Zoom H1 with the Audio-Technica ATR3350…?

[Ty Ford]

Cheers Michael and welcome to the Cow Audio Forum.

Maybe an H1 and that AT mic would work. I haven’t heard it and don’t know your intention of quality.

Typically a $39 USD mic isn’t as good as one that costs more, but there are a few exceptions.

Why don’t you spring for one and post some clips to let us know what it sounds like.

A word of caution. There are very good reasons to use a mixer before a recorder or camera.

1. They let you vary volumes without shaking the camera or getting in the way of the camera op.
2. You may need to do that a lot with some people. I ride gain even if one person is talking if their voice fades on the end of each line. You can only do this in a relatively quiet environment, otherwise you bring up the ambient noise.
3. Mixer preamps (good ones) sound better than camera preamps.
4. Good mixers have input transformers that scrape off RF before it get into your audio.
5. Good mixers have limiters that allow you to record hotter, keeping your audio further above the noise floor without distorting.
6. Good limtiers have EQ that lets you roll of LF HVAC noise before it gets into your audio.
7. Good mixers have mulitple outputs so you can feed more than one camera, or separate recorder simultaneously.
8. Good mixers make your sound better. If they didn’t pros wouldn’t use them.

Regards,

Ty Ford

Want better production audio?: Ty Ford’s Audio Bootcamp Field GuideWatch Ty play guitar

[Michael Lorushe]

Hi Ty,

Thanks for your response. Sorry for the late reply. I don’t think I’ll be using mixers at this point as I’d like to keep my set-up light and minimal for now.

Here’s a couple of reviews I found:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrYX1r9gfGY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM0yTlSgyRA&feature=related

The quality seems decent enough. Although I’m a bit concerned as to some of the apparent background hiss.

I’ll be specific: I want to use this set-up for shooting weddings to stick on the groom. What I’m asking is, does the Zoom H1 have anything over using a cheaper mp3 voice recorder quality wise? Or is it all in the mic? Are there any lavalier mics you could recommend within the $50 to $100 price range?

Thanks again, and happy new year!

Michael Folorunsho – Videographer & Editor
http://www.mikedoesmedia.com

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[Ty Ford]

Q: I’ll be specific: I want to use this set-up for shooting weddings to stick on the groom. What I’m asking is, does the Zoom H1 have anything over using a cheaper mp3 voice recorder quality wise?

A: I don’t know. I don’t go that low.

Q: Or is it all in the mic?
Is all what in the mic?

Q: Are there any lavalier mics you could recommend within the $50 to $100 price range?

A: Not lavs.

-Ty Ford

Want better production audio?: Ty Ford’s Audio Bootcamp Field GuideWatch Ty play guitar

[Eric Toline]

The ATR 3350 in the demo is perfect for “Event Videography”. I have friends who shoot weddings, confirmations, etc and they all use lavs in the under $50 range and it sounds fine. Another plus is that when the mic gets trashed you’re only out $50 max.

Eric

[Michael Lorushe]

Okay, thanks guys.

Michael Folorunsho – Videographer & Editor
http://www.mikedoesmedia.com

[Ty Ford]

Eric,

Perhaps you could ask them for make and model numbers and post that info here.

Thanks,

Ty Ford

Want better production audio?: Ty Ford’s Audio Bootcamp Field GuideWatch Ty play guitar

[Eric Toline]

They use the Audio Technica ATR 3350 or the Radio Shack equivelent. About $20 or so anywhere on the web.

Eric

[Jon Onstot]

I have the very setup you describe: Zoom H1 with 3350 lav. Perhaps I’m doing something wrong, but the sound level is quite low when using the 3350 as an external mic to the H1, compared to the H1 internal mic sound level. Impedance specs are 1000ohm for the 3350 and 2000 ohm for the H1. Could this be the problem? Also, the 3350 is mono, while the H1 input supports stereo, I think.
Sorry, I’m a complete nimrod for things audio; just got into this a month or so ago.

[Nick Kehagias]

Hi, I hope by now you figured out what you want, but in case anyone else comes along, I have most of the stuff in question.
A Zoom H1, Sony Pocket recorder, AT 3350, and an Azden EX503 Lav.

I haven’t had much time to do extensive testing as I received all but the Zoom today. However after a few quick tests, this is how it looks.

H1 vs Sony ICD-Ux200 pocket recorder.

Zoom: Level Adjustment from 1-100
Sony: Only Low Med High

Zoom: Shows Levels On screen with clipping notification
Sony: Monitor through headphones only, no clip warning

Zoom: Records in WAV and MP3 format
Sony: Records in MP3 only up to 44.1 @ 192kbps

The Sony may seems to have slightly more noise although it may be the lack of ability to fine tune the levels.

Sony has a better reference speaker and build quality. Its also smaller, lighter, has a built in USB plug and the reason I bought it to test out, is that it has the headphone and mic jack on the top of the unit. So that makes it easy to put in your pocket without breaking the plug off like the zoom. I didn’t break a plug off btw, it just feels like it every time I use it and plug a mic in it.

As for the Mics, at this point I would recommend the Azden EX503 over the AT 3550 if you are going to use it with either recorder. They have similar sound characteristics but the Azden is a hotter mic. I cant even get the AT 3550 mic to peak at the highest input levels. It is useable though.

The three biggest differences that should sway your decision:
1. Aforementioned sensitivity difference
2. The Azden only has a 3′ cable. Good for recorders/transmitter. Nothing else.
3. Azden DOESN’T need a battery. Both recorders I tested give it enough juice.

[Bruce Daly]

I use the zoom h1 and atr3350 for web video and have no problems with sensitivity. Typically I set the level at around 80 for normal voice with the mic low on the jacket lapel.
Getting another for Q and A format.