Kodak Zi8 External Microphone Input Feature Overview

This is a very basic overview of the external microphone input capability of the Kodak Zi8 digital video pocket camcorder. Although this camcorder is a low-priced, entry level, ultra-portable, simple point and shoot video camcorder, the capability of handling an external microphone for higher quality audio input sets this device apart from most others in this class. This video shows the audio variation between using the stock built-in microphone as opposed to a few different options for wired and wireless microphones.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Kodak
• Zi8
• digital
• video
• portable
• camcorder
• built-in
• external
• microphone
• Shure
• SM58
• economical
• low-priced
• entry-level
• Radio
• Shack
• Sennheiser
• G2
• wired
• wireless
• handheld
• audio
• recording
• iMovie
• lapel
• lavaliere
• clear
• noisy

[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

[MrHellyeah2010]

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

[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 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 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.

[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.

[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 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.

[lunarparcel]

@andrewwright99999 Thank you, very much, indeed.

[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 :)