Equipment for video recording?

[Jon Snow]

What are folks using to record video for virtual competitions?

I've been trying to use my phone, which seemed pretty good at first, but I kept hearing some wavering in the audio. I thought it might be me, but after recording a tune on three different devices simultaneously, it turns out it's the phone. I suspect some automatic gain control wierdness. Happens with or without an external microphone.

I have a still camera that does do video, but the audio is poor (but at least steady). Looking for other options.

[Pppiper]

I use my phone, and seem to get very good results ... but with some adjustments/tweaks. I’m an iPhone user, but I’m sure there are comparable Android thingamawhatsits you can use.

A good example of my results would be the video sample on my website here:
http://www.nate-silva.com/pppiper/performing-samples/

I used the same sort of set up I’d do for competitions, except here, I used both my regular phone (which was also the one recording the intended audio) and my old iPhone recording a 2nd view angle (low to the ground). I matched the two video captures later in Adobe Premiere, and then faded from one to the other as I felt it was best, in order to make the samples a little more interesting.

Anyway, I use USB-powered microphone that plugs into my iPhone via an adapter. I think this is the mic I use:
https://www.googleadservices.com/pag...BAgFEDM&adurl=

And with the recording on the phone, I use an app called MoviePro. Works very nicely and most notably, one is able to control to mic level manually as long as you’re using an external mic.

And when editing in Premiere, I will do some minor sound editing as needed. When I do my comp videos, thats usually indoors in my storage unit (my only option apart from outside). So the captured sound in there is pretty harsh in raw from. Adding some gentle reverb really does wonders in smoothing out the sound.

For the outdoor samples on my site, I added some bass eq and such, as the drones didnt pickup as well as I’d have liked ... plus it was a bit windy, so I needed to edit that out at times with a “high pass” effect. That high pass also cuts down the bass drone a bit, so I had to do more eq edits to get that back somewhat. Next time I should think about getting a wind cover for the mic.

Anyway, hope that helps. I never get the issue you’re describing ..: my guess is the use of MoviePro and an external mic makes the difference there.

Hope this helps. Cheers,
~Nate

[BaggyMcPipes]

It may be worth trying an external microphone- there are quite a few to choose from, some will connect to your headphone jack, some connect otherwise. Might improve the audio through your phone...

[Patrick McLaurin]

Jon, on my iPhone if I use an external mic through the lightning port all weirdness goes away. What type of phone do you have? What type of mic are you plugging in?

[Jon Snow]

Here's an example of what I'm getting. Apologies for the choke at the start.

Recording with my phone, Samsung S20FE. Volume fluctuations are clearly audible. This is with the internal microphone, but I've had the same results with an external mic through the USB port.

Video


Simultaneous audio recording of the same performance made with my (rather elderly) Zoom H2. No volume fluctuations.

Audio

[Jon Snow]

Originally Posted by Patrick McLaurin

Jon, on my iPhone if I use an external mic through the lightning port all weirdness goes away. What type of phone do you have? What type of mic are you plugging in?

I have a Samsung S20FE. I am getting the same fluctuations using the internal mic, as well as a Zoom H2 as an internal mic through the USB port.

[Jon Snow]

Originally Posted by BaggyMcPipes

It may be worth trying an external microphone- there are quite a few to choose from, some will connect to your headphone jack, some connect otherwise. Might improve the audio through your phone...

Yes, I've tried that. It does improve the quality slightly, although the internal mic is really pretty good. Both have the volume fluctuations though.

[Jon Snow]

Originally Posted by Pppiper

And with the recording on the phone, I use an app called MoviePro. Works very nicely and most notably, one is able to control to mic level manually as long as you’re using an external mic.

This is what I need. I haven't found it yet for Android. Even a switch to turn off automatic gain control would probably work. Some audio recording apps have this, but I haven't found a video app yet.

[BaggyMcPipes]

Originally Posted by Jon Snow

Yes, I've tried that. It does improve the quality slightly, although the internal mic is really pretty good. Both have the volume fluctuations though.

I see... My next suggestion was going to be precisely trying something like the H2N, but I see you already have... darn... I wish you all the luck, and I'll follow this thread hoping to see a good solution soon!

[Patrick McLaurin]

What I hear just a few times in the video is slight attenuation lasting very briefly with smooth transitions in and out. Nothing near as bad as native iPhone audio. Had you not mentioned it, I honestly would not have noticed.