Reddit mentions: The best professional microphones

No problem dude.

So first off I just want to go against your thought on only using an iPhone until you can get a professional camera. I really do think that you need the DSLR step in between the iPhone and the professional camera for many factors. Even though the app that you are using is very impressive, it still cannot match a DSLR. You even said it yourself, the camera sensor is way too small to use in anything but exceptional light. Secondly being able to tell the story not just the angle you have the camera, but in the lens choice is something that is awesome to do. With a single change in a lens you can make someone who is in an ally look like they are claustrophobic and trapped, to someone being alone in a large amount of space. So using lenses are a huge help in telling the story you want and being able to know that before using a professional camera is huge. I also want to point out one of the big and main differences why someone would want a professional cinematic camera. One of the main reasons is to have the capability to shoot in RAW which allows for awesome post production. I've used RAW many times before and it is awesome to adjust almost every aspect of the shot. Here is the thing though, you almost really don't need that unless you are really going to push the camera in post, or if you are doing a movie. Even without RAW a DSLR or mirrorless camera can achieve professional looking video without breaking the bank. Here a great video on professionals comparing 8bit vs 10bit which is essentially the difference between cinema cameras and mirrorless ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AekKwgvS5K0 ). This is a very interesting video and really shows how good mirrorless cameras are, and the small gap between the two. I know it's fun to say that you filmed a whole film on an iPhone. I've also used an iPhone and android phones to film really good looking video, but I knew what it can and can't do because I had used dslr and professional cameras. Without the knowledge I had there would've been wild problems that I couldn't fix in post, and even with all of my knowledge I had to change how I did things to get everything right. It was a great experience, but there is a time and place for everything.

Okay not that is out of the way I'll tackle the audio questions you had. So when I said that you can eliminate background noise while recording it wasn't necessarily in a software, rather in what you are doing while filming. The number one thing that you need to do is get the mic as close to the actor as possible. By doing this it eliminates most factors so you can have more flexibility in post. Secondly it is a good idea to have someone dedicated to being the audio engineer. Having to do both is exhausting and results in lukewarm audio and video. Third you need to get an app or some external device that allows for adjusting the gain. There should be multiple apps that can do this, however I would recommend a pre-amp. Here is a link to a great pre-amp https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LBS52YI/ref=psdc_11974581_t3_B007534LFK . It is a great deal for what it is, but it is still pretty pricey if you don't have much money or much income at all. This is a great tool because it will allow for any audio recorder, phone, or camera to accept xlr, quater inch, and normal aux connections and even providing two. You can also adjust the volume it is putting out so you can more easily adjust on the fly. Getting the right levels is essential for getting good audio in post. The next thing you can do is have some portable sound proofing. There are audio blankets that do a great job, but they are $60 for one. Not to say it isn't worth it, but it's a bit much if it's between getting that and a new mic. So instead I recommend getting a moving blanket. It isn't perfect, but you can get a huge amount of them for cheap and they do almost as good as the audio blanket. The way can use this is to cover up whatever is making the noise if you can. If you can't you can make a wall out of the blankets with light stands, or pretty much whatever you can attach them to. This will not only reduce echos from the actor, but it will also greatly reduce the amount of ambient noise that the mic is picking up. Seriously pick up some moving blankets, they are a great tool not just for audio, but you can use them to block out light, and actually move stuff. They are a really awesome tool. So by doing all of this it should reduce the amount of ambient noise that the mic picks up. Also for good shotgun mics, I am not a great resource for this but I do know a few good mics. Here are two that I know are good and that others say good things about. https://www.amazon.com/Professional-Advanced-Broadcast-Microphone-accessories/dp/B00N39J0LU/ref=sr_1_4?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1503160247&sr=1-4&keywords=shotgun+mic https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATR-6550-Condenser-Shotgun-Microphone/dp/B002GYPS3M/ref=sr_1_5?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1503160247&sr=1-5&keywords=shotgun+mic . If you want to know more there are a large amount of articles on good mics for cheap.

Next I just want to quickly mention that you should invest in some lights. No matter what it is a good idea to have them. Here is a link to a great budget light, https://www.amazon.com/Dimmable-Digital-Camcorder-Panasonic-Samsung/dp/B004TJ6JH6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1503160499&sr=8-1&keywords=neewer+light . It isn't the most exiting thing to buy, but it is well worth your money.

For the acting questions, it is hard to put to words what I experience. It's more of an instinct, and is different in every situation . However I know I would not be happy with that answer, so here is a link to an article that I think has some really good points. http://www.masteringfilm.com/tips-for-directing-actors/ . This isn't the guide lines for what you can do, but this is just a starting point for what you can do to direct actors better. There are many articles out there so pick and choose what you want. My only piece of advice that I could find words for is this, make your actors not act. You want them to be the character. So a good way to get this to happen is to have them write a back story for the character, it won't be incorporated in the film, but it will help them shape their decisions on how they act. It is really a great way to have the actor connect with the character. Also just tell the actor what they are doing. Don't be a dick about it, but let them know so they can change it. Don't be vague by saying "do that but happier" because no one really gets that. Instead say something like "Jim while you are saying that line could you have a bit of a smile and have a bit more hop in your step" something like that. That might've not been the best example, but you hopefully get the idea.

Okay I hope that answered all of your questions. Let me know if you have more.

Okay this is going to be a long post, so here goes.

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If you really want to get into sound design, youre going to need a few essentials. A DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), an audio interface, a handheld recorder, and a microphone.




DAWs

As far as a DAW goes, there's a few alternatives you can go with. I personally use Avid Pro Tools for near everything I do, but also mess around with Reaper. I've found that most studios will use one of these two. Most DAWs will have a pretty steep learning curve, so be ready for that.

Pro Tools First is the free version of Pro Tools. It has a lot of limitations, but for starting out it should be fine. If you want less limitations it costs big money, but I'm sure you can find a crack or two as long as you don't use it commercially.

Reaper is starting to grow on me lately. You can customize it to your needs, and the full version is only $60. You can also just deal with a popup everytime you open the program for ten seconds and use it for free. I mainly prefer Pro Tools over this because the video engine in Pro Tools is much better. But for batch editing multiple sound files, Reaper is muuuuuch better.

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Audio Interface

This basically takes over as an intermediary between high quality audio and your computer. You can plug a microphone right into it to record sound straight to your computer. You can do this with a USB microphone as well, but the quality is a million times better with one of these.
I would recommend either the Behringer UMC22 or the more advanced Focusrite Scarlett Solo. Both will do the trick, I just prefer the mic pres on the Focusrite a bit more.


Handheld Recorder
Handheld recorders allow you to record anything you want to without having to deal with any cables. They should be compact but durable.

The Tascam DR-40 is a great intro recorder. It was the first recorder I got 5 years ago, and it still holds up. I've dropped this thing so many times and it still powers through.
Another favorite is the Zoom H4N. This was a favorite among most of my classmates as it was the one my school supplied, but I didn't feel like going through the checkout process all the time so I saved up and got the Tascam. It has a newer version, the Zoom H6, which is pretty slick, but comes at a higher price point. It also comes with some interchangeable microphone capsules so you can get different types of recordings. I'll cover more of this later.
I'll leave off with the recorder I have now, the Sony PCM-M10. This thing is a godsend. It's discontinued due to a newer version coming out, but you can find this guy on eBay for around $300-400. It's smaller than a phone, and the sound quality is amazing. If you have the money to shell out for this guy, definitely go for it. Every sound designer inn the industry I know swears by it.


Microphone

So the first thing you need to know is that there's a load of different microphone types. Its a lot to cover, so I'm just going to link you to this article that will cover the basics of what you need to know. Basically I would recommend different microphones for different things, all depending on what you're trying to capture.
A good all-around microphone is the Shure SM57/Shure SM58. They're essentially both the same microphone. But these things will LAST. Like,people have run over them with trucks and they sound fine. Definitely a good starting point

For vocal recordings, I would recommend the Rode NT1A. This mic is a great starting point for capturing voice, and is durable to boot.

For capturing foley/field recording, I would go with the Rode NTG2. Its a shotgun mic with great quality for the price, and never let me down in all the years Ive been using it. I won its successor, the NTG3, in the Riot Creative Contest a few years back, but still use the NTG2 from time to time when I need to.


Some Extra Stuff


Theres a lot of cool, free plugins out there. I've used both Blue Cat's and Melda's plugins, and they all get the job done with a bit of tweaking.

As far as building up a sound library goes, I would recommend recording literally everything you can around you and playing with those sounds with plugins as a good starting point for building up a library. There's a few resources out there that give out free SFX every once in a while, GDC has had a bundle go up for 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. You can also check out the BBC Sound Effects Library. Be careful about getting libraries and bundles though, as they add up quick. I have to go through my sound library soon, and I probably have around 500,00+ files but only really need a few thousand.

For all your sounds, you're going to want a file manager. A great and free one is Mutant. You just add the directory where you downloaded your sounds to, let it load them in, and voila. You can search easily for what you need.


Hopefully, all this was somewhat helpful to you, or to anyone else reading this who's interested in sound design!

Hi, I'm the co-editor for podcast production and I think I may be able to help with your questions.

Mics: Depending on your current recording space you have 2 options, Condenser or Dynamic Microphones. Condenser mics are very good at picking up detailed sound but they are most of the time to sensitive to be used without some sort of sound proofing or acoustic treatment to the room as they are really good at picking up even the quietest of sounds. but if you have a treated room or a acoustic shield then that might be an option to look into. Dynamic mics however are really good at capturing loud sounds and because of that, they are mostly used for singing and instruments. however they are also often used for narration because you don't have to go all out with the sound proofing as they are less sensitive. now since my talents are in post production, I don't need an expensive microphone to get a good sounding recording, so I just use a $20 Dynamic microphone from amazon, they're great in fact I bought 4 of them for a podcast I was doing, I can give samples if you would like. As for price, Condenser are on average going to cost more because of everything that goes into it. Dynamic mics are older tech, so they aren't as expensive. my friend who does the vocal recordings has the Rode NT1a, a rather expensive condenser microphone $229, and I record using the Behringer Xm8500 Dynamic mic $20 on amazon. so it's really up to your budget and editing know how.

Rode NT1a

Xm8500

You will also need a audio interface if you're going to be using XLR mics, which I highly recommend you do. Here's the one I use, although you may not need that many channels

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Software: I use Adobe Audition around $20 a month subscription. However I have in the past used Audacity and if you know how to use it, you can get some really good results. If you are looking to get into industry standard software I would recommend Pro Tools also I think $20 a month.

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Yes, people who don't use a studio generally record to their preferred Audio editor and mix/edit then upload to a hosting website for their podcast, the production I work for uses Blogtalk which I think has a free option. However there are many options for hosting websites (E.g. Acast, Podbean, Libsyn, Ect.) I recommend reading this website for hosting options.

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People typically find voice actors through Casting Calls which they themselves set up or by going through a casting call website, and yes voice actors are typically paid although some may offer volunteer if they're just getting out there or for charity. For the sake of professionalism always assume you are paying for their services, that way if they decline payment then that's their choice as an actor.

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If your podcast gains enough listeners then yes, you can definaty make money through podcasting, but you should never go only for making money. because one, it takes a while ti gain listeners and two it's just no fun if your only in it for the money.

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I remember being exactly where you are now asking these questions, so If you need any help don't hesitate to ask. I hope this helps :)

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TL,DR

Mics: I use a $20 Dynamic mic which gives me great recordings, although there are more expensive and higher quality options out there.

Software: I use Adobe Audition to edit everything but there are a myriad of other audio editing options out there including the free software Audacity.

Yes it can be as simple as Record/Edit/Post depending on what your doing and the type of podcast your going for.

You find actors through casting calls, and typically you always pay actors for their services. Always expect to pay.

Yes you can make money through podcasting depending on your listenership and Ads and things like that.

As far as specs go, the only difference is in price and in variable aperture. Variable aperture is something I work with on a daily basis but would be a great thing to not have to deal with. IMO, just an annoyance. Light will likely not come into play because you already can just switch to your 55 f/1.8 for low-light. Other than that, I think it comes down to focal length. Do you want to have the 18-30 range or will you not miss it because you already usually shoot at 55?

