Rode NTG-2 and JuicedLink JL-CX211 Audio Test (550D with Magic Lantern firmware)

[kispix]

Very helpful audio test, thank you for doing that. I know you tested more than a year ago, but my question is similar to the last question. Whatever help me to reduce the post production workflow will be the best for me. I was thinking to buy an external audio recorder, but having clean audio directly in camera will save time syncing ext audio in a lot of clips.

So, the millon dollars question to you (or anybody) is how bad is the audio compression in camera ?

Thank you!

[ComPodView]

@kispix I've never done a side-by-side comparison because I never really worked with a recorder but I seriously doubt that it makes a noticable difference.

[ComPodView]

@kispix I've never done a side-by-side comparison because I never really worked with a recorder but I seriously doubt that it makes a noticable difference.

[KKP121]

Perfect test, well done. Can you tell me where was the mic from your mouth at 2:35??

Did you speak with normal volume or a little bit louder than???

Thank you!

[ComPodView]

@KKP121 Thanks. It was always the same distance. I would say about one meter. No, I just spoke with normal volume.

[beaverdc7]

I can tell a LITTLE difference with the juiced link..I was thinking about buying one but now I'm not sure. The XLR to 1/8 jack sounded fine to me. Why use the juicedlink?

[ComPodView]

@beaverdc7 Sure, using the XLR to jack cable isn't as bad as everyone says. Anyway this test was done under very good conditions. In other situations the difference is bigger. However a preamp is quite an investment, that's true and it's up to you, if you find it to be worth the cost.

[xxbluejay21]

honestly tho I think the mic into the t2i and mic into the jl adapter sounds the same except for the t2i into mic having more noise. And can't you just eliminate the noise in post anyways? Do you really think its worth 200-500 dollars just to get noise free audio?

[Phunker1]

@xxbluejay21

fix it in post .. you must be plain deaf not to hear the difference between a crappy pre (t2i) and a semi decent one. Bad audio is the biggest problem with amateur video.

[xxbluejay21]

@Phunker1 that in no way addressed my question lol

[Phunker1]

@xxbluejay21

Didn't it? In a nutshell: 1st: No, you can't fix bad audio in post. You can make it sound a little better, but crap audio will never become good audio. Noise cancellation will always compromise your audio and good NC sofware will set you back more than a small mic pre. 2nd: A dedicated mic pre, even the juicedlink, will always sound way better than any tiny smd pre like the ones build into dslrs. 3rd: Good audio is priceless. So yes, it's worth every penny

[xxbluejay21]

Thanks for this!!!!

[polojimbo]

also how long does the battery last on full gain and trim?

thanks

james

[ComPodView]

@polojimbo Hm, I haven't done a stress test but I change the battery for every or every second shooting day.

[polojimbo]

how high is the signal when analogue is set at 0 and the gain is at high with trim all the way up and no post production boost?

is it an acceptable signal or is it too low?

thanks

[ComPodView]

@polojimbo No, this is too low. I generally have the analogue set at 17 and also boost it in post a bit.

[jasedotcom]

What about using a Zoom H4n? You can get better audio if you record separately because the Zoom can sample at 24bit 96Kh sampling rate.

[ComPodView]

@jasedotcom I wouldn't say that. The JuicedLink generally has better results. Honestly who really uses 96kh? But the main reason I bought the JuicedLink was that I don't like to record seperately and having to sync everything everytime.

[IgniteVideos7]

ughh.. i bought a beachtek DXA-2T for the same price and the noise is soooooo loud! i have the same setup as you, NTG2 with a canon 550D(t2i) and no luck with horrible noise. My analogue gain has to be at 32db to even record anyhting and its still barely audible so i have to gain on post.

[ComPodView]

@IgniteVideos7 Yeah, the BeachTek certainly isn't as good as the JuicedLink. Still though I also have noise too, I thinkt it's inevitable.

[IgniteVideos7]

@ComPodView I see, but i think compared to as much noise that i get on mine, your's is barely noticible. And there's always room tone as well, but i'll post a video with my current set-up, maybe you could help me out? im returning my beachtek and buying the juicedlink.

[IgniteVideos7]

@ComPodView oh and another question, in post, do you add gain? and do you put any noise removing filter?

[ComPodView]

@IgniteVideos7 Yes, genrelly I have to add gain. In some situations I also use noise removing filters, but generally not.

[SuperAzproductions]

Using the JuicedLink CX211 and the NTG-2 microphone, can you get loud and high quality, clear audio? or do you have to do anything in post? Also, can you playback the recording on the T2i normally? I have a 60d, and when I record audio from my ntg2 directly to the camera and play it back, all i can hear is noise, no dialogue, and on the computer I can hear dialogue, but also noise.

[ComPodView]

@SuperAzproductions Hm, very strange. Do you use the Magic Lantern firmware?

