable loss)

+ audio quality is better (as on typical camcorders) so let it record in 24 Bit to an audiorecorder, and mix the sound and video sources in post.

If your camcorder records seamless over the 4GB hump matching audio and video together in post (because of clock difference) is not rocket science.