I would not consider it "easy" to get good slider shots but also not hard. It largely depends on your slider and experience with the slider. Gentle hand + smooth slider = great shots. I think that it would be better to invest in good lenses, a good tripod, good mics, and good lights before getting a slider as you can make an equally good video without a slider.

Yes, here are some cheaper options. However, I should note that the mic I recommended has a "+20dB" setting that can allow you to turn down the pre-amps in your camera or recorder and get better, cleaner audio. Most other mics do not have the feature. The mic I recommended has a bunch of younger brothers. The rode videomic that I have. Great mic, no boost setting, a bit bigger than I would like. The rode videomic go, no battery required mic, pretty cheap. Some people say it is no better than just for scratch audio and barely better than on-board mics, I can't speak to the claims. I'm not trying to scare you away from it, just letting you know what is out there. The rode videomic micro, a super small mic, more intended for small cameras or smartphones, I don't know how good the audio quality is. Outside of the Rode brand family, there is also the Shure LensHopper that is often said to rival the videomic pro. It comes in two different versions, one with a built-in audio recorder, and one without.

Let me know what else I can help with!

/u/Okaaran - with a $100 to $120 budget, you won't be able to find a better video camera than your iPhone 8 - but you can improve your phone's image quality. You can start by downloading FiLMiC Pro for [$9.99 from iTunes] (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/filmic-pro/id436577167?mt=8&at=1000l8mT).

This app will allow you to control aspect ratio, white balance, exposure, resolution and frame rates - turning your phone into a pretty good approximation of a camcorder.

FiLMiC Pro was used for this recent feature film shot entirely on iPhones:

• [Unsane Trailer by Stephen Soderburgh] (https://youtu.be/u7KZrt_cHH0) (full movie [here] (https://www.amazon.com/Unsane-Claire-Foy/dp/B07BNSQ75X//ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=battleforthew-20))
  
  And this one, shot with FiLMiC Pro and [inexpensive anamorphic "widescreen" lenses] (http://www.moondoglabs.com/store/#!/Anamorphic-Lenses-&-Accessories/c/8525657/offset=0&sort=normal) plus a [Steadicam Smoothee] (https://www.amazon.com/Steadicam-Smoothee-Universal-Smartphone-Adapter/dp/B017EVRPW8//ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=battleforthew-20) counterbalanced stabilizer:
  
  
• [Tangerine - Red Band Trailer] (https://youtu.be/ALSwWTb88ZU) (NSFW - full movie [here] (https://www.amazon.com/Tangerine-Alla-Tumanian/dp/B017I241HK//ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=battleforthew-20))
  
  This one used FiLMiC Pro, iPhones and a jib:
  
  
• ["ALL UP TO YOU!" - iPhone 5 Movie] (https://vimeo.com/50438974)
  
  Instead of a counterbalanced stabilizer like the Smoothee, you might want to invest in a [$99 Zhiyun Smooth Q powered 3 axis gimbal] (https://www.amazon.com/Smooth-Q-Handheld-Smartphone-Counterweight-Standard/dp/B06XK971X2//ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=battleforthew-20).
  
  Powered gimbals are easier to use than counterbalanced stabilizers and can give you very smooth results.
  
  Here are a couple of 4K examples shot with the iPhone 8 and Zhiyun gimbals:
  
  
• [Good Morning Gratitude — Shot on iPhone 8 (4K Cinematic) by Atilla Taskiran] (https://youtu.be/PCQ115-BSvw) (2160p)
  
  
• [iPhone 8 Plus - 4K Cinematic Test Footage (Verona, Italy) by Nikola Krstic] (https://youtu.be/TQ8ndUJNSuM) (2160p)
  
  Without a stabilizer or gimbal, handheld cellphone video can be very hard to watch.
  
  You should also invest in a directional mic or a lavalier for better sound than you can get from the built-in mic. Ideally, you would want a dedicated mic on a boom, but I am assuming you don't have a boom operator.
  
  Directional Mic
  
  The least expensive option is the [$59 Rode VideoMic Me] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018KIJGU8//ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=battleforthew-20). It is the best directional mic you can buy for your phone.
  
  Here is the Rode promo video with example audio: https://youtu.be/1-x8MVngwaI
  
  Lavalier
  
  For interviews or dialogue between 2 actors, you can get a [Movo dual lavalier with headphone monitoring for $39.95] (http://www.amazon.com/Movo-Executive-Microphone-Monitoring-Smartphones/dp/B019HQHXN4//ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=battleforthew-20). You can either plug it into the phone you're using for video - or you can download an app to a second phone (e.g. [Rode REC] (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/r%C3%B8de-rec/id528642521?mt=8&at=1000l8mT) for iOS), record a "scratch" audio track with your camera phone's internal microphone and sync the audio from the second phone to your camera's audio track in the edit, as seen here (example is for the Rode SmartLav, but it makes the point for the entire lav/phone category):
  
  http://youtu.be/P2RIFZOGMZo
  
  With the right software and support gear, your phone can give you great 4K video quality.
  
  Hope this is helpful, and good luck with your YouTube videos!

Well, If filmmaking and video is your goal with these cameras I wouldn't recommend either.

If you're just starting and serious about video production here's a pretty effective starter kit that's just a tad over your $400 budget.

[Camera: Canon Vixia HF R400] (http://www.amazon.com/Canon-VIXIA-R400-Advanced-Camcorder/dp/B00AWZFJ22/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395594961&sr=8-1&keywords=canon+vixia+hf+r400)
This is a decent starter camera. It's got a decent range of focal lengths, optical stabilization, microphone input, progressive frame-rates and most of all designed with video in mind. You'll need a SD Card

I noticed the cameras you picked resembles DSLRs but keep in mind that these in particular are not and with fixed lenses which defeats the purpose of having DSLR for video. Trust me, learn how to be effective with a camcorder first! Then, when your skill requires more artistic control you can upgrade.

Audio:
[Microphone:] (http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATR-6550-Condenser-Shotgun-Microphone/dp/B002GYPS3M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395595673&sr=8-1&keywords=shotgun+microphone)
Having clean audio is probably the most important part filmmaking! The key is to get the mic as close to your subject as possible and away from your camera. You'll need a cable. If you need to mount it to your camera use this [bracket.] (http://www.amazon.com/Heavy-Photography-Bracket-Standard-Mounts/dp/B005Z4ROIW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395595189&sr=8-1&keywords=flash+bracket) This bracket will also help keep the camera stabilized when you go handheld.

Keep in mind this won't deliver perfect audio but it will be a MASSIVE improvement to the on board microphone and learning how to record with decent audio in mind is your first step into becoming a pro.

[Lighting:] (http://www.amazon.com/Bayco-SL-300-Clamp-Aluminum-Reflector/dp/B007RKKEHA/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1395595354&sr=8-17&keywords=can+lights)
Lighting is EXTREMELY important. A couple of these can lights will not only help with your image quality but put in you in the right direction for learning how to properly light your scene. You could start with daylight equivalent CFL bulbs.

[Tripod:] (http://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-60-Inch-Lightweight-Tripod-Bag/dp/B005KP473Q/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1395595413&sr=8-3&keywords=tripod)
You NEED a tripod. This one is cheap and cheerful. Looping the ends of a couple rubber brands around the pan handle and the other end around your finger will help deliver some smoother pans!

Total: $425/£258

Some things to keep in mind:

• These are far from pro tools but if all used in conjuncture you can deliver a much more effective production than just merely using a camera on a tripod.
  
  
• Build a crew of friends. Although you can "one man band" it I don't recommend it because one of coolest things about film is that it's almost always a group effort towards an artistic goal!
  
  
• Most importantly, the equipment are just tools. They don't tell the story; you do! Your film/video is only as powerful as the story you want to tell!
  
  Best of luck to you!
  
  edit: formatting
  

I'm no expert when it comes to DSLR's, but as someone who started with a 700D then moved up to a 70D after three years learning the basics, go for the 70D first. The auto-focus is phenomenally better, higher megapixel count and wifi connectivity. In terms of quality they're all pretty much the same and a beginner such as yourself wouldn't really be able to notice many of the main differences, but if you're going to throw some cash at a starting line I'd make sure you're in the perfect place rather than wanting to upgrade later down the road. :)

Another pointer from my experience would be to get a variety of glass, best quality you can afford. It doesn't really matter which camera you go with when you're starting out if you have some decent lenses to mix up your shots. Get yourself a wide angle, a prime and a zoom; 10-18mm, 50mm/35mm & 75-300mm. That's your starter kit, then upgrade to better quality lenses and cameras as you go - worth noting that the ones I linked are all the lowest quality (except the 35mm) considering you're probably on a tight budget, but you'll still get some sweet footage. It simply means you'll be able to get a wider variety of shots and you'll be prepared for most occasions - the beautiful city skyline scene, the crispy portrait with a bokehed out background, and the "Oh! There's a deer 50ft away! Let's capture it on video rather than running up to it and being kicked in the balls!".

One other thing that might be worth mentioning is that I always carry a point-and-shoot with me. My choice is the Sony RX100 IV - shoots in 4k, incredible slow motion (up to 1000fps), slog2 recording (higher dynamic range to make your scenes look incredible after colour grading), no hassle with interchangeable lenses and in my opinion is generally more convenient than lugging a DSLR around with you when you're on holiday somewhere.

Throw me a message if you have any questions, or just leave a reply and I'll check it when I can. Here're a few video samples for you to compare your possibilities: Canon 70D Auto-Focus, Sony RX100 IV Sample.


EDIT: Fixed up some grammar & wanted to throw you a few accessories incase you hadn't thought that far ahead:
• Gorillapod: Your trusty ol' wrap-around-a-tree tripod. Way more versatile than your traditional kit and easier to travel with.
• Røde Shotgun Microphone: The best quality microphone you're going to be able to find for the price. Canon's default mic sucks balls, so grab one of those if you run with the DSLR.
• Class 10, 64GB SD Card: If you decide to grab the Sony RX100 IV, you'll want one of these to shoot in 4K otherwise your camera will just give up after a few seconds. If you run with the Canon, grab this anyway for faster transfer speeds, but it's really not necessary.

For most podcasters, video is only a worthwhile choice when the content communicates better in video. Comedy and tutorials are often like this.

But since this is for an education project, you don't need to worry much about how much sense the decision makes. :)

Here are the most important things for video, in order of priority.

1. Audio quality—microphone(s) and recorder
   
2. Lighting
   
3. Camera quality
   
   Microphones for video are usually more expensive, but they don't have to be. Your two main choices are wearable mics and shotgun mics.
   
   Shotgun mics are expensive and cumbersome, but they keep the mics completely out of the shot.
   
   Wearable mics, like a lavalier, can be hidden. But they're sound best if you don't try to hide them. My advice is to only hide the mic when you want something to seem real, like something dramatized. Otherwise, a discreetly visible lav mic isn't distracting.
   
   On the low end, I recommend the JK MicJ 044 mic. They're small, only $29, and get surprisingly good sound for their price. It'll easily connect to any audio recorder (like the Zoom H1). Or, you can get a TRRS mic/headphone splitter and connect a lav to a smartphone and record with an app (for iOS, I like Røde Rec). For something simpler but a little more expensive, the Røde SmartLav+ sounds great and connects directly to a smartphone.
   
   For lighting, be near a window on a sunny day. Get diffused sunlight (not direct) on your face to brightly light you. Otherwise, consider a cheap three-point lighting kit.
   
   Finally, your camera could be a DSLR, smartphone, or even an HD webcam. The camera actually matters least for your overall quality. Great lighting can make even a cheap camera look good.

What you are looking for is a lavalier mic (also called a lapel mic). They come in several different varieties. Do you want one that is wireless or one that is wired? The wireless ones are nice if you are moving around a lot or doing commentary away from your desk. The wired ones are nice because they don't require a battery pack and you never lose signal (not really an issue anymore). Tehre are also some that are made to plug into your cell phone so that you can record onto your phone.

For the best quality of wired lavs I would go with an XLR setup. You will have to spring for a mixing board or an audio interface, but you will get better sound quality and the ability to adjust your sound on the hardware. I suggest the Audio Technica Pro70 or the Shure SM93. You will also need to add a board to that as well.

