XLR box and XLR mic for DVC30

Hi I just recently purchased a DVC30 and I am using it for shooting interviews and commercials. I wanted to know what XLR adapter and mic you would recommend, should I just purchase the panasonic equipment or would i be better off with a something different.

Thanks in advance

Dan

Hi I just recently purchased a DVC30 and I am using it for shooting interviews and commercials. I wanted to know what XLR adapter and mic you would recommend, should I just purchase the panasonic equipment or would i be better off with a something different.

Thanks in advance

Dan

Hi Dan.. I'm also new to the DVC30 and went through the same query process for mics. I can pass on what I discovered before having decided to purchase the Rodes VideoMic which turned out perfect for my general applications.

The XLR breakout box that comes with the camera I'm told is excellent. The Rodes STG-1 or -2 are excellent. The STG-2 comes with it's own battery so it doesn't suck it out of the camera. From the past discussions I've had with various people in this channel and shop owner/users, those two mics were the top choice for top end work.

However, I don't generaly do top end work so the less expensive VideoMic was the best option and I haven't regretted it. It takes the mic off the camera so you don't hear hand-noise on the camera and it produces nice audio.. I'm impressed.

If you're doing interviews, there are a lot of other options to consider as well such as the lapel mics, boom mic (using the STGs), wireless mics etc.

Have fun with the DVC30, it's my first big camera (previous cam was Canon XI) and there's a lot to discover with this thing.. fun!

I've been using my 30 for a little over a year now and as far as I know the best XLR adapter would be the panasonic one. There are some others out there, but they would use the non-balanced mini stereo input where as the panasonic adapter uses the specifically built connector on the side of the camera which as far as I know is a true balanced input.

As far as mics, I pesonally got an Azden shotgun mic, but LOTS of people have the Rode, so it must be a nice one.

Jeff

Hi

Seaking, my gess is that you mean Rode:s NTG-1/NTG-2. ;)

I have a DVC30 with the XLR adaptor and a Rode NTG-1 microphone and I'm very pleased with it. The reason I didn't buy the NTG-2 mic is that it's a bit longer as it holds the battery. The NTG-1 is about twice as long as Panasonic:s own mic.

The battery will last for about 400 hours on the NTG-2 so the power drawn from the cambattery will be very little. With the NTG-2 you have the option to run either on phantom power or on internal battery so you can use it stand-alone without phantom power source.

The only thing one should be aware of is that the NTG-1 mic is very sensitive and the mic holder on the XLR adaptor isn't so good. You have to be careful when handling the camcorder as handling sounds is easily picked up by the mic. On NTG-1/2 there is a switch which activates a filter to reduce low frequence sounds which makes the mic less sensitive for handling noise, and on the XLR adaptor there is an attenuator switch to make the mic even less sensitive.
The mic also picks up some motor noise which can be filtered out in post. The motor noise isn't noticeable in environments with much sound, but in quiet environments I hear the motor clear.

I know there are a lot of good mics out there and there are mics that have better test results than Rodes, but for my usage and wallet it's more than good enough.

Regards,

/Bo

Hi

Seaking, my gess is that you mean Rode:s NTG-1/NTG-2. ;)

I have a DVC30 with the XLR adaptor and a Rode NTG-1 microphone and I'm very pleased with it. The reason I didn't buy the NTG-2 mic is that it's a bit longer as it holds the battery. The NTG-1 is about twice as long as Panasonic:s own mic.

The battery will last for about 400 hours on the NTG-2 so the power drawn from the cambattery will be very little. With the NTG-2 you have the option to run either on phantom power or on internal battery so you can use it stand-alone without phantom power source.

The only thing one should be aware of is that the NTG-1 mic is very sensitive and the mic holder on the XLR adaptor isn't so good. You have to be careful when handling the camcorder as handling sounds is easily picked up by the mic. On NTG-1/2 there is a switch which activates a filter to reduce low frequence sounds which makes the mic less sensitive for handling noise, and on the XLR adaptor there is an attenuator switch to make the mic even less sensitive.
The mic also picks up some motor noise which can be filtered out in post. The motor noise isn't noticeable in environments with much sound, but in quiet environments I hear the motor clear.

I know there are a lot of good mics out there and there are mics that have better test results than Rodes, but for my usage and wallet it's more than good enough.

Regards,

/Bo

STG NTG.. ergh, my bad yes you have it right.. I work in an environment full of acronyms and everything melds into one after a while..

I had also heard of the NTG's ability to pick up handling noise and motor noises as well, hence why I went with the VideoMic. Rubber band mounted up on the handle, it's far away from the camera and has the low freq switch also that all but kills any noise coming off the camera, hands, motor, sniffs from the operator.

The other factor I didn't like about the NTG, though an excellent mic from all accounts, is that it does stick out a bit and might be seen in view at times, though apparently it isn't so much a factor for the 1..

The one thing I appreciated about the VideoMic's abilities over the Canon's shotgun mic I had on the Canon XI is it's ability to pick up more dynamic noises. Whereas we do a lot of action shoots, the ability to pick up the thuds and shuffle of footsteps on certain floors really make it a good purchase for me.

The only mishap I had with it is when shooting over a model's shoulder I accidently tapped her on the back of the head to pan in to what she was doing for the scene. Funny enough, the hit was enough to push her head but the sound wasn't picked up. But you could hear the papers in her hand.. I can just imagibe what would have happened with the long NTG mic lol.

Cheers