External microphone & video settings

hark

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
I am interested in shooting some short video segments (D750) during Worship but have no idea what it entails. I know an external microphone would be good, but is there one that isn't overly expensive--no more than $50 if possible. Most likely this isn't something I will do very often.

And any ideas on what camera settings would be good? Today during Worship, my ISO was set at 5000 (I don't use auto-ISO). I was in aperture priority so my aperture and shutter speed varied. One example was 1/100" with f/5.6.

This is something I hope to do next Sunday and the Sunday after that so any help and/or ideas will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
 
4

480sparky

Senior Member
Like still images, there is no one, magic, one-size-fits-all settings. It will depend on what you're shooting and what you want the final video to look like.

As for mics, they're like any other gear..... you get what you pay for.
 
Fred Kingston_RIP

Fred Kingston_RIP

Senior Member
hark said:
I am interested in shooting some short video segments (D750) during Worship but have no idea what it entails. I know an external microphone would be good, but is there one that isn't overly expensive--no more than $50 if possible. Most likely this isn't something I will do very often.

And any ideas on what camera settings would be good? Today during Worship, my ISO was set at 5000 (I don't use auto-ISO). I was in aperture priority so my aperture and shutter speed varied. One example was 1/100" with f/5.6.

This is something I hope to do next Sunday and the Sunday after that so any help and/or ideas will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Click to expand...


https://www.nikonusa.com/en/learn-a...getting-started-with-your-d-movie-camera.html

Start here...
 
W

WayneF

Senior Member
hark said:
I am interested in shooting some short video segments (D750) during Worship but have no idea what it entails. I know an external microphone would be good, but is there one that isn't overly expensive--no more than $50 if possible. Most likely this isn't something I will do very often.

And any ideas on what camera settings would be good? Today during Worship, my ISO was set at 5000 (I don't use auto-ISO). I was in aperture priority so my aperture and shutter speed varied. One example was 1/100" with f/5.6.

This is something I hope to do next Sunday and the Sunday after that so any help and/or ideas will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Hark, doesn't your D750 show current ISO on the Video Live View screen? My D800 does, and movies use Auto ISO regardless (if on or off) if in A or P mode. In fact, the Auto ISO menu is disabled and not accessible in video mode A or P (but it is on). This is not what Fred's Nikon link here says (it says "turn on Auto ISO"), but it is how my D800 works. Try aiming your camera around to see ISO vary in different light levels. If you do move it around, the Auto ISO will be a big help to keep it constant. My "setting" is ISO 100 and maybe f/5.6, but indoor video in A mode is often 500 or 1200 or even higher. My experience is to doubt the church needs or even uses 5000? It should be "normally lighted" during services. And A mode should be Auto ISO and should take good care of it.

Pro mics get quite expensive (and all the external gear, radio links and mixers, etc), but amateur use doesn't have to be rocket science.

There must be dozens of lavalier condenser mics for less than $30. Several are only $5 or $10. Getting it off the camera seems important, because it is perfectly placed there to record the lenses auto focus motor noise. Auto Focus probably should be turned off, because it is slow and troublesome in video mode (but manual focus will of course need attention).

I've been very satisfied with this one:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/944398-REG/polsen__olm_10_omni_directional_lav.html

It's on Amazon for a few dollars more, and Prime shipping might make the difference, but B&H is always worth checking, they always show complete specs, and Amazon hardly ever shows any specs.

The user reviews are pretty good both places.

It has a 20 foot cord (usually rolled up in my pocket). It is not stereo (which seems totally pointless in a single mic anyway) but it does put the audio into both left and right stereo channels of the Nikon camera. It uses very inexpensive batteries which last a long time. I've never used it at 20 feet, normally it's clipped to my own shirt, or on a desktop. Any cord is surely a headache at 20 feet. Your church use probably needs an aimed mic, with a more directional response? ( better than omnidirectional)

Here is a decent microphone guide chart (for musicians):
https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/studio-microphone-buying-guide/

A friend uses this one on a mic stand:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...ATR6250_Stereo_Condenser_Video_Recording.html

and he is quite pleased with it. It is stereo (still only one mic though, meaning in a single location) and is cardiod (responds in front and sides, but not from behind), so more directional. Doesn't have to cost hundreds.

Any mic will need a foam wind sock (windscreen) to be usable out in the wind. Both of these come with one, but they get lost easily.
 
Last edited:
hark

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
WayneF said:
Hark, doesn't your D750 show current ISO on the Video Live View screen? My D800 does, and movies use Auto ISO regardless (if on or off) if in A or P mode. In fact, the Auto ISO menu is disabled and not accessible in video mode A or P (but it is on). This is not what Fred's Nikon link here says (it says "turn on Auto ISO"), but it is how my D800 works. Try aiming your camera around to see ISO vary in different light levels. If you do move it around, the Auto ISO will be a big help to keep it constant. My "setting" is ISO 100 and maybe f/5.6, but indoor video in A mode is often 500 or 1200 or even higher. My experience is to doubt the church needs or even uses 5000? It should be "normally lighted" during services. And A mode should be Auto ISO and should take good care of it.

Pro mics get quite expensive (and all the external gear, radio links and mixers, etc), but amateur use doesn't have to be rocket science.

There must be dozens of lavalier condenser mics for less than $30. Several are only $5 or $10. Getting it off the camera seems important, because it is perfectly placed there to record the lenses auto focus motor noise. Auto Focus probably should be turned off, because it is slow and troublesome in video mode (but manual focus will of course need attention).