If you go wireless you'll probably be paying much more than $200 for a decent lav mic. Probably $300-600 just for the mic and receiver. You'll also need a mixing board or audio interface on top of that.

There are also some budget options, like the Rode SmartLav+ which is pretty good for the price and you can record off of your phone or the 3.5mm input on your computer. You won't get as good of audio or the adjustment as an XLR setup.

There are also products like the invisilav that allow you to wear the mic underneath your clothing to hide it. I would definitely do some research on how to wear a lavalier mic to get the best sound. They can be pretty tricky sometimes because they can rub against your shirt/jacket or the cord can rub and make sound. Best of luck!

Hi /u/captainmomo - and congratulations on your decision! FYI - you can still get a [new GH3 for $940] (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?icep_ff3=2&pub=5575034783&toolid=10001&campid=5337235943&customid=&icep_item=291102268564&ipn=psmain&icep_vectorid=229466&kwid=902099&mtid=824&kw=lg) [Referral Link] - that may fit your budget better than the current prices at the big online stores.

To answer your specific questions:

> 1. How do I get the highest quality? I love when my videos look sharp and clear as day. Do I use 1080p 60fps All-Intra? Can it even do that?

Yes, it can do that, but I recommend 1080/60p .MOV 50mbps IPB - high quality, easy to edit, easy to conform to 30fps or 24fps for slo-mo.

72mbps ALL-I has been known to introduce artifacts.

>2. What is the best glass/lens that I can buy for ~400? I'll be doing vloggish type scenarios mostly, with interviews. So I guess it needs to be versatile, but not something crazy like telephoto.

For $400, if you want autofocus, I would get a [$199 Sigma 19mm f2.8] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007F7G6WW/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B007F7G6WW&linkCode=as2&tag=battleforthew-20) and a [$199 Sigma 30mm f2.8] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0076F3RS4/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0076F3RS4&linkCode=as2&tag=battleforthew-20) - these are great lenses for the money.

This film, for example, was shot with the GH3 and the Sigma 30mm f2.8 (wide shots are the SLR Magic 12mm): http://vimeo.com/65970456

If you plan to shoot manual, I recommend a [third party FD to MFT speed booster for $100] (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?icep_ff3=2&pub=5575034783&toolid=10001&campid=5337235943&customid=&icep_item=281251933552&ipn=psmain&icep_vectorid=229466&kwid=902099&mtid=824&kw=lg) plus $300 worth of Canon FD lenses (starting with something like this [$50 Canon FD 50mm f1.8] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004FK1NO8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004FK1NO8&linkCode=as2&tag=battleforthew-20)) [Referral Links].

>3. Should I go with the Yeti Pro in my situation, or a clip on? And, if so, which one should I get? The clip on with a shotgun mic for the camera seems like a better option.

I would get a [$44 Giant Squid lavalier] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HWMG44U/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00HWMG44U&linkCode=as2&tag=battleforthew-20), and, when you can afford it, a [$330 Sennheiser MKE600 shotgun] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B0YPAYQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00B0YPAYQ&linkCode=as2&tag=battleforthew-20), a [$15 shock mount] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I3Y3A52/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00I3Y3A52&linkCode=as2&tag=battleforthew-20) plus a [$17.50 Hosa MIT-156 XLR to 3.5mm adapter] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002IAJ2O/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0002IAJ2O&linkCode=as2&tag=battleforthew-20) [Referral Links]. Don't forget the [headphones] (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/755659-REG/Senal_SMH_1000_STUDIO_MONITOR_HEADPHONES.html).

Here's a picture of my GH3 on the tripod with a pro XLR mic mounted on the shock mount and the headphones plugged in. In this case, it's my omni handheld mic:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Q8OAPrPM-18/U1RWQuefRAI/AAAAAAAAIsU/1dgWocEwd_A/w724-h543-no/P1120725.JPG

Here it is with the used pro Audio Technica AT835b I found on eBay for less than $100:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-16bWy-a-wvU/UQoG3YIkrYI/AAAAAAAAGfY/TtIqxhaB-b4/w724-h543-no/P1110864.JPG

And please don't buy a prosumer shotgun with a 3.5mm unbalanced output (e.g., the Rode Videomic series). When you decide to take the mic off the camera and put it on a boom with a long cable, you're more likely to get RF interference from a prosumer mic than from a pro mic with balanced XLR output.

Again, hope this is helpful!

Bill

Less than $500 for even a decent camera will be difficult. I'd suggest looking into a used Canon T3i or a new/used T2i. They may be slightly more expensive but they're the best thing you'll find around that price range (in my experience). Also because they both have interchangeable lenses you can upgrade/adapt them as you get more cash to invest.

I know less about mics although I think it may be difficult to find what your describing, especially at that price. Something like this may be what your after but I really can't say that the quality will be great and the cable will probably get in the way if you're moving around.

What I'd really suggest is to abandon the idea of on-body unless it's absolutely necessary for some reason. If you're up for doing that I'd suggest a shotgun mic (something like this would probably do just fine). The absolute best option in terms of quality and lasting value would be to buy an H4n. The disadvantage is that you'll end up having to sync your audio to the video but the advantages are that the audio quality is great, you can add better (XLR) mics in the future and you can move it around depending on where your audio source is.

I know that this isn't exactly what you're looking for but I hope it's some help anyway. If you have questions please feel free to ask :)

I can definitely say I'm jealous! I wish I could do what you're doing.

The quality of the footage is definitely nice and high, which is always important in vlogs, especially in travel vlogs. I definitely recommend picking up some kind of microphone to improve the talking quality, but it's honestly not bad. It's just the easiest nitpick to make. One cost effective mic that I've had repeatedly recommended to me is this one.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015R0IQGW/?coliid=I27W1PR76WPIHS&colid=1T8AH88FFX71&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

The music felt fitting, and had that 'pop' music feel that is very appropriate for this type of video. I can agree with noodltube in that you should focus more on having the commentary match the clips (if at all possible), but I think the shots you did provide were really nice for the most part.

I would also suggest lowering the background audio as well.

Finding a format for videos, I find, is one of the biggest difficulties in creating content. I would suggest you heavily focus on determining what your format should be for future videos. This was just a trailer of sorts, so I'm not really criticizing this video as much as just giving you hopefully helpful hints for the future.

Keep giving it your all and I wish you luck on your journey! Sorry if my criticisms sound too harsh, I think you're off to a fine start.

Congrats on your new camera! As a general rule of thumb, having purchased hundreds of thousands worth of gear over my career, it's best to invest in the best glass that your budget can allow. Lenses generally hold their value over time and as long as you take care of them, can last decades. They will certainly outlive your camera. That said, the lens that you've chosen is fine as a starter, but I think you'll quickly outgrow it. Look for a faster lens (lower f-stop) if you can afford it. Personally, I went the route of going with vintage prime lenses that are cheaper but still great quality. I added a Metabones Speedbooster to be able to mount them. Higher up-front cost for you, but if this is more than just a hobby, I think it's a good investment.

The other thing I would add is an onboard microphone. A cheap one that is actually pretty good is this no-name brand one. The built-in microphone is pretty much useless.

Those are the bare essentials, in my opinion. I actually do okay with a handful of EN-EL20 batteries. They're cheap and compact. Just don't expect to record long events or anything beyond 20-30 minutes. You can get an external battery pack for not too expensive, though. If you have the budget, I'd also recommend a cage to protect, provide stability, and get extra mounting points. Hope that helps! Oh, and you may also want to hit up bmcuser.com for more info.

I don't really think there's a clear answer for this, but the good news is that there are many excellent options these days. Sound quality isn't always the most important aspect to consider. Many artists have had great success with just an SM58 microphone hooked up to their computer. If you're just starting up and you don't need studio quality recordings, something like this might be fine. I often just use a basic handheld mic when I'm multitracking a new arrangement for my group to learn. It's quick, simple, and often easier for recording beatboxing with too. There are plenty of free or affordable programs available for multitracking too, so the mic will be your main expense.

If you're looking to make some top quality recordings, you can expect to start spending more as well. Not going to lie - this is where it can get complicated and expensive. I'd recommend starting basic and get a decent condenser mic with a stand and a pop screen, a soundcard or usb mixer with a decent preamp, and stick with the cheaper software for recording.

If you find you're getting more serious with your recordings you may want to upgrade the microphone to a Neumann, install some noise dampening panels, and look into a DAW (digital audio workstation, or recording software) such as Pro Tools.

Whatever you do, don't spend too much on overpriced cables. Check out Monoprice

I just picked up a [Rode NT-USB] (https://www.amazon.com/Rode-NT-USB-USB-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B00KQPGRRE/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1526506838&sr=8-2&keywords=nt+rode+usb&linkCode=ll1&tag=thesysadminch-20&linkId=36cb209ceaf0e58a89cad9db949bf23f) and I love the quality. It has a great tone and has a good depth to it. It is a little pricey at $169 on Amazon but if you're going to be doing videos for the long haul I definitely think its worth the money.

While I was doing my research i also noticed a lot of people mention that they had a Blue Yeti from Blue Microphones and they liked it as well. This is also a USB mic and the sound quality is really similar (and the mic is about 50-60 bucks cheaper) but I just really liked how the Rode Mic sounded.. That's just personal preference. You can find this mic at around $100 so its still a little pricey but again, if you're going to be doing videos its still worth it.

If you're looking for something to use with a DSLR camera, I like the way the [Rode VMGO Shotgun Mic] (https://www.amazon.com/Rode-VMGO-Lightweight-Microphone-Super-Cardioid/dp/B00GQDORA4/ref=as_li_ss_tl?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1526507932&sr=1-1&keywords=rode+shotgun+mic&linkCode=ll1&tag=thesysadminch-20&linkId=35f8c1b5488c41dba8cf0a011e6d6db4) sounds. It has that full sound and this one comes in around a little under $80.

Finally if you're looking for something under $20 I would probably go with the [Boya By M1] (https://www.amazon.com/BOYA-Electret-Condenser-Microphone-Smartphones/dp/B00MP566OM/ref=as_li_ss_tl?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1526507786&sr=1-1&keywords=boys+by-m1&linkCode=ll1&tag=thesysadminch-20&linkId=c8648c47cac36d32bf6e84c547b8fdfa) mic. This is a lapel mic so its easily portable and for like $16 its a great starter mic.

I did my research for about 2 months because I was so indecisive on which type i wanted i get for my use case. Since I do Voice-overs I wanted to get something that's easily compatible with my laptop so thats why i chose the USB route. Keep in mind that audio quality is just as if not more important than the video quality.. If you're audio sucks, you won't keep long retention rates which means your videos won't rank as high which means less views and ultimately less subscribers.

Hope that helps!!

Agreed. You CAN us an SM57 for vocals. In fact, I know some musicians that use those for when they play live. But, just for bedroom recording, a condenser mic will be much more suited. What type of music are you guys making? If he's going to be yelling/screaming, the 57 will do (it'll be quiet on the Scarlett if he's just going to sing regularly is what I'm saying). As would any dynamic mic I would think. The condenser mic though utilizes the 48v phantom power on the Scarlett and they usually are better at picking up quieter sounds like singing, acoustic guitars, etc... SM57s are great for things like snare drums and stuff like that. But as far as condenser mics, I can vouch for the Rode NT1a. It's just a bit more expensive than what you're saying, but man... it really sounds incredible for vocals. Awesome mic. Anyway... That's my two cents. PM me if you want to talk more. That's an awesome present too btw. Oh! Good call on the Focusrite too. They make great shit. But yep, I hope he likes whatever you end up getting. :-)

Hi 'ra available to you is probably your smartphone.

You can significantly improve your phone's video image quality by downloading FiLMiC Pro from iTunes.

This app will allow you to control aspect ratio, white balance, exposure, resolution and frame rates - turning your iPhone into a pretty good approximation of a camcorder.

