DSLR Audio

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tascam-adapter-ipad

Here's a little product sent in from Arni. Tascam's little iXZ adapter provides a Phantom Power XLR or 1/4" interface turning your iPhone, iPad, or even iPod touch into a portable recorder. The iXZ Phantom power is provided by a few AA batteries, and the unit has adjustable levels (gain), along with a headphone monitoring port on the backside.

Features:
* Switchable mic/line input
* Phantom power
* Gain control
* 1/8” headphone output
* XLR mic input
* High-impedence guitar input
* Mic input powered by two AA batteries
* Non-powered guitar input

tascam-ixz-adapterheadphone-line-out

Umm, is it just me or does that look like a fairly standard output plug? I guess this means it could be a cheap way to add XLR phantom power, adjustable pre-amp gain, and headphone monitoring to your DSLR camera (if you don't suffer from AGC). If it's not standard, Arni also points out an adapter that could get things back on track found here.

Available now, only through pre-order [Thanks Arni] (click here).

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find-price-button Tascam iXZ Portable Audio Recorder

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Tascam-DR-40-ReviewScreen shot 2011-09-15 at 9.10.51 AM

When it comes to portable recorders with DSLR video, there's two names that are sure to come up - Tascam and Samson (a.k.a Zoom). Here's an interesting new product pointed out to me [Thanks Anthony] that could shake things up for Samson's Zoom H4n product line. The H4n has been a long mainstay when it comes to an affordable 4 track portable recorder with XLR inputs, but Tascam has got something new (and cheaper).

Screen shot 2011-09-15 at 9.10.00 AM

The new Tascam DR-40 is playing in the same recording space offering just about as much features as the Zoom H4n, but the kicker is that it's coming in at about $100 dollars cheaper than the Zoom H4n (found here). Yeah that's quite a bit of savings. No reviews I could pull down just yet since it's a new product. Says it's available for Pre-order via B&H, but there are just a few sellers carrying this new product via eBay (click here).

Screen shot 2011-09-15 at 9.10.18 AM  Screen shot 2011-09-15 at 9.10.24 AM
find-price-button Tascam DR-40 4 Track Portable Recorder XLR

[Update] Now available via Amazon below

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find-price-button TASCAM DR-40 4 Channel Portable Digital Recorder

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A very (very very) quick paced review on Zoom's latest H2n portable audio recorder from YouTube member CineastaProductions. If you can keep up, you'll learn about all the trimmings the new Zoom H2n has to offer and a sound test in the end. It's definitely built to be in the middle of the top H4n and budget H1 recorders, but if you already own both you might not need the H2n. [Thanks Jeff]

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find-price-button Zoom H2n Portable Audio Recorder

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I'm not too familiar with the Audio2000 wireless microphone system, but Vimeo member Kenrik March seems to have used it quite a bit. Seems to be using it often enough to attempt using the universal 12V battery pack I blogged about to make it a truly wireless and portable system. A bit large and not something you'll be mounting to the top of your camera, but a line out from the receiver in to a Zoom H1 should work well. There seems to be some varying packages that come with hand held microphone, LAV microphone, or Headset wireless microphones. I couldn't tell you if all the receivers require 12V DC in. Now if we can get a range test to see what distance this could be usable at. [Thanks Kenrik]


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find-price-button Audio2000 Wireless Microphone Systems

As tipped by Kenrik, these UHF Wireless Microphone packages can also be found for cheaper via eBay (click here)
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find-price-button Audio2000 UHF Wireless Microphone System

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This won't eliminate all ambient noise like a true sealed sound proof room, but when you can control or eliminate sound deflections that can reach your microphone, it takes your audio to another level. An excellent tool when doing voice over or narrative work to your videos. Here's another cool looking portable DIY sound booth for microphones. The walls break down using Eyelets and Hooks when not in use. [Thanks Joel]

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Materials
$109 Auralex ... Box of 24 Studiofoam Wedgies (enough for audio walls, plus a back wall that I built to put behind speaker. Use Liquid Nails to glue the Wedgies to the particle board walls).

