Mic Check

The above video was recorded using the Automatic Audio function on the Canon D600 cameras. The sound quality in this recording is, quite frankly, below par in comparison to the sound quality used in most professional recordings. It also has severe flaws in the fact that it appears to have an omnidirectional polar pattern, so picks up sound from every direction, therefore if a scene was being filmed on location, there would be a lot of unwanted background noise that gets picked up.


This video was recorded using an external stereo mic, the Zoom H. This recording has far superior sound quality, and even stereophonic sound, which is when there is a significant difference between the left and right speakers. This mic actually consists of 2 separate microphones, each of which having a cardioid polar pattern, so sound is only picked up from where the microphones are being pointed, therefore eliminating most unwanted background noise.


The fina video was recorded with a Boom or Shotgun microphone, and the sound quality in this clip is significantly better than when recorded with just the audio function on the camera, as the mic can be placed directly overhead the subject, therefore capturing crystal clear quality sound. The Boom mic also has a supercardioid directional response, therefore only picking up sound from where the boom is overhead and not the sides, so even more background noise is eliminated.