FiLMiC Pro was used for this recent feature film shot entirely on iPhones:

• Unsane Trailer by Stephen Soderburgh (full movie here)
  
  And this one, shot with FiLMiC Pro and inexpensive anamorphic "widescreen" lenses plus a Steadicam Smootheecounterbalanced stabilizer:
  
  
• Tangerine - Red Band Trailer (NSFW - full movie here)
  
  This one used FiLMiC Pro, iPhones and a jib:
  
  
• "ALL UP TO YOU!" - iPhone 5 Movie
  
  Without a stabilizer or gimbal, handheld cellphone video can be very hard to watch.
  
  You should also invest in a directional mic or a lavalier for better sound than you can get from the built-in mic. Ideally, you would want a dedicated mic on a boom, but I am assuming you don't have a boom operator.
  
  Directional Mic
  
  The least expensive option is the Rode VideoMic Me. It is the best directional mic you can buy for your phone.
  
  Here is the Rode promo video with example audio: https://youtu.be/1-x8MVngwaI
  
  Lavalier
  
  For dialogue between 2 actors, you can get a Movo dual lavalier. You can either plug it into the phone you're using for video - or you can download an app to a second phone (e.g. Rode REC for iOS), record a "scratch" audio track with your camera phone's internal microphone and sync the audio from the second phone to your camera's audio track in the edit, as seen here (example is for the Rode SmartLav, but it makes the point for the entire lav/phone category):
  
  http://youtu.be/P2RIFZOGMZo
  
  With the right software and support gear, your phone can give you great video quality.
  
  Hope this is helpful, and good luck with your short films!', im DAD.

A question before I start; will you be using an editor to sync things up in post or would you rather take things together(audio and video) and have them all sorted out at one time?

Here's a list of things that I think would be beneficial, but not an encompassing list. If you're trying to go for a cheap list that could still get the job done, I find that these items have decent reviews on Amazon and websites and they do offer a good starting point for a budget.

1. The Camera: Canon EOS M2 ($250)
   
   I feel like the Canon EOS M2 would be a strong contender. It is actually a mirrorless camera that has the same sensor as that of the more expensive T3i. Due to it's lack of popularity with photographers due to the slower autofocus, it has seen multiple price reductions. Although it contains autofocusing issues in the photography modes, it's video modes are what really helps this camera out. You have a good starting lens with an 18-55mm lens, which may be wide enough for that room at 18, but it could even be close enough for a closer image. You can even be more technical and add in other features. Also this camera has a direct mic-in line for use of an external mic, like the shotgun mic below.
   
   
2. The Audio: Zoom H1 Portable Audio Recorder $99 OR TAKSTAR SGC-598 $29.99
   
   Audio is key here. You want to be able to hear the pastor as he gives sermons, so you have two general models. You can place the portable recorder closer to him, giving you crisp audio at a very minimal distance, or you can attach a shotgun microphone to the camera and pick it up from a distance further away. The only thing is, would you rather have the camera do it all for you or would you rather have to sync up the audio in editing? The Zoom mic is nice because you can purchase one of these ($21.38) and mic the pastor up before service to give a very crisp lapel audio.
   
   
3. The SD Cards: Sandisk 64GB 80mb/s ($22.49)
   
   This should be a given.
   
   
4. Power and Adapters: AC Adapter ($15.50) OR 2-Pack Spare Batteries($28.99)
   
   You can choose to have it either plugged in the whole time during recording, or you can have it run off of batteries. Your personal preference.
   
   
5. Tripod: AmazonBasics 60" tripod ($23.49)
   
   You requested a tripod for the ease of use.
   
   Given that you live in the US, after taxes, you're essentially looking at a $500 setup for all of that equipment. That may not be the best equipment for people or even be suggested by anyone else here, but that is just my $0.02.
   
   
   Source: Use the EOS M1 and most of the gear listed.

Hi /u/nerdress -

The Rode Videomic Pro is a pretty good mic but the t3i is really, really bad for audio no matter how good the microphone. I'd strongly suggest getting an external recorder like the H4N or, at the very minimum, a H1N. You may want to pair it with a XLR shotgun mic like this if you can find the $$$.

A tripod is something that can last for many years, but the one you linked to is really bottom of the barrel. This is something I'd suggest investing a little more money into, you are going to want a universal fluid head specifically if you plan on doing video work semi-regularly. I'd get a semi-compact Manfrotto tripod like that one, you won't regret it.

Lastly, do you plan on using the kit lens? I'd suggest grabbing the famous nifty fifty. It's a legend for many reasons (super sharp, great lowlight, durable as can be).

Also you are going to want to get this battery grip for the t3i if you don't have one already. I remember when I shot on a t3i I purchased that out of whim, and I'm pretty sure I never took it off for 3+ years. It not only extends your battery, but it makes the camera much more comfortable to hold.

Hope some of this helps, sounds like you'll be in good shape! Remember, audio is just as important as video, so it's smart to invest in that type of gear.

Not really.

I'd like to offer you some suggestions for your videos that could improve them a lot, if that's ok.

1. Audio. If you can, I'd recommend getting a lavalier microphone (Something like this). That'll improve your audio quality quite a bit and pretty much eliminate most of that echo in your room. Another thing I highly, highly recommend for you is music. Get a bit of background music to use in your videos while you're talking, it'll help a lot. There's tons of royalty free sources online for music. Incompetech.com is one, or even YouTube's own audio library.
   
   
2. Camera Video. There's...quite a few things that could be done about your video quality. Intros are fine, but it looks like you used a template online. I always advise against these, as they are a dime a dozen and don't really add much to the video. If you upload fairly regularly I'd just get rid of it completely and just jump right into the topic of the video. I also noticed that your lighting could use some work. Most don't realize how much this adds to a video. I recommend getting a pair of these, softbox lights. They add a nice soft light that looks great. If you want to get a little pricier, these are very popular. Ring lights provide a nice soft lighting that's used by a lot of vloggers.
   
3. Game video. I noticed that you just recorded the switch screen. To me, that's below bare minimum quality for games. You need a capture card of sorts that you can plug the Switch into, then record off of the capture card. If you just have that laptop, you could probably get away with using an external capture card, like an Elgate Game Capture. These are able to capture gameplay from any game system with an HDMI out, and the Switch dock has one of those.

Ok. My tips not gonna work as you are far away from the camera. I assumed the gender because of clothing. If you were closer I would suggest you this, and it's what I do. Connect the earphone to the camera, take the earphone under the shirt (this is where clothing matters), make sure you have the Mic like thing in near your coller and put the rest behind your back. Sounds very complicated I know!

Here's some other suggestions.

1. Use an external audio recorder with a boom mic. Just search on Amazon, they have all price ranges. You can get the boom mic from $35 to $1000. And the cheapest recorder is probably what I know, $70 or something.
   
   
2. If that's a little expensive for you then you can buy only external boom mic that works with phone. Check this out https://www.amazon.com/Movo-VXR10-Microphone-Windscreen-Smartphones/dp/B0723D3FVL/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1537305382&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=rode+videomicro&dpPl=1&dpID=51uEkpAjj8L&ref=plSrch
   These are great, cheap and can record great audio.
   
   
3. Lav mic. Well to use that thing, you've got to have an audio recorder. If you're gonna buy an audio recorder then I personally recommend you to go for a boom mic because lavs are pretty complicated to use sometimes and as you move around it can record all the unnecessary sounds.
   
   
4. Honestly it depends on your environment. If you're in a very noisy kitchen the audio quality is gonna be bad no matter how expensive equipment you use. And if it's quite then a even headphone would work.
   
   
5. Learn audio editing a little no matter what equipment you're gonna use. I know sound designing, audio editing so I recommend you to learn this because you can fix many issues in post. This is what you need to learn (bare minimum): compression, noise reduction, reverb, EQ. Some software recommendations- Audacity (free), Wavepad (paid but affordable), Logic Pro X (expensive and only for Mac users), Adobe Audition (paid bit completely worth the money).
   
   Hope it helps. At the end, it's your choice. See how noisy your kitchen is, how7ch money you can spend and other stuffs. My personal suggestion would be to use an external mic that works with the phone (if not too much noisy). Check the link given above. And yes, always buy Rode Videomics because they are the best.
   
   PS: Congrats that you've a kid. You're lucky!

Don’t forget a mic. this mic should be all you need to get started. It’s a great mic that punches well above its price class. But please don’t forget about audio. I know you stated “I won’t do much of that” but audio is so damn important and this mic is so cheap that you can’t afford not to pick one up. Even for tiny bits of audio it will make your stuff sound 1000times better and audio is often what separates the people with pretty images from people making truly great videos. And definitely a big factor in what separates amateurs from professionals. I guarantee you’ll use/need/want quality audio way more than you think. For under 30$ bucks it will be the best investment you make. Much more important than a new camera IMO.

Just a few thoughts: If you are a beginner and especially if you are going to be both operating the camera and doing interviews at the same time, don't use a DSLR. You need a regular consumer camcorder, the nicest one you can afford. Be sure it has an external microphone input and a headphone output. So, you will need at least one external microphone, a shotgun and/or a lavalier. The most important thing in your documentary is good sound!

This little Audio Technica lavalier can sound just fine:
http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATR-3350-Omnidirectional-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B002HJ9PTO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1382119845&sr=8-2&keywords=audio+technica+lavalier+mic

This inexpensive shotgun also works well:
http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATR-6550-Condenser-Shotgun-Microphone/dp/B002GYPS3M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382119920&sr=8-1&keywords=audio+technica+shotgun+mic

A little explanation: A consumer camcorder has pretty good auto focus and usually face recognition, so you won't have to worry about keeping things in focus. Also, you'll have pretty good auto exposure and auto white balance. If you are shooting your first documentary with limited experience and/or a very small crew, you need to think about content and let the camera help you instead of having to think about too many things. It's true a DSLR with a good operator can make your documentary look better, but it won't matter if the story isn't there. If your story is good, the audience will accept a lot of shortcomings, especially in the picture.

When shooting, use the external microphone whenever you can. If you have only one subject, use the lavalier, otherwise use the shotgun. Always monitor the audio in the headphones. I have a friend who accidentally plugged the microphone into the headphone jack and didn't know it until too late!

Good luck!

Here’s my 2 cents from someone who has done both professional video and amateur photography. Don’t get any of those kits. Almost everything is cheaper/better quality buying separately.

First, the body. I love the rebel series so I think a T7 is more than fine with what your trying to do right now. As someone who also has a “family camera” (aka I do all the family photos and some video), I personally have a 70D but I have used the T’s a lot and they are decent. My only recommendation is to by a referb from canon directly. They are usually $100-$200 cheaper and (from what I have seen) no difference in quality.

As you rightly pointed out, lenses are going to be the most important and most expensive thing that you buy (more than likely). Personally for a first lens, I would go with a nifty fifty (canon 50mm 1.8). It’s about $100 and it is fantastic for both photos and video for that price point. Plus, unless you are planning on getting a light kit of some sort you will probably want the addition aperture room for low light (unless you are doing video outside). There is a reason why it is the most recommended lens for amateurs. I personally have shot tons of portraits, music videos, and just other general video/pictures with this lens and even though I (now) have a few others I keep coming back to this one.

I don’t know much about audio, but I have heard some decent things about the rode mic. There is also an off-brand version of the rode mix (what I use) called [Takstar](TAKSTAR SGC-598 Interview Microphone for Nikon/Canon Camera/DV Camcorder https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E58AA0I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_S1M1BbAP1Z3QC). It seems to be pretty decent for amateur stuff, so it might be good enough for your purposes with the added bonus of being 1/3 the price. But I’m sure that someone can speak more to the audio than I can.

One place to absolutely NOT skimp on/don’t buy in a kit is a tripod. For the most part, the more expensive a tripod is, the better quality it is. Not always true, but for the most part the materials that are used to make tripods are just expensive. If you want a metal tripod, which you probably do since the plastic ones wear out easily and can’t hold much weight.

Anyway, just my thoughts!

1. For a camera get a Panasonic Lumix GH5 body, that way you get super good video quality at 4k. Couple this with a 12-35mm f2.8 constant aperture lens for sharp video and good lower light performance.
   
