Kodak Zi8 Entry Level Mic Tests

[mujjuman]

thanks fo rthis awesome video. now i know the differences in the mics

[blitzkriegZkl]

is it posible that if instead of a mic you conect and ipod it will record the song playing while recording?

[FranksVideoWorld]

I just got the Kodak Zi8 TODAY (May, 26, 2011) - Check out the video I just made of me opening the box! LOL) I got it because of the mic input. Thanks for this great video about the mics.

[damionnblackk]

first one is mono right? so with the mono to stereo will it still sound like that ?

[flyin2orion]

Notice how the whirring noise which the onboard mic picks up stops, right after they connect an external mic, probably some mechanism in the camera making that noise which then fortunately is no longer picked up using an external mic...

[charvelgtrs]

I own a T2i and the video quality is beyond amazing for the price, but I love using these pocket cameras when I want to shoot casual stuff and have something that can fit in my pocket.

I recently busted out a 5 yr old SD Sony Camcorder and I couldn't believe how God awful the picture quality was and I'm not just talking in terms of pure resolution, but overall picture quality. It's crazy how much better the little Zi8 looks compared to that old Sony even if we just do a comparison at 480p.

[mel2000]

That was an amazingly informative tech review. I preferred the directional mic. How can I make the camera's mic input support 2 or more mics at a time?

[Knoptop]

I plug in my lapel mic (Audio Technica ATR-3350) and only get audio in one channel, am I doing something wrong?

[myjrny2]

Hi Steve I plugged in a Sennheiser e945 mic , plugged in the 1/4 cable end to an adapter into the camera but didn't get any sound when I recorded. What did I do wrong?

[SonicProvocateur]

Thanks so much for this review! I'm getting a Zi8 to document my band and needed to know what mic to get.

[nedatronics]

I enjoyed this a lot...great commentary...i've got one issue though, i wish you guys did a more natural environment like the outdoors to really get the difference. thanks.

[bluescrusher]

Thanks for that review! I'm looking for something to record guitar and amps with and good microphones are a must. Does the zi8 work well with running a mixer into the input so that you can have more then one sound source?

[zimmyzimgir]

the guy on the right has a fucked up voice

[GaryChanShow]

Hi Steve and Adam - Yes! I have the latest update. I bought it about 2 months ago and it already had firmware version 1.06

[GaryChanShow]

Hi Steve and Adam - I setup the azden sgm2x mic with the kodak zi8, and I am getting a lot of hum.

Any way to fix it? Thanks!

[stevegarfield]

@GaryChanShow Go to the Kodak support site and make sure you have the latest firmware. There was a hum problem in the initial shipments.

[sonderborgdk]

The Azden seem to pick up a lot of background noise. Expecially compared to the reporter mic

[sonderborgdk]

The Azden seems to pick up a lot of noise?

[Shreedhan]

Great video, looking fora cheap camcorder with external mic port to use for my review channel (not this account). Fantastic video!

[syunghans]

Ummm... No. The Audio Techica Omni didn't sound great, it sounded dead, tinny, no warmth. Limited.

The Azden shotgun sounded MUCH better, full range of sound, not just tinny treble.

The Azden lav mic sounded better too, even when a voice other than that of the user was talking.

Meh...

[rutgersfootballnj]

Thanks for the video. I run a website and often interview people with my Zi8. I was hoping to get a microphone that I could pop into the side with a wind screen, as the wind is really the only thing that prevents me from liking all of my videos. I don't want to get involved with anything too fancy, rather I just want something that will stick into the microphone jack and will pick up the sound in front and behind, while shielding the wind. Any suggestions?

[DonPython]

I just bought the Zi8 what sort of mic can I use for outdoors to get rid of that annoying wind sound? 

[kellijanesmith]

Classic... loved the reference to Mr. Microphone and the clip... I haven't seen that since I was a kid. AWESOME!

[acoolmanproductions]

the kodak is a great camcorder. I subscribed and hope you do the same.

