External mike hookup on a PV-DV400

Ok so I have a question with a new external michrophone I am trying to hook up .

Firts off I have a

PANASONIC PV-DV400

and I just bought a

SENNHEISER MIKE 300 ( shotgun michrophone )


I set up the michrophone but don't see any special options in my set up menu for it .

Does the michrophone automatically produce it's own sound recording ? or how can I test out what I'm listening too ?

In other words I set up the Mike over riding the internal mike that panasonic comes with . Now how can I adjust levels and such with the new mike I just hooked up ?


Is this basically a plug and play type process ?


Also I started messing around with the recording and it sounded like when I plugged in the new sennheiser the recording wasn't stereo anymore .
When I reverted back to the internal Michrophone it went back to stereo .

Is this making sense to anyone out there ?



Please help

The Sennheiser is self-powered via a battery. So, when you plug it in, it provides audio to your mic input. You don't have to do anything else. I don't believe the DV400 has audio level adjust.

The Senn is a mono mic, as are most shotguns.

The Sennheiser is self-powered via a battery. So, when you plug it in, it provides audio to your mic input. You don't have to do anything else. I don't believe the DV400 has audio level adjust.

The Senn is a mono mic, as are most shotguns.


Thanks Mr Bruner greatly appreciate your help .

Do you think recording in mono makes a world of a difference ? or should I find a way to record in stereo even if it is without an external michrophone .

what do you record in if you don't mind me asking ?


Thanks in advance

If you are recording dialog, then mono is usually better. You need stereo when you want positional information or ambience. I usually record in mono using the RODE Videomic.

If you are recording dialog, then mono is usually better. You need stereo when you want positional information or ambience. I usually record in mono using the RODE Videomic.


I see ok thank you for that info .

I record inside a club . If I am not recording dialog but rather music that's being played by a dj on the dancefloor , should I then use the internal Michrophone so I can record stereo ? Or should I just stick to using the seenheiser for good and for all purposes and would this be my safest bet ?

You would most likely get better results using the builtin mics. They are pretty good. If you want higher quality audio, check over at www.minidisc.org for suggestions on stereo mics. They seem to like the Sony MS907/8 which is also a popular choice at Pana3CCDUser.com. Also, the Giant Squid Audio Lab makes some super sounding stereo lavaliers that have been used to record concerts. I have a single GS lav and it has nice sound.

You would most likely get better results using the builtin mics. They are pretty good. If you want higher quality audio, check over at www.minidisc.org for suggestions on stereo mics. They seem to like the Sony MS907/8 which is also a popular choice at Pana3CCDUser.com. Also, the Giant Squid Audio Lab makes some super sounding stereo lavaliers that have been used to record concerts. I have a single GS lav and it has nice sound.


Great , will do and thanks for the info