   
2. For your audio, you can do a lav kit like this. It comes with a Zoom h4n and a lav. You can stick this in a pocket and record the lav, or you can put it with the camera and use the built in microphones to record the audio. If you want an on camera mic, the Rode Video Mic Pro gives good quality audio, but keep your expectations realistic if you try and record something far away (not the best solution).
   
   
3. You could use a gimbal like this. They're easier to use than the glidecams and they perform better. That camera and lens is fairly light so it shouldn't be a problem.
   
   
4. I use a Davis & Sanford provista tripod. The build quality is fantastic, and it has a standard 75mm bowl mount that you can change the head on in the future.
   
   
5. You'll probably want a fairly high powered light system to light a large area. Aputure kits are good quality and I would go with those.

Hey guys, I hope this is the right place to ask this.

To make a long story short, I'm looking to buy a mic to use for Skype/TS/VoIP type stuff, mostly while gaming. I'm also looking to try something nicer than the low grade desk mics that I've used in the past. I was previously planning to just buy something like the Audio Technica AT2020 USB, but I'd like to try to find a solution that will allow me to reduce the level of sound that my mic picks up from other sources, primarily my mechanical keyboard, which is loud as hell.

To this end, I was thinking about picking up a fairly cheap shotgun mic and hooking it into a USB mixer that I could plug into my computer. I think the shotgun mic's directional nature would be an improvement on the mics I've been using (and that my friends have been complaining about) and would have less sound picked up from my keyboard (although I know it won't go away entirely).

Keeping in mind that I'm on a college student budget, and that this isn't for any kind of recording/voice over work for music or anything, here's what I had planned:

Audio-Technica ATR-6550 as the mic. It's low-cost and has reasonably good reviews. I've owned a few different pairs of AT headphones before and never had any complaints about their build quality or performance, so this seems like a good pickup at my price point. If this setup works, I could consider picking up a nicer mic later on in time.

Behringer Xenyx 302USB as the mixer. Again, low cost and obviously not stellar in performance or options, but I don't need it to do very much.

My understanding of it is that I can hook the mixer into my computer via USB, and it will register it as a recording/playback device. Then I can hook the shotgun mic (with a 1/4in adaptor on it) into the XLR/TRS mic input and that will serve as the new mic. I also should be able to plug my headphones into the headphones jack and my speakers into the output of the mixer, so that all of the recording and playback devices are handled by the mixer.

Ultimately, however, I don't actually know anything about audio equipment, including the mic and mixers. So if anyone has any advice to offer or suggestions to make, that'd be greatly appreciated. Also, if I'm completely wrong about how the inputs/outputs or something like that on the mixer works, then it'd be awesome if someone could help explain it to me.

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Title|Why you should buy a futon
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Description|Why you should buy a futon// futons on amazon: US: https://amzn.to/2IpbnQR UK: https://amzn.to/2Xjlfiu CA: https://amzn.to/2Io0pLs⤶You should buy a japanese futon for many reasons and in this video I cover benefits ranging from the construction / composition of a futon as well as the practical benefits one gets from having a futon. As well as some pointers to look out for when in the market for a futon mattress.⤶⤶You can find futons on amazon:⤶US: https://amzn.to/2IpbnQR⤶UK: https://amzn.to/2Xjlfiu⤶CA: https://amzn.to/2Io0pLs⤶⤶This video was recorded using a Canon EOS M50: US: https://amzn.to/2Kxbw6J ⤶UK: https://amzn.to/2P5VKhA CA: https://amzn.to/2UzLeFi⤶Microphone - RODE VideoMicro: US: https://amzn.to/2DbOig1 UK: https://amzn.to/2Zaez87 CA: https://amzn.to/2X8V3Xw⤶⤶Looking to start a YouTube channel I recommend using the analytics tools⤶VidIQ: https://vidiq.com/#_l_yv⤶TubeBuddy: https://www.tubebuddy.com/AlexTheAnder⤶⤶DISCLAIMER: This video and description contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission.⤶⤶In this video Alexander talks about why people should buy a futon, what the benefits are of owning a japanese futon as it relates to it's material composition, it's benefits for the body as well as some tips for how to best take care of it and what to look out for when in the market for buying a japanese futon bed.

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A lot of people are recommending getting lights, and that's a great option. I always like to share the DSLR Video Shooter $150 light kit video. He also made a video about the Movo VXR10 microphone which is a nice little mic similar to the Rode Videomicro. If you bought those two things at full price that would leave you about $400 for a camera. The Canon T6 with two lenses is on sale right now for that much, or just $340 for the kit lens version.

I would also recommend This budget kit video from Nate's Film Tutorials. It's for a $1000 budget, but it offers some good suggestions for budget kit stuff. He mentions using clamp lights and LED bulbs, which is a good suggestion for getting more light in your environment for cheap. It also mentions the Panasonic G7, which is on sale for about $500 right now, and is a great camera.

With some combination of these tips and recommendations, you could probably set up a pretty nice starter kit for yourself with your budget. Even with these suggestions, though, I would still recommend saving up a bit, and maybe buying pieces of a kit as you have enough money to buy them. You don't need every single item here to start making stuff, so a few things (maybe camera, microphone) to start would be fine, and get more items later.

If it were up to me, I would get a Rode Video Micro, which is around $40 cheaper than the Video Mic Go, (I'm going USD because that's where I am, not sure if you are GBP or what, but the price ratio should be around the same) and from most of the reviews out there seems to be a bit better all around, and it comes with a dead-cat wind breaker, which you would have to pay extra for if you got the Go. If you are shooting in a forest you'll want that to help break any wind noise coming in through the trees.

Here is a review comparing the Video Micro with the Video Mic Go and the Video Mic Pro:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSfDWCpRUk8

So case 1 is get a Video Mic Go for around $100 (https://www.amazon.com/Rode-VMGO-Lightweight-Microphone-Super-Cardio/dp/B00GQDORA4) and get a dead cat wind screen for around $30 (https://www.amazon.com/Rode-DDCGO-DeadCat-Artificial-Shield/dp/B00JG8IBW6/ref=pd_bxgy_267_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=X6C0TJQWT1W5RK1TW680) because you will absolutely need it if there is any kind of wind. That would be around $130-140 depending on shipping/tax/etc.

Case 2 is get a Rode Video Micro, which I personally own and really really like, and that is $60 AND comes with a wind screen, so for the money you have saved you could get a Zoom H1 as well and come out pretty close to the same price!
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1183909-REG/rode_videomicro_compact_on_camera.html
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1260111-REG/zoom_h1b_h1_ultra_portable_digital_audio.html
$60 for the mic + ~$80 for the recorder puts you at $140, so like $10 more. Not bad in my opinion. And it gets you the peace of mind of being able to monitor your audio, make sure that you don't have any weird interference or background noise since it has a headphone jack. Yes, you have to sync audio in post, but it is totally worth it in the huge jump in audio quality. This is basically the setup that I used for quite a while (H1+ Nikon ME-1 mic for me, so this setup is probably even better) and it is a really cheap option compared to what is out there (now I am using a Zoom H4n Pro + Sennheiser Lavalier Mics + Rode Video Mic Pro and some other gear as well,) and there probably isn't a massive difference between the two setups.

Just my opinion, but I think that you would end up with better audio the second way, and the audio really makes the movie. Bad audio and a good video image/story still generally is a bad video.

Yea you could record the audio first but if the audio needs to match the picture it's going to be really hard to get it in sync.

You can record audio on a digital audio recorder. The cheapest quality option is probably the zoom h1n - http://amzn.to/2ycYK2W

These are great little recorders that I use even in my professional life. You can add a little LAV mic and get great quality (I recommend this one - http://amzn.to/2f0Chxs) and they're super easy to use. Probably increase the quality of your videos by 10-20% easy.

I really like the quality of the audio. I've used it as my only source of audio for 4 short films as a mixer and even some foley with the onboard mics. I use it separately with a shotgun mic on a boom (just using whatever mic I can get from my school, haven't purchased one yet).

However, I wouldn't recommend it for your case of recording on your camera because you'd end up having to (and I've never tried this) rigging up a way to have it attached to your camera then lined in to the camera with the onboard mics which are fine for receptions and all but bad if you want to focus on people talking (then to fix that you'd have to attach a shotgun mic via XLR and it just becomes cumbersome).

I would honestly look into the mic that the OP has: Rode VideoMic Pro. I've never used it but it has great reviews and seems, to me, to be the best cheap solution for on-camera audio. Use it outdoors with a deadcat and Magic Lantern installed on your T2i to monitor the audio while filming and it'll be a great option for videography and short films.

OR/ALSO/HEY RICH GUY CHECK THIS OUT, you can use this JuicedLink DT414 which is designed to attach to your camera and mix up to 4 mics. Yeah...lots of options.

That's cool. Was just checking you had considered the options... From an audio point of view, a voiceover will result in cleaner audio, but it sounds like capturing the moment is more important to you.

I'm not familiar with the mic you have... I looked at it on Amazon just now and it should work fine for you, but if it's too sensitive then you need to lower the gain (level) of the mic at it's input stage. Is it the Voice Memos app that you've been using? I don't think that has gain control. I believe the Røde Rec LE app is free and has input level control, so I'd give that a try. Or the PCM Recorder MK II app by TEAC/Tascam should do the same if you prefer that.

If that doesn't work then it's likely that the mic is just too sensitive for yoru application and you might have to consider another option. I don't have much experience with consumer lav mics, only professional ones, but I've heard people say the Røde smartLav+ is surprisingly decent for the price and it has headset mount available too.

Other than that, I think you'd have to step it up a level and look at a better quality mic and probably a hardware audio recorder.

From reading the other comments I'm guessing you don't so I would either get a used camera or use your phone. The budget of yours is quite limiting to fit in audio, lighting and a decent camera however it may work if you get a slightly older camera.

I would get the t3i body only which you can get at an average of $300. This has an articulating screen, good for interviews, and is still a good beginner camera years on from when it was released. The lens I would get is the YONGYUO YN50mm f.18 which is an cheap autofocus lens at a fixed distance to achieve the best quality.

For microphones I would reccommend the Takstar SGC-598 which is really cheap and surprisingly good. You can put this on a mic stand and get it as close to both the interviewer and the interviewee for the best sound. You will then need a wire to connect it to the camera. However if you have extra money you can save up for a Zoom h1 which you plug the mic into and it records seperately for better audio.

All in all this kit will cost you $500 for just the audio and no lighting. This would cost you about $50 extra for softboxes however if you shoot in daylight it will be much easier and require less lighting.

Another kit you could try is using your phone for video and then buying just audio and lighting. For this I would get the Rode Videomic Pro, the Zoom h1, a mic stand, a softbox lighting kit (2 lights) and any other things like memory cards etc. This would cost you around $400.

Glad I could help!

All the cameras will have a built-in mic but I'd highly recommend getting an external shotgun mic (one that sits on top of the camera). They're not that expensive and the quality difference is super worth it. One thing to note though is that some camera's don't have an external mic jack so make sure your camera has that.

[This one](https://www.amazon.com/Rode-VideoMicro-Compact-Camera-Microphone/dp/B015R0IQGW/ref=sr_1_10?keywords=rode+shotgun&qid=1569370736&sr=8-10) is pretty popular and not that expensive. You could also check eBay to get a better deal on one.

Sorry for the delayed response: Yeah, step one is to usually invest in a decent cardioid mic and an audio input. Here are the ones I'd recommend for getting started. Good enough quality to be just under professional tier, though capable of producing professional quality sound, but not so expensive as to offer you features you don't need for years to come:
Mic: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002QAUOKS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Audio Interface (to be able to plug that or any other professional mic into [XLR input]): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01E6T56CM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

and this is optional but can be helpful to understand the true sound of your recordings, monitors:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075QVMBT9/ref=twister_B07NDRK282?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
(either the 3.5 or 4.5 would be totally fine)

Aside from t hose t hings, the only other things you'd need to get set up would be soundproofing foam, either putting panels up around your space, or around the mic itself. Conversely, you could set up inside a closet full of clothes and accomplish the same task for free, cable length and space permitting.

Good luck!