[enroh53]

Thanks for the video. This is the information is a great help.

[FieldStoneHome]

Thanks for the education on the mics. It was great to see the quality before buying the mic.

[Benjamin1234323]

Please tell me how you shot this video and how you edit it?

[SynergyMediaPartners]

Hey Steve. Thanks. THis is an extremely helpful video. It confirms my view that the external mic jack is what makes the Kodak Zi8 the best of the sub-$200 tapeless video camcorders. Your demonstration makes it very clear the importance of having the option of a mic.

[PoodooTron]

This was a very helpful video, now I know exactly which mic to get for my zi8 and how it will sound. Thanks for this.

[digitalnow]

Awesome! Have you tested any of the cheaper wireless mic systems?

[mpotts123]

The guy on the right is totally a robot.

[BennyCrap]

Nice thankd alot!

[zeevideo]

Great job fellas!

[iulema]

So based on your review I just purchased the following items since they are going to be for video lectures. The individuals are going to be sitting on a seat:

Sima Camcorder Light Kodak Zi8 HD

Audio Technica ATR-35S

Gorillapod (after I saw your flikr photo from a Google search)

thanks guys, appreciate the hard work that made me wrap it all up in under 1 hr.

[realjuvelive]

wha about Superlux ECO-88 mic ?

[XCasperProductionsX]

the younger guy talks too softly and his voice is gravely

[HockeyDiane]

could have made this much shorter as a lot of info was repeated, but it helped alot overall. thank you!

[cptnsuperpants]

lol....take me to your leader, earthlings.

[MUENOY]

helpful

[TylerTron21]

i like the stock mic better for these types of videos.

[shawnhoffman]

Is that a "This American Life" t-shirt? nice.

Informational vid, thanks y'all.

[FATMIME]

Very informative. Thanks guys!

[Bobothehobocomics]

It's like the opening sequence was DESIGNED to wake up small children sleeping at midnight.

[LokeValium]

Damn, just have to say there is some serious gay tension in this video. Not that there`s anything wrong with it.

[VidPro95]

You can afford all that but not a good camera.

[Drumcam]

Thanks for that test, guys. Having a mic in on this amazing little camera is a great feature. However, I'm pretty sure it is a stereo input & I was disappointed that you did not test that aspect.

[harveercingh]

gr8 video i eva seen

[PLUMBdogg]

I like the zi8 mic best. At least for this appication(talking at fairly close distance), the others sound too compressed. Thanks for the vid.

[ozweepay]

Great video, very informative. I'd like to see a stereo mic review as well. Thanks alot. One question, are you guys wearing pants?

[maluc21]

thanks for the review, i am going to buy de azden from bhphotovideo now

[FalkAdventures]

After watching this video, I purchased a couple of the Audio Technica lav mic's to use with our Zi8 and for some reason I am only getting sound out of one side of TV or computer during playback.

Has anyone else had this problem? What am I doing wrong?

[DeltaFilms]

The mic only records in mono. See if your editing program has an option to swap the sound onto both channels.

[ZePianoMan144]

Your lav mic being mono is only transmitting to 1 channel. What you need to do is go to your local Radioshack and get a mono to stereo adapter. it only cost a couple of bucks. What that it does is split the mono channel into stereo.

[FalkAdventures]

@ZePianoMan144 Awesome! Thanks for the info. I do appreciate it

[fursuitlounge]

I have my kodak zi8 and picked up the audio technica lav mic, the newer model.. Mine doesnt sound as loud as yours in your video.. did you adjust your mic setting any? By default settings with the camera at the same distance the lav mic was alot lower volume and not very good

[nomorejournos]

useful info fellas thanks loads

[upajos]

Thanks, Steve and Adam. Nice review.

The technical term for the two Audio Technica microphones is "cardioid", because the pickup pattern vaguely resembles a heart shape, with most of the sensitivity directly in front, but still retaining significant sensitivity over a 180-degree semi-spherical range around the front.  Pickup at the back side, where the microphone body is, falls off to zero.

