Streaming Learning Center Where Streaming Professionals Learn to Excel
Related Articles
When you attach an external microphone to your camcorder, you’re going to have to change some settings on the camcorder to tell it to ignore its internal microphone and record from the external. You’ll also have to set gain controls to make sure that you’re recording good levels. Here’s a checklist for attaching an external microphone that you might find useful.
1. Connect the cables. Start by connecting the microphone to the camcorder, and powering up any external devices like the BeachTek unit.
2. Power up the microphone. If necessary, make sure that the microphone is powered. Typically, dynamic microphones don’t need power, while condenser microphones do. This will either be a switch on the camcorder or on the external XLR adapter.
3. Choose line or microphone input. On the camcorder, select whether you’re inputting microphone or line power. Most powered devices (sound boards, BeachTek XLR adapters) output line power, most unpowered devices output microphone. You’ll know whether you have the wrong setting – if the volumes are too low, you’ve probably selected line and are receiving microphone; if too loud, you’ve selected microphone and are inputting line.
4. Configure camcorder to accept external audio. This will either be an external switch or internal menu option.
5. Choose auto or manual gain control (I almost always use auto for live performances, manual for interviews).
6. Attach headphones and gauge audio quality. Listen for hum, pops and distortion.
7. Find volume meters and monitor while recording. If the waveform goes flatline on you, or changes appreciably for no apparent reason, you obviously have a problem.