Im new to the game as well, but so far these are the things I have picked up for my G6:

first, i bought a G6 kit that came with some handy stuff

I have also purchased

A slightly better tripod

A flood light

Battery pack for said light

Variable ND Fader for filming out doors

Rode shotgun Mic

Zoom H1

Lav mic to go with the H1

Headphones to listen for levels

Triple Mount Hot Shoe

Backpack to hold everything

This is just a fun lens, and its cheap the 50mm means its a 100mm equivelent, so its for really tight portraits, but the low aperture is good for low/light and for a very shallow field depth. When I am able to use it, this lens produces the most popular results when i post them online.

new strap cause the one that comes with the G6 sucks!

What i want to get:

A bigger zoom lens I am mostly interested in videography(weddings etc), and this would be good for back of the house shots)

The M 3/4's "nifty fifty"

Two cheap options I’ve used-

This works great on my 5S iPhone but has started crackling with my 6S+ (it improved when I cleaned the headphone jack but wasn’t fully resolved). https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018KIJGU8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_QpxOBb4NPFK0A

This is a pretty solid lapel mic that plugs straight into a phone; I like it and haven’t had any problems with it. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019HQHXN4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_trxOBbVNM9ATZ

Audacity is a free audio editing program where you can “teach” it the sound of the white noise and then remove that sound from the whole file. It’s more steps but if you want a free option it should at least improve the quality.

Hello dear saints of the audio world,

I go by the name of TheBirdReich (you can call me Bird) and I do a lot of broadcasting on Twitch. Recently, I've been looking into upgrading my audio setup from my USB Blue Yeti microphone to a XlR microphone. I have a lot of questions because the transitional phase from the plug and play usb mics to XLR mics is pretty hefty. My budget is for the new setup is about $500.

1. Dynamic or Condensor?
   
   For my application of "in home live audio streaming", which would be most applicable? (Disclaimer: I yell a lot)
   The mic I was intending on purchasing was the NT1-A. Link is here:
   https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002QAUOKS/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
   
   
2. Necessary equipment?
   
   a. Is it a good idea to purchase a preamp to supply the phantom power, and adjust audio before it reaches my computer? Is it necessary?
   This was the one I was looking at:
   https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004LWH79A/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A25IRTXJ3Y3DFH
   
   c. Will I need an audio interface to convert the line output of my microphone to a digital output to my computer no matter the type of mic I use? Do you have any budget friendly recommendations?
   
   Overall I'm really unsure about what to even purchase, mainly because of the lack of knowledge, and I don't want to end up spending more than I have to. I know the creed for audio engineers is to spend no more on equipment that meets their requirements. :) I greatly appreciate your input and the fact that you're taking time out your day to help!
   If you have recommendations on gear or items that you know would be good for my application I'd be happy to hear from you on them!
   
   Thanks ahead of time!

If I had to choose, Rode VideoMicPro but I wouldn't use either and get the Rode SmartLav+, it's way cheaper and sounds better than either of these, plus it's a portable solution.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EO4A7L0/

The best beginner audio advice is the closer you are to your mic, the better you'll sound, that's why movies use boom mic setups (which is the best way to use the Rode VideoMicPro, just overhead, as close as possible). Used traditionally, the VideoMicPro will pick up echos from the wall behind you, boom'd it will be much better.

As I suspected, your VO mic is a condenser. Treat your room and see if you get better results. If not, I’d go with a cardioid microphone. I use a Behringer xm8500 which you can find on Amazon for $20-30 depending on who’s selling it and if it includes an XLR cable. I also use a dedicated USB audio interface vs having one built into the mic. I started out with the Behringer UM2 which ran about $60 on Amazon. I’ve since upgraded to a Focusrite Scarlet 2i2 because it has some nice features I was after since I’d gotten more into the podcast. It ran about $110 as I recall. Yes, you’ll have separate components, but you’ll get a better overall sound and it’ll let you mix and match with different microphones for different occasions without having to worry if the mic can plug into your computer directly.


I don’t have any experience with the Rode type setup, but if you’re using the 3.5mm cord to plug straight into the iPhone, I don’t see why it would be poor quality. It almost sounded like the iPhone was using its onboard microphone instead of the external one. I imagine you’re using a Lightning-to-3.5mm headphone jack adapter, yes? What I’d check for is if that 3.5mm audio cord coming off the Rode receiver unit has 3 “rings” on it. Look at a set of headphones that have an inline mic. You’ll see on the plug there’s 3 rings. There’s 3 contact areas inside the jack - right audio, left audio, microphone audio. If that jack doesn’t have 3, it may not be making proper contact inside the plug and telling the iPhone “hey I’ve got an external mic here!” Hope that makes sense.

The picture of this lavalier mic has the kind of jack I’m talking about: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EO4A7L0/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_mG91DbNKN5GEE

Hope that helps!

Disclaimer: I’m not an expert, I’ve been doing a tiny bit of research because I want to improve my videos but haven’t pulled the trigger yet. I don’t think for your purposes you necessarily need to spend a ton on a top-if-the-line mic. You can get good results for under $25. Not podcast quality, but good.

It depends what you’re recording with. If you’re using a phone or other device with a 3.5mm (standard headphone) jack, and you are currently just using the mic on the device itself, I think it would be worth looking into a lavalier mic such as this one. You could buy the Similar Amazon Basics version to save even more. Or if you have Apple earbuds, you could just try using those as the mic is generally going to give you much better quality than the phone itself. Keep in mind if your recording device happens to be an iPhone 7 or later, you’ll need a lightning adapter too.

If you are using a device such as a laptop with a USB port, you could consider a USB microphone. I absolutely don’t know enough about these to make a recommendation.

Sorry to give unsolicited criticism, I just thought your video was really well put together and thought the audio quality could be slightly improved to let your voice shine.

I’m definitely going to try this recipe when I have the time btw!

Let me trow my two cents into the ring.

When you say HQ video I assume you mean 1080p. That can be had much cheaper and that at good quality. More than good enough for a studio setting and interview work.

This is a good perspective by Casey Neistat on gear you need:
https://youtu.be/nLSUrTxquyE

With that being said, what most people forget is that lighting, the audio, knowing how to setup and just a little prep that can make all the difference.

In all honesty you could just buy this:

• CANON VIXIA R500
  
  
• Photo Studio Lighting Kit-3
  
  
• Rode Videomic
  
  
• Zoom H2n
  
  
• RODE invisiLav
  
  Now you are at $790.96. Bottom of your budget. Now make improvements on your kit. Maybe get a whole different camera, get another light, or additional Zoom Audio recorders. The H1 is my backup to a H4.
  
  Buying a high end camera is no guarantee that you get good video if all other factors are not right!
  
  Most important are the people that will do the interview. Do yourself a favor and broswe some youtube videos like these:
  
  https://youtu.be/LWpwgDqSkQw
  
  https://youtu.be/E26xv-bZfUU
  
  
  Best of luck!

Earlier this year I consulted to do a very similar setup with the Curiosity.com podcast. The premise was for a host and a guest or two with a Skype-in possibility. The main host also works at a Chicago WGN radio personality and was open to a higher-end solution while not totally blowing out the budget. In the end we came up with an initial office studio layout in the $2k range. One thing he mitigated was room echo/reverb and office noise through using room placement and dynamic microphones.

Here is a picture of his original setup

Here is a picture of the acoustic treatment needed

Also, his equipment purchased was for 2 main hosts and a third guest (if necessary) and ran about $2,000. To get a 3rd or 4th microphone in place would be another $750ish a piece for the microphone, shock mount, pop filter, boom arm, Microphone digital processor and headphones.

Here is his list of equipment:

(1) Mackie ProFx8v2

(1) Zoom H6

(2) DBX 286s

(2) Electro Voice re320 package from BSW Warehouse

(2) Rode PSA-1 Boom Arms

(1) 6U Audio Rack

(2) Sony MDR-7506 Headphones

(1) Behringer HA400 Headphone Amp

Plus cables.

Each additional microphone would be a re320 package, a Rode PSA-1 Boom Arm, a DBX 286s and a Sony MDR-7506.

The Mixer can output a stereo track to a Laptop / PC which you can use to record a stereo track on your recording software of choice. The Zoom H6 offers the capability to record up to 6 channels either through the mixer using inserts / aux sends / subs.

Personally I'd swap out the Rode PSA-1 for the Heil PL-2T Boom Arm but either should get the job done.

Also, if I was advising him today I would tell him to forget the Mackie ProFX8v2 mixer AND the Zoom H6 AND the Behringer HA400 and buy a Zoom L12 Livetrack Recorder instead. In fact my Better Podcast cohost recently filmed a video review of the Zoom L12 if you want to check that out.

Finally, the re320 was the microphone he was used to from Chicago WGN radio but it would have been the one I recommended anyway. There are others to choose from but the re320 is the most forgiving for all voices.

For a more mobile setup I would recommend the Sennheiser MD-46 interview microphone which you could place on a desk stand with a On-Stage MY-325 Shock Mount. If you have the Zoom H-6 or Zoom L-12 you could easily take that setup from room to room. In fact I just used a similar setup earlier this year at GenCon as I think the sound turned out pretty good.

As for editing software there are plenty of opinions on that. But since this is business based you might consider getting some Adobe licenses. It will contain audio and video editing software as well as the PhotoShop suite as well. Personally I'm transitioning from Audacity to Movie Studio Platinum 14.0 and Reaper/Hindenburg Journalist.

All of this is professional gear but if you really want a no kidding pro setup I'd contact the guys at BSW Warehouse. They will give you options in the $10k and $100k ranges.

These Lav's are great especially since you don't need to buy a recorder to go with them if your actors have iPhones.

I recommend a lens with Image Stability or a shoulder rig. The Office is shot handheld, but unless there's some stability, your footage will come out looking like Cloverfield.

Practice your whip zooms and focus pulls. Study the script. Look for the comedic moments and find how they can be complimented with clever cinematography.

Good luck!

Going to repeat my suggested setup in this thread.

Components:

Samsung Galaxy S8 - its just hands down the best video and streaming phone out there atm. Not the S8+ - bigger screen - more heavy - less battery life.

A Samsung Protective Case with a lens kit. The benefit is, when needed, you can attach a wide angle lens to capture bigger groups and environments. For a IRL stream a good thing.

DJI Omni Mobile Gimbal - offers the benefits of enhanced controls and a stable picture during walking and stuff.

RØDE VideoMic Me+Windshield - An external microphone that would enhance the audio depending on where you are pointing it too, as it is a directional mic.

A pack of fast charging, low cost battery packs to power the equipment during the day with a backup for loading during while the others are being used. Depending on usage between 4-8.

A pair of 90° degree flat usb-c cables. You want that cause using the gimbal, you wanna make sure the phone is as centered as possible and a bunch of those custom made cables assures that. Shouldn't be too hard to find a cable guy to set that up, as the items are purchasable on alibaba.

You can see the gimbal in action under the following link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPTwtGZoK8Q
Note: It is an S8+ - performance of the gimbal will be better with the smaller S8!

Rode Microphone Soundcheck outside:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7OIUC6Y2-o&t=319s

S7 Lens video(s8 is ~the same):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9wWvMdbkZk

PowerPack review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I6AVQW-abI

I hope that offers some ideas how the setup could look like without having to carry around a backpack with a car sized battery and a gazillion of wires.

Ah, okay.

Sorry, the type of video production I am most familiar with is the kind for short film production, music videos, weddings, things of that nature. So I don't feel 100% comfortable trying to give advice on things of this nature. Just from a quick glance though it looks like the adapter to connect an external microphone to your GoPro is $49.00 just by itself.

That leaves about $51 on your maximum budget, which rules out my preferred style of handheld camera microphone, the shotgun mic. If you already have the adapter and therefore don't need to spend the $49 I'd heavily recommend Rode products, specifically for your needs the Videomic Go.

There is this inexpensive shotgun mic bundle that I found on Amazon, but I don't have the experience with this product like I do with Rode products to speak to it's quality. It does record in mono sound, but you can duplicate the audio track in your editing program to simulate stereo. For a quick and cheap setup you can get the adapter and this shotgun mic and that will still be better than audio straight out of the GoPro.