[SuperAzproductions]

@ComPodView No, I use the canon firmware. The Canon 60D has manual audio controls, so I don't think I need Magic Lantern. What about the first part of my question? Can you achieve those results with the configuration I told you?

[cookwerth]

Yeah I find even when I have set analogue gain to 32db and digital to 6db mic audio is still fairly quiet, its not too bad, but just a little too quiet

[AshKilamande]

hello how do u get clean audio with ntg-2 into the camera? i find that it is very quiet and when i boost levels in post it becomes very noisy.

[ComPodView]

@AshKilamande Hm, well I also don't have a secret recipe for that. Do you use a boom mic?

[AshKilamande]

@ComPodView Yes, I do use a boom mic. Could you maybe tell me what your settings are in camera and in post for the ntg-2 straight into camera?

[ComPodView]

@AshKilamande I have the JuicedLink set the "High" and the volume all the way up. In the camera I have analogue gain set to 10db (can also be higher, if you want to), and digital gain 0db. In post I still have to boost the sound.

[hotgypsylips]

Hi mate! I can't hear much different betwen the last two tests, NTG-2 straight to cam with anXLR adapter or the JL CX211. Is it worthy expend 200 bucks on thaqt device?

Would it give me higher levels if I wanted and most importantly,clean audio,no hiss,hum,etc?

Thanks

[ComPodView]

@hotgypsylips Hi, these tests are under very good conditions. If they are worse, there is more difference. The sound is cleaner with the JuicedLink adapter, no doubt, but I must say, contrary to what's the general opinion on this, that using a normal XLR adapter and Magic Lantern the sound is actually quite good.

[bigboardtv]

Ist echt klasse wie du das ausgeleutet hast ich habe mir jetzt auch eine Matte Box

zugelegt für meine Canon eos 550d

[bigboardtv]

Hey wie hast du den weissen hintergrund hingekriegt

[fctkd]

I have the same setup but I find the audio about 10-15 db lower than I would want from the Juiced link. The NTG-2 seems to give off an extremely low audio signal I have started pumping up the sound with another preamp before it gets to the canon.

[fctkd]

I have the same setup but I find the audio about 10-15 db lower than I would want from the Juiced link. The NTG-2 seems to give off an extremely low audio signal I have started pumping up the sound with another preamp before it gets to the canon.

[bigboardtv]

Hey ich habe dich schon oft angeschrieben und ich habe mich echt immer über deine Antwort gefreut !!!!!!!! ( Der Hintergrund ist Hammer )

[ChadWork1]

Nice demo man! The JuicedLink stuff is great, and the ML for the T2i is AWESOME. I have the DT454 & DS214. I just made a video using all this stuff too, as well as the JL brackets for holding the cameras and a bunch of stuff. Check it out. it's the featured video on my channel at the moment. I even made a jingle for it!

[ChadWork1]

Nice demo man! The JuicedLink stuff is great, and the ML for the T2i is AWESOME. I have the DT454 & DS214. I just made a video using all this stuff too, as well as the JL brackets for holding the cameras and a bunch of stuff. Check it out. it's the featured video on my channel at the moment. I even made a jingle for it!

[DannyWinnVideo]

Very cool video brother! I also have the NTG-2 with the Canon 5D. I will be buying the JL-CX211 too. This video has convinced me that I will be happy with this setup. Thanks much!

[drewnetwork]

It sounds good, and I can imagine using your rig under certain specific conditions. But, the question that comes to mind is -- how is this more useful or versatile than simply using a Zoom H4n (or other comparable recorder) for HDSLR audio? The only advantage I'm coming up with is that your audio is embedded in your video files, but now you're dealing with the camera's audio compression -- that isn't close to ideal.

Just my thoughts. It does sound nice.

[theryaner]

@drewnetwork well... you said it yourself. It does sound nice, so i doubt most people will care what tech was used behind it unless you're working on a extremely high end production. Embedded audio is a huge advantage in terms of speed.

[ComPodView]

@drewnetwork Yes, exactly, I don't have to pay attention to both devices all the time before recording (maybe you forget to start the recorder one time...) and synching up in post is also quite annoying. I have a project coming up where I have to shoot like 100 interviews and always having to synch everything (on set and in post) would be a total mess. About the compression: I don't think anyone will notice, furthermore the pre-amps inside the JL are supposed to be better than the Zoom ones.

[ComPodView]

@ComPodView Nevertheless, it took me some time to choose between the two devices and I can really see the advantages of the Zoom. It is very versitable to have an external recorder and the 550D is still lacking the headphone out (hopefully this gets fixed soon with the Magic Lantern firmware). But in the end, the embedded audio made it for me. :-)

[beerock2000]

Thanks for doing this. Very helpful.