$10.75 1/4" 4x4 sheet of Particle Board @ Home Depot (probably need 2 sheets)

$1.18 Metal Eyes @ Home Depot (pack of 8)
$1.18 Metal Hooks @ Home Depot (pack of 4)
$2.29 2x2x8 Wood @ Home Depot (use for reinforcement on walls. The amount depends upon how much you want to reinforce, but you will definitely need these to anchor the Metal Hooks and Eyes for attaching the side walls to the back wall - and for the ceiling to prevent sagging)

Dimensions
Ceiling: 35" wide x 28" Deep (it simply sits on the two walls with a bit of overhang)
Side Walls: 24" tall x 28" Deep (walls connect to the back with the eye hooks
Back Wall: 24" tall x 36" long

Clip on Ikea desk lamp for $5.99 (see photo).

For the not-so-diyers there are a number of these Portable / Collapsible Traveling Sound Booths available on both eBay (click here) and on Amazon (click here).

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find-price-button Portable Sound Booth

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dual-bracket (1 of 1)

If you've seen a post I did a while back on a double Light and Sound bracket, there's now one available for half the price. Perfect for mounting a Shotgun to one side and an LED light on the other. Or heck, why not mount two LED lights. A simple way of mounting several accessories without getting into DSLR Cages. With the hot shoe adapter built in it can be quickly mounted to your camera, or to a light stand using the available 1/4 x 20 thread under the shoe. Now available via Amazon (click here).

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find-price-button Photo Video Dual V Bracket for Video Lights & Microphone

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Zoom is upgrading the H2 with a new H2n. The black finish and retro condenser microphone styling is a big plus for my taste, but it's neither pocketable nor does it have all the features of the H4n.

zoom-h2n

I'm not sure how something like this would fit the Video Maker's toolbox with all the other Zoom options out there (no XLR inputs), but Zoom has been geared more towards musicians. It might be a handy thing to have for Video makers that record live concerts and provide a better sound than the Zoom H1. Not yet available, but there's some additional information and sexy photos following the link.

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FEATURES
:Five built-in mic capsules provide Mid-Side (MS) stereo, 90° X/Y stereo, 2-channel and 4-channel recording modes
:Records in WAV up to 24-bit/96kHz and MP3 up to 320kbps
:Newly designed user interface
:Additional functions include Lo-cut Filter, Compressor/Limiter, Auto Gain, Pre-Rec, Auto-Rec, Tuner, Metronome, Variable Speed Playback, Key Control, A-B Repeat, File :Dividing, Normalize, MP3 Post-Encode, Marker and Surround Mixer
:Data recovery function protects against unexpected recording errors
:Over 20 hours of operation using two standard AA batteries
:Operates on battery, AC or USB bus power
:1.8-inch backlit LCD display with 128 x 64 resolution
:Analog-type Mic Gain wheel
:Built-in reference speaker
:High-speed USB 2.0 card reader function
:1/8-inch Mic/Line Input and Phones/Line Output stereo phone jacks
:Accommodates up to 32GB SDHC memory cards
:Includes Steinberg WaveLab LE 7 editing software, 2GB SD memory card and two AA batteries
:Optional accessory package (APH-2n) includes remote control with extension cable, windscreen, AC adapter (USB type), USB cable, adjustable tripod stand, padded-shell case and a mic clip adapter.

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Earlier I posted some big savings that SanDisk was offering of it's Compact Flash media and SDHC cards. You can find that article here: http://cheesycam.com/sandisk-media-huge-deals/. Lexar is now offering a Buy Two and save type deal on many of their media cards, so if Transcend wasn't good enough, Sandisk doesn't meet your needs, then Lexar might be up your alley. Found below.

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find-price-button Lexar Buy Two Deal

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For the smaller Zoom H1's just about any small modified belt clip would work. For the larger Audio Recorders like the Zoom H4n, I've been thinking of good ideas for a belt clip mount. These generic DSLR quick release clips have been around for a long time, but of course I'm not trusting my heavy DSLR on this thing. For something like a Zoom H4n, it should be no problem. A few different versions available, and even with the QR adapter knob in place, some still provide access to a tripod mounting hole. Might be worth a test, and the only caveat is you'll need to be wearing a belt. For those who shoot in the nude, this could be the deal breaker. Found below.

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find-price-button Digital SLR Camera Belt Clips

If you want to take a look at some smaller belt clips for the Zoom H1 (when using it as a body pack on your subject), these stainless steel universal clips would work well. You'll need to open up the hole a bit to attach to the tripod mount of the Zoom H1.

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find-price-button Small Stainless Steel Metal Belt Clips