The reason I prefer shotgun mics to lavalier mics is that you have the ability to capture sounds other than yourself if you so desire to, but also lavalier mics have a habit of being obscured by clothing and being affected heavily by wind. I'd hate for you to record a vlog only to realize your sweatshirt had been over your microphone for the better part of the day and now you have no useable audio.

But if you are set on the idea of a lavalier mic then your best bet for the GoPro would be this kit I found on Amazon. You don't need an adapter because it's meant for the GoPro, and it comes with a windscreen which will reduce your wind interference. And at the price this honestly might be your best entry-level audio option for that camera set up to add some production value to a vlog.

your audio is not that bad actually. yeah it can be better but ive done worse lol My audio is finally on point now.

wait ...is that why you have the ear bud in....thats your mic? I bought a great boom mic. I have a lav too if im in a crazy area or dealing with a lot of outside noise.

i like your content i like how you have clips of the actual movie. I wanted to do something with movies but Idk how to get the movie without buying it. blaaaah. i aint tryna steal it. lol

some ppl would be put off by the swearing. Im not but i get that complaint too in my vids.

your thumbnails- good that your face is in them. make your letters bigger. use the space wisely. easy to see and highly recognizable ya know.

boom i use. not too expensive https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015R0IQGW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s03?ie=UTF8&psc=1

For what you're describing, the video camera sounds like it would be sufficient.

Rode's are OK, but I think they're a bit overpriced and not all that awesome for the price. For the money, Takstar makes a widely-touted knockoff that many people feel sounds better. It sells for about $25. Link here: https://www.amazon.com/TAKSTAR-SGC-598-Interview-Microphone-Camcorder/dp/B00E58AA0I/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1537758700&sr=1-5&keywords=video+microphone

You also might consider a wired lavaliere mic. There are several on Amazon from about $20-30. I always have a few as backups and frequently use them as primaries, too. Here's one that's pretty highly rated: https://www.amazon.com/Professional-Microphone-Omnidirectional-Recording-Conference/dp/B01AG56HYQ/ref=sr_1_6?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1537758700&sr=1-6&keywords=video+microphone

Best of luck!

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Title | G85 vs A6500 - Best option for film making? Max Talks EP#4
Description | Which camera is the right fit for you? Filmmaking, Vlogging, and Videography G85 Amazon➡ http://geni.us/jEyA76A A6500 Amazon➡ http://geni.us/bffB4nA If you enjoy our content please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $2 a month helps us make more and better content for you! https://www.patreon.com/MaxYuryev -------------------------------------------------------------------- This Review was Shot using: Camera on Amazon➡ http://geni.us/bffB4nA Lens on Amazon➡ http://geni.us/dmcMpa Mic on...
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Title | Panasonic G85 OWNS the Sony a6500 in almost every way...except one
Description | This is just a quick update after shooting my first ever video on the Sony a6500 since deciding to try and switch to it from my Panasonic G85/G7/GH4. I'll just keep walking you guys through what I'm learning as it happens if that's cool with you! New Sony camera & lens: http://amzn.to/2owhmEU Must-have other lens for new camera: http://amzn.to/2pJlBiv Mic I use on my vlogging rig: http://amzn.to/2oQcvBU My bendy-tripod: http://amzn.to/2pkAJ8R Old main Panasonic camera: http://amzn.to/2pJl5AU F...
Length | 0:07:41






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> Videography is basically just photography squared when it comes to equipment costs.

Good to know. The more I'm learning the more the SL2 seems like the right choice, at least for a beginner like myself.

> Also happen to be friends with a few cinematographers / video geeks.

That's cool. I either forgot or was never aware of how popular photography and videography are as hobbies.

Any recommendations on a DSLR microphone? I'd like to keep it under $100, but I'd be willing to spend up to $150 if necessary. I was thinking of just getting something like this that sits on the top of the camera. That way my setup is super easy to just film and go, and I could also do some vlog style videos if I wanted.

I have a Movo VXR40. It might not be ideal due to the long wire and the fact that the shoe mount needs to be epoxied for better stability, but I've found it to be quite useful. I have a boom stand and I ended up using it with my Zoom H4n and boom instead of on my camera shoe.

Rode is a well-respected brand, but they are pricey and you can get better on-camera mics for less money, albeit at a visual aesthetic penalty (but let's be honest: who cares what your mic looks like?) The "affordable" Rode mics get lackluster reviews and are not very good; I'd buy nothing lower than the VideoMic Pro due to various issues I've read and listened to in comparison tests.

If I wanted an on-camera mic on the cheap today, I'd go with the ~$30 Takstar SGC-598 as can be heard compared against two cheaper Rode mics in this video where it gives the Rode mics a run for their money.

Two caveats: on-camera audio sucks, even with a good mic; you'll get better audio if a mic on a boom stand is an option; also, the G7 heavily compresses audio to 128 Kbps AAC which is not suitable for a significant amount of post-processing, but is perfectly fine for personal recordings or pro stuff where inaudible losses of quality won't be pushed enough to be heard.

For audio, the key thing is that you want the microphone as close to the actors as you can get. Starting with a shotgun mic and a boom pole will probably be your best bet unless you have the cash to splurge on wireless lavs. Rode and Sennheiser are always a good bet, but even a cheaper option like this Audio Technica mic will be way better than anything built into the camera.

For a camera, you'll want something that allows you to change focus/aperture manually. That's really the key to getting dynamic shots, where you can set focus for foreground/mid/background objects to keep things interesting. Depending on your budget, if you can afford a DSLR still camera that is capable of recording HD video you will get a lot more mileage out of it than a cheap handycam. The Panasonic LX7 is a good bet for lots of manual control.

If these are beyond your budget for now, just shoot with whatever you can get your hands on, even the GoPro.

Hey there! Here's my suggestion if you're starting out and have a $600 budget.

• Mic: https://www.amazon.com/Rode-Anniversary-Condenser-Microphone-Package/dp/B002QAUOKS/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1520276764&sr=1-1&keywords=rode+nt1a
  
  
• Interface/soundcard: https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Interface-Generation-Technical/dp/B01J9NDHXK/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1520276849&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=scarlett+2i2&psc=1
  
  That mic is a great one to start out with and I can personally vouch for its sound, whereas i cannot for the SE one you linked (not saying it's bad, just haven't tried it!)
  
  That soundcard is a hell of a deal, high quality, and *comes with a mic stand and XLR cable (and an extra pop filter) all bundled in.
  
  Total price for all of this: $390
  
  You can grab a reflection shield and still be at $450 total (https://www.amazon.com/LyxPro-VRI-30-Portable-Absorbing-Recording/dp/B012OFI98I/ref=sr_1_2?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1520277017&sr=1-2&keywords=reflection+shield)
  
  Important: Please note, while it will help, a reflection shield alone is not enough to tame the echoes in a hardwood room with a lot of reverb. If AT ALL possible, the absolutely best thing you can do (if I had to choose between reflection shield vs. doing this, I would do this every time) to improve the quality of the recording you'll get is to spend some of that remaining budget - remember we've got everything for $450 so far! - and buy cheap blankets from Ikea or similar. They have like their cheapest comforter/duvet blankets that are only like $4-5 each and cover a lot of space, if you use some command hooks (or nails/tacks, whatever your living space allows) to put these on the walls, put a cheap rug down on the floor, etc. to break up the flat surfaces, you'll be astounded by the difference.
  
  I did this to my studio room - again, using all cheap blanket materials and no expensive acoustic foam - and even random guests comment on how quiet it sounds when they're talking and walk in from the hallway and hear how much their voice changes.
  
  Here's a picture series (click the right arrow to go through them https://www.instagram.com/p/BWYSx2XFdi0/?taken-by=petravitamusic) from my studio after I'd set up the blankets, and for sound quality examples of the microphone, everything on my soundcloud within the last year has been recorded on the mic I linked, and recorded in this room. A couple examples: https://soundcloud.com/petravita/the-land-of-no-seconds-petravita-prod-syndrome-demoaday-67365 and another with no reverb added back in during the mix process so you can hear that the recording sounds very clean: https://soundcloud.com/petravita/the-science-of-art-petravita-prod
  
  I really hope this helps you, and please don't hesitate to reach out to me via PM or reply here if you have questions :)
  
  

1. Turn off auto-focus. Set it manually then hit your mark. To get more stuff in focus close your aperture and add more light.
   
   
2. Your video is missing a hook. Social today need something in the first 3 seconds to grab attention. Your action starts at 11 sec.
   I'm assuming the black at the beginning was to help sync up your snap with the music snap.
   
   
3. Audio - You can take your current VO track into premiere then right-click and "Edit clip in adobe audition". After that you will need to highlight an area without any speech. You are defining the "silent" portion. So anything from that take where you weren't talking for like 4 seconds will work. Highlight that then hit Shift+P to "capture noise print". That will define the waveform that needs to be reduced. Then unselect that portion and hit Command+Shift+P which will use your print to do an overall noise reduction. You HAVE to do this with each new audio file you're working on. If you shot all the VO at once, then you're fine with the same print, but it's using that ambient atmosphere to define the reduction. Don't use a print from your VO to reduce noise on your performance shot. Always record 1 min of natural sound in each location you shoot to help with this and other audio editing.
   
   
4. After reduction then up the volume. not the other way around. Increase the good. Don't double the static.
   
   
5. If you want a great mic built for this and have $$ to spend buy this one. If you want a more affordable option buy this one.
   
   
6. When recording audio on your DSLR, turn the microphone's setting as high as it will go and camera's mic level as low as it will go. The idea is you want the microphone to do the volume boosting not the camera's pre-amp. Adjust as necessary for the shoot. +20 db on the Rode with 1 tick in camera gives you a lot cleaner audio than -20 db on the Rode with 100% in camera.
   
   
7. Your performance needs a wider shot. Either back up from the camera or get a wider lens. What camera are you using? Canon T6i? What lenses? If you're not happy with the framing then shoot another performance.
   
   
8. You're not quite looking down the barrel of the lens. Do you have cue cards or a basic topic form on the side? Memorize it and do the take staring straight into the void.
   
   
9. You have competing color temperatures in your VO. Very red left and a blue right. Find out what's making that red and flag it off. White balance properly for the blue.
   
   
10. Music. make sure you own the rights to it. If it's stock, purchase the rights. You don't want to have to pull all your videos later because of licensing issues.
    
    
11. There are a couple logos. If you're not concerned so be it. I'd learn a basic point track in after effects and attach a blurred adjustment layer with a mask.
    
    
12. You're lacking graphics of any kind. I've watched this four times and don't know who you are, your name, name of the channel, name of this segment, or any of your social handles that I can subscribe to if interested.
    
    
13. You have a lot of black frames in between cuts. Not just as transitions from segments... It might be a stylistic choice, but it reads as glitches. As if you shifted your media in your timeline and didn't correct the edit.
    

Just grab some lav's

[This Rode smartLav is great] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EO4A7L0/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=mic-reviews-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B00EO4A7L0&linkId=4ccaf6812920138f74d980411d5a90a8)

[This ATR-3350] (https://www.amazon.ca/Audio-Technica-ATR-3350-Omnidirectional-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B002HJ9PTO)

[If you can stretch for $800 bucks this will be excellent] (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/618735-REG/Sennheiser_EW_100_ENG_G3_A_Evolution_G3_100_Series.html)

[This BOYA mic is great and inexpensive] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MRMU2HU/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00MRMU2HU&linkCode=as2&tag=pv0dbb-20&linkId=UZT4YZXUAJ7VKBG6)

Basically watch this video and decide what you think is best for your application.

Keep in mind, for a condenser mic you need a sound treated room for the best quality audio.

But yeah, there are FAR better mics out there.

[This is a great setup] (https://www.twitch.tv/videos/140197666)

I couldn't agree more with /u/SativaGanesh 's comment below. I'll add that when you start learning to record, your focus should be on signal flow, gain staging, microphone technique, and learning how to edit and mix audio. Until you have a handle on the basics, a tape machine won't be beneficial to you. And when you DO have a handle on the basics, consider getting an internship at an analogue studio. If you're sharp and likeable, you'll probably have an opportunity to learn how to use a tape machine and console.

