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Activity › Forums › Audio › Azden EX-503 Lavalier directly in camera

  • Eric Toline

    January 15, 2013 at 2:51 am

    Two things to consider. First the mic requires 1.5-3v powering to work and I don’t think the camera supplies any mic power. Second the mic cord is most likely about 4-5 feet long and will be too short for any practical purpose even if powering is available. I would suggest you look for a self powered (battery) lav just to be on the safe side. I won’t even get into the problems of adjusting levels directly on the camera while your rolling.

    Eric

    “I push the RECORD button and hope for the best”

  • Francesco Glavina

    January 15, 2013 at 8:30 am

    Thanks Eric. Someone have tried an Azden EX-503 directly?

  • Peter Groom

    January 15, 2013 at 11:05 am

    On the BH website the following is shown

    Operating Voltage 2-10VDC
    Current Draw 0.5mA

    so as Eric says, there is no powering from the camera, so the mic wont work.
    You should also be aware that level adjustemnt, metering and monitoring leave a lot to be desired on these DSLR cameras, so its likely that plugging in a mic directly to the DSLR will result in disappointing audio recordings. Its all about what you think is good enough.

    I had a cameraman who recorded into his DSLR and brought me the audio, which he felt was really good. I thought it was awful. Harsh and edgy, AGC limited, poor noise floor. Horrific and he though it was great!!
    Depends what you think is good, but that mic is designed to work with the azden radio where it will be supplied the correct operating voltage.

    Peter

    Post Production Dubbing Mixer

  • Francesco Glavina

    January 15, 2013 at 1:28 pm

    You Can tell your operator to use “Magic Lantern”. It give you light meters/Adjustment, no AGC (But it’s so with the updated firmware) ecc ecc…
    I never ask about quality, I ask about this review on B&H:

    By Gearhead:
    I like a lot, is an excellent for interviews, you’ll hear clear, and for that price is excellent choice. I use it with my 60d and i connect it directly to my cam.

    Is it possible that 60D give”energy”to the microphone?
    It look technically strange to me, but not impossible.

  • Peter Groom

    January 15, 2013 at 1:57 pm

    Yes Im aware of magic lantern.

    I tell my cameramen, that if they want paying, not to do it.
    Recording audio onto a DSLR is not approved by me, so it wont happen until that changes in our company.
    Sep sound or a proper camera designed with pro audio interfaces is our policy.

    Good luck
    Peter

    Post Production Dubbing Mixer

  • Francesco Glavina

    January 18, 2013 at 9:11 pm

    So noone have an answer for a direct experience?

  • Peter Groom

    January 18, 2013 at 9:18 pm

    Azden isnt in the UK so no direct experience from me.
    Peter

    Post Production Dubbing Mixer

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