Need a camcorder with external mic port

Kargo · 17-03-2016, 21:34

Hi everyone,

Would really appreciate some help. I'm an editor for a small voluntary based music website and next month we're attending a music event in London in which we'll be interviewing some artists. Last year we filmed interviews with a camcorder but the background noise was so bad that you couldn't hear the artists answering the questions.

So for this year, I was hoping to go out and buy a camcorder which we'd be able to plug our external microphone into. I've spent hours today searching for a camcorder with line-in/mic in port but I am having absolutely no luck - is there not a demand for such a thing anymore?

We're not after anything high end, with 3D or 4K support etc.. - just something that shoots video onto a memory card, is good quality for YouTube and allows us to plug our mic into. Does anyone know anything that might fit this bill? Budget is up to £250.

Thanks

moox · 17-03-2016, 22:13

What sort of microphone do you want to connect? Many lower end cameras that do have inputs, won't have XLR connectors for professional mics, and you can get iffy results with a simple adapter cable (interfaces do exist to properly convert it, though)

Kargo · 17-03-2016, 22:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by moox

What sort of microphone do you want to connect? Many lower end cameras that do have inputs, won't have XLR connectors for professional mics, and you can get iffy results with a simple adapter cable (interfaces do exist to properly convert it, though)

Thank you for the response.

It's not a professional mic, very similar (if not the same) as this. Has a 3.5mm plug

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pro-Interv...EAAOSwT5tWHc5h

moox · 17-03-2016, 22:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kargo

Thank you for the response.

It's not a professional mic, very similar (if not the same) as this. Has a 3.5mm plug

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pro-Interv...EAAOSwT5tWHc5h

DS helpfully censors eBay links, apparently. If it is what I think it is then you shouldn't have a problem connecting it to a camera. I don't have any recommendations on proper cameras, though.

Do you have a relatively new smartphone (e.g. a couple of years old or less)? Have you given that a go? (it might need a cheap adaptor plug to connect a mic) - they tend to have quite good video quality these days

fmradiotuner1 · 17-03-2016, 22:59

both my panasonic hc-v700 & G6 have a mic in.
they are really good cameras the G7 is out now not sure it has a mic in but should do as the g6 did.

fmradiotuner1 · 17-03-2016, 23:03

seems the g7 does so I would get this maybe
http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk...iew-first-look
or the cheaper G6.

I must add that the camera might be a used one to but should be able to get for £250.

17-03-2016, 21:34	#1
Kargo Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Essex, UK Posts: 6,238	Need a camcorder with external mic port Hi everyone, Would really appreciate some help. I'm an editor for a small voluntary based music website and next month we're attending a music event in London in which we'll be interviewing some artists. Last year we filmed interviews with a camcorder but the background noise was so bad that you couldn't hear the artists answering the questions. So for this year, I was hoping to go out and buy a camcorder which we'd be able to plug our external microphone into. I've spent hours today searching for a camcorder with line-in/mic in port but I am having absolutely no luck - is there not a demand for such a thing anymore? We're not after anything high end, with 3D or 4K support etc.. - just something that shoots video onto a memory card, is good quality for YouTube and allows us to plug our mic into. Does anyone know anything that might fit this bill? Budget is up to £250. Thanks

17-03-2016, 22:13	#2
moox Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 14,645	What sort of microphone do you want to connect? Many lower end cameras that do have inputs, won't have XLR connectors for professional mics, and you can get iffy results with a simple adapter cable (interfaces do exist to properly convert it, though)

17-03-2016, 22:25	#3
Kargo Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Essex, UK Posts: 6,238	Quote: Originally Posted by moox What sort of microphone do you want to connect? Many lower end cameras that do have inputs, won't have XLR connectors for professional mics, and you can get iffy results with a simple adapter cable (interfaces do exist to properly convert it, though) Thank you for the response. It's not a professional mic, very similar (if not the same) as this. Has a 3.5mm plug http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pro-Interv...EAAOSwT5tWHc5h

17-03-2016, 22:38	#4
moox Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 14,645	Quote: Originally Posted by Kargo Thank you for the response. It's not a professional mic, very similar (if not the same) as this. Has a 3.5mm plug http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pro-Interv...EAAOSwT5tWHc5h DS helpfully censors eBay links, apparently. If it is what I think it is then you shouldn't have a problem connecting it to a camera. I don't have any recommendations on proper cameras, though. Do you have a relatively new smartphone (e.g. a couple of years old or less)? Have you given that a go? (it might need a cheap adaptor plug to connect a mic) - they tend to have quite good video quality these days

17-03-2016, 22:59	#5
fmradiotuner1 Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: TheEssexSunshineCoast Clacton Posts: 15,220	both my panasonic hc-v700 & G6 have a mic in. they are really good cameras the G7 is out now not sure it has a mic in but should do as the g6 did.

17-03-2016, 23:03	#6
fmradiotuner1 Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: TheEssexSunshineCoast Clacton Posts: 15,220	seems the g7 does so I would get this maybe http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk...iew-first-look or the cheaper G6. I must add that the camera might be a used one to but should be able to get for £250.

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Need a camcorder with external mic port