AFVO Aluminium Triple Hot Shoe Mount

Back in July (2019) made a post saying that I would need a extension bracket for my camera hot shoe mount if I wanted to use the Neewer NW759 field monitor and RODE VideoMicro microphone at the same time.  In that posted looked at this one > here.  In the means time have found a much better one that will fit my needs.   It is much smaller and can hold three things.  It is the AFVO aluminium triple shot shoe mount.  The price was right, $15.00.  So ordered one.  Should be there some time next week.

Cold Shoe Extension Bracket

Have run into a problem I didn’t even think about.  Now that I have a Neewer NW759 field monitor.  This sits on top my camera using the cold shoe mount.  The problem is, if I need to use my RODE VideoMicro.  This needs the cold shoe mount as well.  Sure I could use the monitor not attached to the camera.  But if you want to move it, that would be a pain.  Got looking on Amazon.ca for some options.  Found some extension brackets.  Just need to find the right one for my needs.  The do have a nice two shoe mount extension bracket.  With of a nice price.  You can see it > here.  Just need tot measure to see how long I need one to be.

Audacity

A few post back talked about audio hiss problem I was having with my Cannon EOS Rebel T5i.  After looking up help on the found a great tutorial > here.  The tutorial uses the program Audacity.   Well I gave this a try.  Recorded a small video, something like he did.  Followed the steps.  Must say it worked great.  The hiss sound was gone.

The small problem I ran into was trying to import my video file into Audacity.  There is an easy fix for that as well.  You just need to install two plugins, LAME and FFmpeg libraries.  This is pretty easy as well.  In the program you navigate to Preferences then Libraries.  There are buttons to download LAME or FFmpeg.  They both take you to the same page.  Download the both files and install.  Once they were installed imported the video clip.  The audio is there.  So did what the guy said in the tutorial.  Exported the audio as a wav file.  Imported that file into my editing program.  Then replaced the original audio with the fixed one.  Was very happy with the results.

Removing Audio Hiss

Had some time to play around with my new Cannon EOS Rebel T5i.  Have an external microphone attached, RODE VideoMicro.  Am still learning all the features and what not.  While playing back some videos.  There is this very annoying hissing sound.  I knew I would have to adjust the audio level manually.  Which is pretty easy to do.  Just have to learn what is the best setting for that.  The biggest thing I learned was about removing the hiss with the program Audacity.  This program has been around for a long time.  Used it a few times back on my first computer.  Found a great tutorial on YouTube.  You can see that > here.   Plan to run some more test to get the video and audio just right.

RODE VideoMicro Test

Have made a few post all ready about the RODE VideoMicro.  Well got around to testing it out.  I don’t own an HD camera with a mic port (yet?).  So I hooked it up to my Canon FS 10.  Have owned this video camera since 2008.  Never used a microphone on it.  All so haven’t used the camera in years.  So had to look up how to set it up.

The first thing I did was film some gameplay while the camera was pointed at the TV.  Then plugged in the microphone.  The RODE VideoMicro doesn’t need a battery.  You just have to plug it into the 3.5 mm jack.  Played around with some setting to see if the camera would recognize.  Wasn’t sure if it worked.  So played the same game as before.  Put the files on the computer to if it worked.  Well didn’t have any luck.  The video with the mic plugged in didn’t have any sound at all.  So looked back at the manual for the camera.  From what I read.  I think it will only work with microphone that has it’s own power.  Will try one more time to be sure.

RODE VideoMicro

Few post back talked about the RODE VideoMicro and that I ordered one.  Well it showed up at my door yesterday.  It is smaller than I thought it would be.  This is fine because it will make it easier to use.  You can see some pictures below.  Plan to run some tests.  With out and with it on my camera.  Just to see (well hear) the differences.

 

  

 

RODE VideoMicro

A few months back make a post talking about a new project my brother and I are working.  It is a YouTube channel.  We are still in the planning phase.  I am in charge of the tech side.  The biggest hurdle I think will audio.  So have been looking into on camera shotgun microphones.  There is a lot of options out there.  Most of them are cost a lot.  We don’t need a high end one.  Since I don’t have any high end cameras.  Plus we are just starting out.  There is lots of time to upgrade in the future.

Have found one that will work prefect for what we want to do.  It is a RODE VideoMicro.   RODE is a very famous brand of audio equipment.  Most of which is high end stuff.  This model is designed for DLSR cameras as well as phones and GoPro’s.  So the price point is more for the everyday person.  So ordered on yesterday.  Should be here sometime this week.  Will be back with some pictures.

Rode VideoMicro

While looking into making regular YouTube videos.  Audio is the biggest hurled I think I have.  Been looking at microphones.  There are all kinds out there.  For the most part all the good ones cost lots of money.   Want to get a shotgun microphone.  This is the best option for the type of videos I would like to make.  The brand Rode are one of best out there.  Of course they cost lots of money.  The found out they make a smaller, more affordable one.  That is designed for DSLR cameras and phones.  It is called VideoMicro.  As I am typing this (March 17, 2017) Amazon.ca is asking $79.00.  That seems like a great prices.  But first I will have to looking into get a camera that it will hook up to.