Kodak Zi8 External Microphone Input Feature Overview

[MrHellyeah2010]

G'day lunarparcel, odd question from a techniphobe: is the Zi8 capable of clearly handling the loud noises of rifles and noisy unmuffled car engines? I know it's an odd question, but i would like to upload some videos on accurising a particular model of rifle, and upload footage of drag racing (legal racing of course lol). Or is this something more attributable to the external microphone being used?

I just hate when loud sounds are ruined by muddiness and scratchiness is all :(

thanks :)

[lunarparcel]

@MrHellyeah2010 It's a great question. The Zi8 and its successors have a built-in gain control that will help attenuate incoming signal - to a degree. But for handling what you describe, there's more to consider, such as the frequency range and audio encoding capacities. It's not very strong in either of those. While you can bring the gain control down a bit, I'm not sure how well it will handle explosive audio, and might consider a more robust external audio recorder like a Zoom unit.

[MrHellyeah2010]

@lunarparcel Thank you for the reply sir! (i've just learned since posting that the zi8 has been superceded a couple of time already lol).

If you don't mind me picking your brain a bit, is there any particular model of Zoom audio recorder that you would recommend for these big noisy sounds? Also, am i right in assuming these units plug into a camera's mic jack like usual external microphones?

Sorry about all the questions, and thank you again :)

[lunarparcel]

@MrHellyeah2010 Yes, my Zi8 video is a bit older, and it's been superceded by the Zi10, and the new Zi12 both of which feature mic-in ports. I don't have personal experience using a Zoom yet, it's just come up in a lot of conversations I've had with users who really love them. They are well regarded, and I'm pointed to the H4 models a lot. I don't know if you can plug directly into a camcorder mic jack - these are typically used to record audio themselves, and then sync to video in post.

[lunarparcel]

@MrHellyeah2010 and so if you end up getting something like that to record audio independently for syncing in post, you don't necessarily need to get a camcorder with a mic-in jack. But if you do, and want to go a bit more budget than sinking cash into something like a Zoom, I would at least consider getting a solid dynamic mic (like a good Shure) that would be able to better handle loud explosive audio better than a more sensitive microphone.

[MrHellyeah2010]

@lunarparcel Mate, I really, really appreciate your help with this, thank you so much! and yes, I am on a budget, so these Shure mics sound like they might just be worth doing some research into. And i had no idea about being able to sync audio into videos during editing - i really am i newbie to this lol, so thank you again! :D

[lunarparcel]

@MrHellyeah2010 The world of video editing lays before you. You can go as budget or as ambitious as you want. There are free & low cost apps that can combine audio & visual elements with varying degrees of complexity. Apps for Mac & PC, and simpler editors that work on mobile devices like tablets. I'm launching a tutorial channel fairly soon to focus on this topic at entry level. If you subscribe to my channel, you'll be updated with info when I prepare to launch the other one. Glad to help.

[MrHellyeah2010]

@lunarparcel Sir, now that you say that, i am well and truly subbing! That would excellent!

[lunarparcel]

@MrHellyeah2010 Thank you. And as have I. I like to see how folks develop as they jump into pursuing their video ambitions, and look forward to seeing what kind of fun you have with it.

Cheers,

-Jon

[andrewwright99999]

Well done , great video

[lunarparcel]

@andrewwright99999 Thank you, very much, indeed.

[theak421]

If you have one handheld mic plugged in to the camera, and another handheld mic with the transmitter piece, would you be able to use both of them at the same time?

[lunarparcel]

@theak421 I'm afraid not. The transmitter piece works in conjunction with a receiver unit, which plugs into the mic-in jack of the camcorder, leaving it unavailable for another wired mic to be plugged in. Both mics could be accommodated by using a separate mixer as an intermediary device, but then you are beginning to compromise the low cost factor of such a shooting method.

[SIRONEDRAGON]

Cool : )

[lunarparcel]

@SIRONEDRAGON Indeed. :)

[epohnopulse]

Why does this video only go up to 720p when it claims it can do 1980p?

[lunarparcel]

@epohnopulse It is likely that I simply shot this at that 720p setting, exported it from iMovie as such, and uploaded it to Youtube as such. Since the intent was to focus on audio rather than imaging resolution, maximum resolution space was not prioritized with this video. So I'm confused as to where you find a claim in this video that it is supposed to show at 1980p. Please advise. (BTW: maximum on the Zi8 is 1920 x 1080p, not 1980p).

[MatticusNicholas]

@lunarparcel I hear 720p at 60fps is better relative to the 1080p at 30fps that the camera provides. Any truth to that?

[lunarparcel]

@MatticusNicholas Depends on the content you're shooting, & target presentation. 720p is better for higher action scenes and is easier to edit in terms of processor demands. 1080p @30fps lets you play with more pixels for a theoretically better resolution, but this is best demonstrated in cooperation with a higher quality lens and bigger sensor that can more appropriately resolve an image to take advantage of those pixels. IMO, the difference between low-cost 1080p & 720p for web is negligible.

[CurleysPizzeria]

why does no one test outdoors with wind?? Even the built in mic's work perfect indoors, not much of a test.

[lunarparcel]

@CurleysPizzeria That was not the point of this video. The intent was to show basic results of proximity dynamics, not stressed conditions.

[ZmajSnoshaj]

VERY good review Jon, your videos are the key to making low-budget professional-quality productions... thanks for sharing! :)

[lunarparcel]

@ZmajSnoshaj Thank you.

[WAYDESWORLDHAWAII]

This videos are SOOOO helpful man...You need to pack your page with these type of vids...I am having problems myself with audio and this was helpful but I want even more info...Your editiing software video was a huge help as well...I want more! Mahalos man, from Hawaii!

[lunarparcel]

@WAYDESWORLDHAWAII Thank you. I'm working on a new site and channel fully dedicated to that, and will post info on this channel when that other goes live. I've got a lot of great content we are prepping, and it should be freakin' awesome.

Cheers,

-Jon

(I love your vids, BTW.)

[FiImNation]

Hi, thanks for the review.

What microphone would you suggest that is best for the Zi8 that can capture sound without any BG noise or wind, at both short and long distance? Thanks.

[lunarparcel]

@FiImNation That's a hard call. In truth, each purpose is best suited with a mic designed for that purpose. Good near field mics usually aren't so great for distance, and vice-versa. But for middle of the road applications with some flexibility, you might look into a decent shotgun mic. Good ones can be very costly-undermining the low cost of using a Zi8, but they also offer nice sensitivity for distance, and good roll-off. On a low budget, consider the ATR-55. Surprisingly good for the price.

[lunarparcel]

@FiImNation ...Additionally, you can go a bit higher price range and consider a RODE Videomic. Perhaps not advanced as higher end shotgun mics, but quite good performance for the money.

[lunarparcel]

@FiImNation ...and finally, @FiImNation ...Additionally, windnoise can still be a problem, even with a basic shotgun setup. They usually include a simple foam wind baffle that is okay for very light wind protection. To really do justice in higher wind conditions with a shotgun mic, consider additionally outfitting with a blimp and dead cat (furry wind guard). Can get really costly- but options across the price range. Maybe overkill for the Zi8, but works well for any audio in any case.

[lunarparcel]

@FiImNation Final note - When I do more polished talking head type work, I tend to use both a shotgun and a good lav mic, and blend them in post - to replicate a more natural listening environment. When the speaker is seen as 10 feet from the camera, for me it feels un-natural to have the audio so that the ears hear it from 4 inches away, as with the lav. So I use the lav for vocal clarity and warmth, and blend it with shotgun audio for the natural feel of distance to the lens. It sounds right.

[jaygarza]

APPRECIATE IT HOMIE 

[lunarparcel]

@jaygarza SWEET, YO.

THANKS.

[gotham61]

I guess my question is whether you can override the automatic gain control in the camcorder's menu system? The Sennheiser and wireless Shure setups were clipping the input pretty badly until the AGC knocked the level down each time you started to speak.

[lunarparcel]

@gotham61 As far as I know, you can't disable the AGC, but you can adjust the audio input in the settings-unfortunately, you can't monitor the live audio feed cuz the unit lacks a headphone jack (crazy, I know). I noticed the peaking you mentioned. Although I use those mics on my pro cams at those settings and they work well, the audio system in the Zi8 isn't very refined and not the best at encoding audio. And, I didn't even bother to check or adjust the input level as I probably should have.

[cbcb19]

Thank you for this!!! Very helpful!

[lunarparcel]

@cbcb19 Awesome. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[Gr8tfulDude]

You should be getting paid for these endorsements! (I hope you are)

[lunarparcel]

@Gr8tfulDude Indeed.

[vasamuel07]

Nice video. What editing software do you use?

[lunarparcel]

@vasamuel07 Thank you. I typically use Final Cut Pro for most of my videos, but with this one I used iMovie, and only enough to add the text and product image because I was trying to replicate a fairly non-complex workflow that I believe comfortably corresponds to the target user base of this type of camcorder.