TASCAM DR05 - OK to use with Canon 60D?

[omar]

TASCAM DR05 - is it any good to use with my Canon 60D to shoot video?

OK... I know that the professional choice is to get the Zoom H4N
I don't want to push my budget that far for the moment

Question: Would the Tascam do the same job as a directional mic?
(Apologies in advance if that's a dumb question)

Question: Can I add a windguard (I think thats what they're called) to the Tascam?

I've seen a video where they setup the 60D with a Zoom H4N
The guy has an output that feeds into the 60D - so they get 2 sound recordings (just in case)
Question: Can I do the same with the Tascam?

Thanks


Omar

 

[paul13walnut5]

TASCAM DR05 - is it any good to use with my Canon 60D to shoot video?

No.

OK... I know that the professional choice is to get the Zoom H4N
I don't want to push my budget that far for the moment

Look at the DR-60D. Yes it will push your budget. And yes you will also need a mic. But, really, you will need that anyway. Pay cheap, pay twice. You WILL actually save money by buying the right expensivve tool just now rather than a succession of compromised hacks.

Question: Would the Tascam do the same job as a directional mic?
(Apologies in advance if that's a dumb question)

It's not a dumb question if you don't already know, it's smart to ask (I once, years ago, tried to buy black and white video tape...) It's not directional in any meaningful sense of the word. At best it will be cardiod. For video other than general ambience the norm is super or hyper-cardiod, for this you need a rifle type mic, such as a Rode NTG-1 or a Sennheiser K6/ME66 or ME67 combo.

Question: Can I add a windguard (I think thats what they're called) to the Tascam?

I'm sure there will be a rycote solution that will fit, but it's the wrong device to begin with.

I've seen a video where they setup the 60D with a Zoom H4N
The guy has an output that feeds into the 60D - so they get 2 sound recordings (just in case)
Question: Can I do the same with the Tascam?

Yep. Headphone out to mic in, set levels very very low. However the DR-60 records internally and gives you a microphone level out to mic in. Much safer and cleaner.
The trouble is you are either going to have the DR-05 device close to the camera (and so rubbish perspective) or close to the subject connected via unbalanced cable run (so interference, shooglie connections) in short, it's back the to the first point.. it's just the wrong tool for the job.

 

[omar]

@paul13walnut5 thanks for the awesome reply
that unit looks awesome
i think i'm going to save up my pennies and buy the unit in future and not buy anything else

my plan would be just to use a wired lapel mic for sound
good or bad idea?

thanks

 

[paul13walnut5]

@paul13walnut5 thanks for the awesome reply


my plan would be just to use a wired lapel mic for sound
good or bad idea?

thanks

Bad idea. How are you going to monitor audio? What a close perspective lapel mic and our ears behind the camera hear are totally different. One of the most important things about recording good audio is good monitoring.

Low budget interim idea... http://www.rycote.com/products/micro_windjammers/

I use these on my DSLRs for general pick up. Work pretty well. Rycote is a trusted supplier and wouldn't put their name to crap.

Get these, then get saving. Some of the cheap mini-jack lavalier mics are actually capable of reasonable sound, just the unbalanced cable and consumer connections are prone to interference and bad contacts causing buzz etc. You shouldn't plug anything into the camera without being able to monitor it.

 

[omar]

Bad idea. How are you going to monitor audio? What a close perspective lapel mic and our ears behind the camera hear are totally different. One of the most important things about recording good audio is good monitoring.

Low budget interim idea... http://www.rycote.com/products/micro_windjammers/

I use these on my DSLRs for general pick up. Work pretty well. Rycote is a trusted supplier and wouldn't put their name to crap.

Get these, then get saving. Some of the cheap mini-jack lavalier mics are actually capable of reasonable sound, just the unbalanced cable and consumer connections are prone to interference and bad contacts causing buzz etc. You shouldn't plug anything into the camera without being able to monitor it.

ok... there goes that plan
i realise now that my idea is a real bad one
from past experience i know that the lapel mic could be having a rubbing fight with the clothes or something
which wouldn't be monitored

but... what if i recorded the audio and then played the audio back to check?
EDIT: i just checked my 60D - i can't spot a headphone socket - assume there isn't one therefore?

any idea where i can buy the windjammers in the uk?
i found one ebay seller selling for £9.99 a pack

recording without these windjammers and recording with - is there a *massive* difference in audio quality??

thanks

 

[luciolepri]

In my opinion, the cheapest solution to get a decent audio would be to put a video microphone (like the Rode Videomic or similar) on a boom pole and plug it directly into the camera using a good shielded cable. This way, with around 200 $ (mic+windshield+cable+pole) you're ready to go.
Obviously, if you don't have a headphone socket, you'll have to listen back to every take... to me, that's not a good idea at all, but if you can't effort an external recorder and a mic, I can't see any other option.
What about renting the equipment?

I know people who are using the Zoom H4n or even the Tascam directly on the boom pole, but those mics are very sensitive to wind (even indoor, you just have to move the pole a little faster to saturate the audio) and they are the opposite of directional. They can sound much better than the in-camera microphone because you can put 'em very close to the subject, but they're not the right tool.

 

[omar]

@luciolepri thanks for the advice, much appreciated

i'll have to consider what to do
i think i'm looking to invest £400 - £500 to get a decent setup

 

[luciolepri]

For 500 £, on eBay, you can buy a Zoom H4n, a Rode NTG-2 mic with a windshield and a shockmount, a decent boompole and a pair of good cables. This way, you'd only miss a good isolating headphone, but if you find something like a used Sennheiser HD280 Pro, you can probably get it all within your budget. That would be a very good audio set. If you can afford it, I would definitely go for it.
Consider also to buy, for outdoor shootings, a blimp windshield with a "dead cat", sometimes they're indispensable. Search for a cheap one (for exemple: http://www.ebay.it/itm/New-40-cm-Blimp-Windshield-with-Furcover-for-microphones-upto-12-30cm-Long-/190839080880?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item2c6ee547b0&_uhb=1) the branded ones are very expensive. They always include a shockmount, so if you're gonna buy it you can save the money for the separated shockmount.