[73browntrout]

This was very helpful. I was looking for a basic explanation of various mics and this was great. I give it a 10 out of 10.

[Felixcastillo]

A far better test would have been at an event, such as a concert, etc.

[letsgomets2590]

ok i got a zi8 but the quality isnt as good as this video .. im thinking its because i didnt record my video to an HD memory card instead of the regular memory card i recorded my video on .. will an HD memory card make that big of a difference?

[viscig60]

Is there a mic choice that you can plug into the camera that stays with the camera without the added wires and having to use a mic? Basically, a simple alternative to the built in mic. I would use it when recording video at sports events etc when a corded mic makes no sense. Thanks, great review.

[michaelm815]

thanks a bunch guys great video

[raccoonnyc]

That was one of the more useful reveiws I've seen on YouTube.

[widowsbreath]

STEVE IS quite the hunk :)))

[Charbarhousemusic]

Great review guys, thanks

[mxf7010g8k]

i think the built in mic was better than the first. but the external mics seem to work very good if u are only trying to hear one person

[TheOnlyTiminator]

dude the guy on the right is so annoying. he talks with that cracky deep voice

[GJJalltheway]

i know you already posted this, but i just have to post something also because hes talking like a robot with a broken voice box. its almost to the point where i want to stop watching.

[Fretfeeler]

Nice microphone demonstrations. :) Thanks.

[mikebeav71]

Great info, I am going to buy the Zi8 after watching this!

[wyldeslash2003]

i belive the dude on the right is a robot

[Jaykaufman101]

hahaha wylde i laughed every time he talked hahahaha

[Musicmanstngry]

Haha yep

[GamingReviewsLive]

@wyldeslash2003 I believe you may be right my friend. Bouer from Computer TV will not be happy.

[chiefkeckers]

what volume input setting are you using on the zi8. and are those mics stereo? or have you flattened the mono?

[rockinghaven]

how big is the jack on the zi8

[Warkmen]

3,5mm

[rockinghaven]

the shotgun mike sounds really good

[L77kim77l]

Thanks a lot guys, that was very helpful :)

[PPOIRI000]

Where do you get the XLR/stereo mini jack adapter?

[pcoffing]

watch out for fake Sony ECM-DS70P mics on ebay shipped from asia!

[JeiiEra]

lol hey girls ill be back to pick you up later! lol nice and awesome review

[OhMrBeefy]

I just a sony stereo mic for $13 free shipping. the ebay item # is  170402260249

[Aloverssoulz]

Is it true that the audio technica atr-35s can only be heard on one side?.

[Aloverssoulz]

Love the video. Thank you.

[gr8in83]

Ok i bought the Zi8 and the lavalier mic you recommended and i tried to do test video and it looks like crap. How did you guys do this? I also compared it to Flip ultra HD and it blew away the kodak. I was bummed...Please HELP!!

[stevegarfield]

I have a tota and Sima light, and I'm using a tripod. What's wrong with your video. Do you have a link?

[JeiiEra]

i like your videos, that does it...subscribed

[1joke2joke3joke4]

@stevegarfield Where did you buy the lights to shoot this? So perfect. Maybe a link to them if it's no hassle?

[mexdodge]

i like the clip on mic

[vwestlife]

The clip-on mic (the last one demonstrated) sounds the best with the Zi8. The first one is too tinny and the shotgun mic is too muffled.

[phillipmills]

are you shooting at 720p/60 fps or 1080p?

[stevegarfield]

720p

[icemanizaki]

Great videos...as a voice over talent....this is a pretty sweet camera

[icemanizaki]

I've got to get this!

[chrisc74]

could you tell me what memory card you are using. thank you

[CRAZYCRADER]

Like to hear a stereo mic with music that been great hear but good video thanks for the input!!!

[dfwjag]

would have been cool to test a stereo mic - but very good test! Video quality was good too.

[granadajohn]

Thanks, good info.