Here's what I suggest for your home setup. You can get a perfectly usable interface for around $150. That apparently comes with Pro Tools, but Reaper is a full-featured DAW that sounds great and supports most plugin formats out there. It's $60 for a full license. Here is a perfectly adequate microphone made by Rode. (Or if you can spend $600 go for the K2, it's awesome.) These speakers are halfway decent and will get you started on the right foot.

Scrubbing through the video I noticed that the camera auto exposes the shot to compensate for the backlit shelves so the fix for that would be to shoot with auto-exposing off or just shoot in manual since you’re staying the same distance away from the camera. That would fix the irregular lighting but it wouldn’t fix the lighting. To fix the lighting you could get an LED light rack that you could attach to your camera’s hot shoe: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075N4CJYX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_vlZKAbKWY98MZ
This would help you get more light on your face, acting as a fill light and would make a big difference in clearing out the shadows. Audio is more of a get what you pay for kinda thing. I really like the Rode SmartLav + which you can connect to your smartphone and with the Rode app you can record some pretty quality audio that is comparable to 300+ dollar lavs. Shotguns are good too but I typically use both to help match the audio on each recording devices. The smartlav is a great piece of equipment for only $75 and it doesn’t get much better than that and would completely take away the whirs and and sound annoyances. Here’s the link to the Lav: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EO4A7L0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_7pZKAb2BFD9BK

Yes, a good mic will definitely help. The best way to get good audio is to just get the mic closer - even a $1000 microphone will sound awful if it's not close to your subject. Because of that, I'd recommend picking up something like the £52 Rode SmartLav+ and connecting it to your phone with the 3.5mm > Lightning adapter that comes with the iPhone 7.

If getting the mic close to your subject isn't possible, the Rode VideoMic Me is around the same price as the SmartLav+ but clips directly to the phone. It's supposed to plug in to the headphone jack of the phone and hang off the side of the phone, but people have gotten it to work with not much hassle on the iPhone 7.

I hope this answers your question, if you have any more please feel free to ask.

Yeah, it's super cool. good mix of effects. I'll keep an eye out for your new song!

Thank you. I record vocals with this setup through Focusrite's Saffire 6. I use Cakewalk's Sonar for a DAW. From there, it's just plugins. I happened upon some Waves plugins that I've become really comfortable with using, though admittedly I'm a preset fiend. My chain usually looks something like De-Esser, Comp, EQ, Reverb. I double track nearly everything, usually with some stereo separation. Recently I've been playing around with sending all my chorus vocals to a stereo bus with octave effects, then reverbing the shit out of it and using MS techniques to really push the sound around and fill out a song.

But I mean, YouTube tutorials, endless experimentation, etc. I learn new shit every time I try to mix - it's equally inspiring and infuriating haha.

I would recommend getting something like this so you can capture the audio from the ceremony:

https://www.amazon.com/Rode-smartLav-Lavalier-Microphone-Smartphones/dp/B00EO4A7L0

It hooks up to your iPhone and your FH can just stick the phone in his inside jacket pocket!

Speeches will be a little more tough to get audio for without a recording device that hooks up into the DJ's board, but if you don't mind the extra time it takes the pass that lav around you could use that as well!

I would use an iPhone camera before a GoPro- they have a weird almost fish eye look to them, and the audio is horrible. Also, for iPhones they make pretty affordable gimbals that you could look into getting, but even if you don't their built in stabilization (especially on the newest ones) is really amazing! Just make sure whoever is manning the camera is aware of your photographer and doesn't mess up any of their shots!

As long as you are ok with the quality not being that of a professional, and you have someone willing to record all day then I think you can get something you'll be happy with!

Cool, Thank you!

Do you think the wireless mic would be a better option than something like this?

Rode VideoMicro Compact On-Camera Microphone with Rycote Lyre Shock Mount: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015R0IQGW/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A17MC6HOH9AVE6

Can you eleborate on comprehensive audio setup?

I'm trying to think of ideas of how filming my teaching this could work audio-wise. I could potentially re-add the music in post production and maybe have the voice audio mic so loud that the music in the back wouldn't show up at all.

My goal is to create videos of me teaching my group yoga classes to post it on YouTube so people can take the classes with us if they choose. I'm hung up on the audio and also getting into music copywrite stuff for youtube. I create unique playlists to teach to for each class and it is a big component to the teaching. If I can integrate the music the classes will be more interesting, dynamc and fun.

Any Ideas or suggestions anyone has is appreciated! I've been trying to sort through this for a while now...

• Canon T2i
  
• Rode mic
  
• 50mm lens
  
• Tripod
  
  Dslr cameras are the best thing in a price range of $4000 or less. The canon t2i is lower end but has huge bang for buck. You really do want an external recorder for them. Dslr audio is horrible but that rode mic will really improve it, just not as much as external recording. The 50mm lens is the best starting point it is very cheap but looks great. You need a tripod for a dslr because they look horrible hand held unless you have a good stabilization rig or steady cam.

It might be pretty under budget, but I got recommended the Rode Videomicro over on the /r/videography subreddit and have been loving it. It's just a standard shutgun mic, pretty small, comes with a fur and an antishock mount.

So far I've used it for filming crowds, which it handles decently, done some range testing outside with people talking, which it does very well, and I've done a voiceover for a documentary-like piece. The mic was really nice overall, but it suffers from phantom power, in that you have to use the camera's preamp, which is decent on the G7, I'd say.

$59 in the US, from Adorama.

[58€ in the EU, from Amazon.] (https://www.amazon.de/Rode-VIDEOMICRO-VMMICRO-VideoMicro/dp/B015R0IQGW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1465681346&sr=8-1&keywords=rode+videomicro)

There's also the Videomicro's bigger brother, the Videomic. Don't really have experience with that one, but if reviews are to be believed, it does what the Videomicro does, just bigger and better. It's battery powered, also.

91€ in the EU from Amazon, although I couldn't find an option in the US for under a hundred.

Just my $.02

Try and get a small set up for that price instead of just the camera. Get her a camera, a tripod, a microphone, and if you can a light as well.

The Nikon D5100 is a great DSLR that can do 1080p. It's got a 3.5mm microphone port so they'll be able to plug in an external mic for better audio. A tripod like this will be great as it's sturdy, can go up to 1.4m and has a spirit level on the head. These microphones are brilliant. This light pack even includes 2 lights and 2 tripods for them.

Hope this helps (and the UK links work).

LimoStudio 700W Photography Softbox Light Lighting Kit Photo Equipment Soft Studio Light Softbox 24"X24", AGG814 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E4YS2XU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_ZTQSzbVNKB89F

these lights are amazing. I agree with what someone else on this thread said about sound quality, if your using sound for films a good mic is a necessity.

Rode VMPR VideoMic Pro R with Rycote Lyre Shockmount https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YAZHRZM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_iXQSzbKQ519VP

This mic is pretty good for recording, your also going to need a boom pole. For the lenses ND filters are a must as well, get these and some stopping down filter rings for your lenses. The lenses someone listed down below look pretty good

Yes, thank you that helps alot! I was looking abround some more and found these things

phone cage with 2 lenses

light - and maybe the charger/softbox combo

And a mic

Total price would be around $200 so I can work with that. And yes I will just have to show them the ropes a bit on how to get the best possible video.

Thanks so much for your help!

>I really respect and appreciate all of the work you do for Central Coast D

Thanks!

> How fast and easy it is to put on and remove?

Very! I don't use the strap, so you just grab it, and it comes right off. We used it to shoot our round with McBeth, and it was super easy to pass back and forth.

For the breathing issue. When I didn't have a shotgun mic I would just try to breath away from the camera. A shotgun mic (I have the model up from the linked one), helps a ton. It really eliminates sound that's not in front of the camera.

100% i would get the sony A7iii amazon referral links. At the price range right now it's pretty much the daddy with great image quality, stabilisation is decent enough, and sony has by far the best vlogging autofocus going at the moment. stick a rode on top and you're good to go. If you really want ultra smooth video on the move then look at something like the DJI gimbal

It's very hard to find a good camera in that price range. If you have a phone that is less than a couple years old, you're probably better to go that route. That said, if you can afford a GoPro, the guys use a GoPro HERO4 BLACK as a backup camera that would be better than a smartphone in most applications. This model's built in mic is said to be much better than the new model that was just released. If you want to use an external mic, you'll need this adapter. You can also find all of their gear in a post I made here, if you're interested.

Edit: If you decide to use a smartphone, this is a pretty good mic that attaches directly to a phone.

Afraid not.

Filmic Pro is a nice app for making your iPhone feel more like a video camera.

Something like a RODE VideoMic ME or a RODE SmartLav would help things sound better (which makes a huge difference in perceived quality.

A mount for your phone is handy but a tripod is overkill. Something like this flexible GorillaPod phone mount is pretty handy for attaching your phone to whatever stands you have access to.

Lastly, a bright, high-quality LED panel can give you a lot of control over how things look. This Yongnuo YN-300 is the go-to for a low-cost good-performing LED light panel.

Camera is a GoPro Hero 4. I use this headrest mount, which places it nicely between the seats and far enough back to get a decent view both inside and outside the car. I also use this external mic, with dead cats covering the mics. The mic just stays attached to the headrest mount.

In other videos I've run a second camera looking back, with a lav mic just above one of the exhausts, to mix in some better sound, but that camera (a Hero 3) got destroyed last month, and I haven't replaced it yet. So there's just ambient sound in this weekend's video.

For data, I have an AiM Solo 2 DL, tapped into the car's CAN bus to get all the fun stuff like RPM/throttle/brake. I put the videos together after the fact in RaceRender. Template is my own semi-custom thing that I'm still refining. Next improvement will probably be combining throttle/brake into a single vertical bar instead of two separate horizontal ones. I tinkered with that a bit this morning and liked how it looked.

Yeah I've used those before, but never owned them because they're a little too expensive for the use I could make of them.

If you're looking to save some money, check out the Rode Smartlav. You could record directly to a smartphone and sync the audio up in post. Might be worth it to you to save $500 (though I'm sure the Sony you linked records at a much better quality).

I think you have the right idea with your plans to build an insulation/acoustics structure around your area, but what might also help is taking a look at your audio settings and equipment.


You might benefit from using a free digital mixer like VoiceMeeter Potato to more accurately noise-gate and equalize your audio. In addition to this, it's very common for people to use things like shotgun microphones to capture audio from a limited scope of area (which, in the case of a shotgun microphone, would be directly on top of it).

Thanks for this video! Glad I could hear this with out having been there. A few production notes:

Please do some establishing shots before or after the interview, don't get all ADD on us and start zooming in on the Water Suppression tower and the Processing Building.

Make sure she's in focus... for a majority of the video, the background was in focus.

Clean your lens! Low contrast areas where there was dirt or water was extremely evident.

A small shotgun mic would go a long ways to help distracting audio from getting in the way. Something lightweight and inexpensive like this

Try J cuts for your audio if you do transitions/edits. The abrupt audio and rapid, random cuts were distracting. Either play the whole thing front to back, un interrupted, or make tasteful edits. No point in just cutting to cut. Always record the full event, beginning to end, never start and stop while recording as you can always take stuff out in post.

The text at the beginning should be simple, lower thirds, and un-distracting. Throwing it up there all willy nilly does no one a favor.

Again, I'm not ungrateful here, just trying to give you some tips to up your production value. You've already done 90% of the work by being there with gear on hand, let's help you take it up a notch so it can be more enjoyable for us to watch! Thanks for your time and effort, let me know if you have any questions about production notes in the future. I'm sure I'll run into you at OG2 :)

You can buy an attachment for many phones that offers good demo-quality audio for around £100. There tend to be more offerings for iPhone, something like this or maybe this would work well. THere's also something like this that would work on any phone, and would give better results than just the mic on your phone.

There are also a few good recorders out there in your price range that would give you good quality like the Zoom H1 or the Tascam DR-05. Both Tascam and Zoom have a range of options for digital recorders, and some of the Zooms also function as an audio interface that you can plug into the computer. I have the Zoom H6, which is outside your budget but a fantastic recorder for the money.

One word of warning, don't be suckered in by cheaper alternatives for mics or recording equipment. You get what you pay for, and anything under about £50 in either department isn't going to be too much better than the mic on your smartphone.