I've been very satisfied with this one:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/944398-REG/polsen__olm_10_omni_directional_lav.html

It's on Amazon for a few dollars more, and Prime shipping might make the difference, but B&H is always worth checking, they always show complete specs, and Amazon hardly ever shows any specs.

The user reviews are pretty good both places.

It has a 20 foot cord (usually rolled up in my pocket). It is not stereo (which seems totally pointless in a single mic anyway) but it does put the audio into both left and right stereo channels of the Nikon camera. It uses very inexpensive batteries which last a long time. I've never used it at 20 feet, normally it's clipped to my own shirt, or on a desktop. Any cord is surely a headache at 20 feet. Your church use probably needs an aimed mic, with a more directional response? ( better than unidirectional)

Here is a decent microphone guide chart (for musicians):
https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/studio-microphone-buying-guide/

A friend uses this one on a mic stand:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...ATR6250_Stereo_Condenser_Video_Recording.html

and he is quite pleased with it. It is stereo (still only one mic though, meaning in a single location) and is cardiod (responds in front and sides, but not from behind), so more directional. Doesn't have to cost hundreds.

Any mic will need a foam wind sock (windscreen) to be usable out in the wind. Both of these come with one, but they get lost easily.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Wayne. I will look into that type of mic. I hadn't thought about it picking up any noise from the AF but can see how that would adversely affect the outcome.
 
G

gqtuazon

Gear Head
I have the Nikon ME-1 mic. It is a bit over your budget so I would choose something over Amazon that is within your budget. The Nikon ME-1 gives me decent stereo sound. No battery required so it is ready to go if you need to use it unlike most mics which requires some type of battery to power it up.

ME-1 Mic.jpg
 
4

480sparky

Senior Member
Personally, I prefer a lav mic. Since I'm a cheap bastid, I didn't go with an RF unit. I record my audio tracks separately, edit them in a special audio app then marry it up to the video in post.
 
W

WayneF

Senior Member
hark said:
I know there are different types of mics, and @WayneF mentioned a condenser mic. The church has an audio system so the sound comes out of speakers mounted higher up on the side walls. Would a Cardioid mic work in that type of situation? I found this one by Rode.

https://www.amazon.com/Rode-VideoMi...2681299&sr=8-6&keywords=video+microphone&th=1
Click to expand...

That probably is a fine choice. If aimed forward, cardiod receives frontal and side sounds, it just responds much less from the rear.

On camera, it probably will hear the lens auto focus motor noise well, but probably your situation is fixed, and after focusing once, you surely can simply switch AF off if it seems necessary. No batteries is a plus, however that means it likely only works on the camera, and not likely if connected to your computer or other recording device (but another mic then would be inexpensive too).

What would surely help the most is a practice session (or two, in a similar setting), to prevent surprises during the actual event.
 
Last edited:
hark

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
480sparky said:
Personally, I prefer a lav mic. Since I'm a cheap bastid, I didn't go with an RF unit. I record my audio tracks separately, edit them in a special audio app then marry it up to the video in post.
Click to expand...

And I have no idea how to merge separate audio and video tracks--that is way more than what I want to get into. I can certainly see value doing it that way, but I'm only looking to do video relatively few times.

WayneF said:
That probably is a fine choice. If aimed forward, cardiod receives frontal and side sounds, it just does not respond from the rear.

On camera, it probably will hear the lens auto focus motor noise well, but probably your situation is fixed, and after focusing once, you surely can simply switch AF off if it seems necessary. No batteries is a plus, however that means it likely only works on the camera, and not likely if connected to your computer or other recording device (but another mic then would be inexpensive too).

What would surely help the most is a practice session (or two, in a similar setting), to prevent surprises during the actual event.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Wayne. I just might order this via Amazon. My preference is to order electronics via B&H or Adorama whenever possible, but both are closed this week due to the holiday.
 
4

480sparky

Senior Member
hark said:
And I have no idea how to merge separate audio and video tracks--that is way more than what I want to get into. I can certainly see value doing it that way, but I'm only looking to do video relatively few times. ................
Click to expand...

It's actually incredibly easy.

Start recording with both the camera and remote voice recorder. Stand in front of the camera and clap your hands three times. That's all you need to do while in the field.

In post, drag both recordings into your editing app. Looks for 3 huge spikes at the beginning of the tracks. Adjust one of the tracks so the 3 spikes are line up above or below the 3 spikes in the other tracks.

Sound Synch.jpg

This synchs the two tracks together. You can then edit out this part of both tracks.

Think it will take too long? It took you longer to read this post than it takes to actually do all this.
 
hark

hark

Administrator
Staff member
Super Mod
Contributor
FredKingston said:
What software are you using to edit video with?
Click to expand...

Me? :eek-new: I'm not planning on creating anything professional...just wanted to try a few videos during worship.

And one thing I"m interested in trying is to create an animated GIF of the Praise Band (it's a feature in PCC I haven't yet tried.). I know it can be done with still photos but would like some video in case it can be done with that, too.
 
4

480sparky

Senior Member
CyberLink Power Director 15. PD16 is the current version. I just didn't see anything in 16 that was worth the price of upgrading.

Most video editing software uses the timeline method. So dropping audio and video tracks into the timeline and lining them up is the same.
 
Last edited:
Top