I’m looking to buying a cheaper camcorder to record a few things here and there, as well as an upcoming video project. The one I’m almost set on getting is the new Canon FS100 model that records to flash memory cards (I don’t care about internal memory so the other FS models don’t appeal to me).
The camcorder has a microphone input jack (3.5mm mini). I’m decently savvy when it comes to video, but totally clueless about audio. If I plug in a microphone with a mini jack, will it be recording in mono or stereo? Or does it just depend on the microphone? In the future I’ll probably get an XLR adapter but for now I’d like to just be able to plug a lavalier or shotgun mic directly into the camera and get some decent stereo audio.
Also, there seems to be a lot of conflicting information on the web whether various mics (especially the lavaliers) require external power supplies. Do computers provide mics power through the plug, but camcorders don’t? For example, I was considering this mic: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/334837-REG/Sony_ECMCS10_ECM_CS10_Stereo_Lavalier_Microphone.html until I read an Amazon review stating “2-Way power supply offers plug-in power with selected Sony or Aiwa portable recorders only” and that a battery unit (not included) is necessary to use it on other recorders.
Finally, I’d like the ability to wear headphones and monitor the audio while recording. Unfortunately it looks like the Canon FS100 does not have a headphone jack, but it does have a small AV out jack which apparently comes with a cable that combines the red white and yellow RCA jacks into one cable so you can view output on a TV. My question is, is there anyway I can plug a pair of headphones into this jack and get whatever the mic is recording? Do adapters exist for this?
Thanks in advance! Who would think that improving a camcorder’s audio would be such a big headache. :smack: