Buy a mic, or continue saving for HV...?

[Ronster]

I've been saving over the past couple months to invest in a lot of new things to help with my filmmaking tic.
I'd like to buy an HV30 and a Twoneil adapter, along with a new Audio-Technica mic: the AT875 (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/495302-REG/Audio_Technica_AT875R_AT875_Short_Condenser_Shotgu n.html) It's a little old, but cheaper.

As of now, I only have about $300 saved up...now I know that's not much, but I think it is when you are only doing small-time paiting jobs and work around the house.
I figure I prolly won't have enough saved up until around Christmas time for most of the things I need...
I've already got a small, miniDV camera with a mic imput and headphone jack...
So here is my question, should I buy the mic first and play around and experiment with that, getting used to working with a higher quality mic and using an actual shotgun and boom? Or should I wait to buy the camera first? Or should I just wait and buy everything all together?

Thanks in advance!

[PadawanGeek]

Save up to be able to get something like an Azden SGM-1x (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/238826-REG/Azden_SGM_1X_SGM_1X_Shotgun_Mic.html)($150) and an HV30 at the same time. You will not regret it.

I have the HV30 and SGM-1x and love them!

[Ronster]

Hmmm...thanks for the suggestion--seems like a great mic form some reviews (including yours).
Is it xlr?
I'm looking more for the use of the mic as a shotgun, rather than mounted on the camera.

[sanftner2003]

Here's what i've done a few times. it will enable you to get a NEW Camera NOW for as little as $150.

Go to QVC.com or HSN.com (they are the websites of those 2 major shop at home tv channels).

Find their cameras. Between those 2 sites, there are probably 50 video cameras ranging from $200-$1,000.

Almost all of them allow "flex pay". which allows you to buy a camera for the same amount listed, except that instead of paying all at once, you can py it off in 4 monthly payments. The good thing is that you receive the camera in about 2 days after yoru first payment.

Now, I know that most of you here are young and do not have a credit card to make the purchase. But the beauty of it is that you can even use your debit card from your checking account.

But I'll assume that you dont have a checking account either.

So here is what you do...................

go to walmart, or walgreens, or your local major chain gas station. But a prepaid visa or masterard. (usually a Green-Dot brand)

Put on exactly the amount that your first payment cost.

you will receive a card number.

Go back to the wesbite and 'buy' the item with your new card.

In 2 days or so, you should receive your new camera.

Now, it is possible to just not make any further payments once you receive your camera, but I would not recommend it. Nor is it the right thing to do, and it could come back and bit you on the ass.

I recently used this way of purchaseing my vixia hf10 from QVC.com and I absolutely love it.

The camera was listed for around $950 or so, but after a 5 minute trip to walgreens, and $220 later, I made my order and received my camera a couple days later.

And that is how I was able to get a camera that costs almost $1,000 for only $250.

It's very easy, and qucik. And literally ANYBODY with the first monthly payment can get one. Even if you are as young as 14 years old.

You can try it.

[MiniMogul27]

Regarding saftner's post, the camera is only $250 for a month, then you have to pay more. Also, I highly recommend against any sort of monthly payment. It's better to save up and spend it all at once.

You might as well buy the mic now, because you will need it for your HV. If you buy an XLR mic you will need an adaptor cable. They work, but add a bit of hiss (or so I read). I'm sure there's someone here with firsthand experience.

[riprocker2008]

save your pennies, a good camera will serve you better.

[rick3000]

It is up to you what you want first. A decent microphone will last you much longer than a camcorder. Sound if half (maybe even more) than half the movie, so if you already have a camera you have somethings to consider.

[Macaholic]

I have the AT875, and i love it. I have it on a boom pole and it is nice. I had the extra money, but i still went with the AT875 because it was said to have better "indoor" use, since thats where u use the mic the most.

[happyhands man]

continue saving

[Nonsensical studios]

Save up to be able to get something like an Azden SGM-1x (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/238826-REG/Azden_SGM_1X_SGM_1X_Shotgun_Mic.html)($150) and an HV30 at the same time. You will not regret it.

I have the HV30 and SGM-1x and love them!


this

[Ronster]

You might as well buy the mic now, because you will need it for your HV. If you buy an XLR mic you will need an adaptor cable. They work, but add a bit of hiss (or so I read). I'm sure there's someone here with firsthand experience.

Will this work?
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/133646-REG/Comprehensive_XLRJ_MPS_18INEXF_EXF_Stereo_Mini_Mal e.html
Or will I still get hiss?

I have the AT875, and i love it. I have it on a boom pole and it is nice. I had the extra money, but i still went with the AT875 because it was said to have better "indoor" use, since thats where u use the mic the most.

Does it still work well outdoors?
I'd like something versatile to use both out doors and indoors.



Oh and regarding what Sanftner said:
I don't to have to constantly be making payments every month... I would way rather just pay it all up front and not have to deal with this...

[PadawanGeek]

Will this work?
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/133646-REG/Comprehensive_XLRJ_MPS_18INEXF_EXF_Stereo_Mini_Mal e.html
Or will I still get hiss?

That is perfect, as long as you get a mic that has a built in battery (Azden SGM-1x is what I use and what you should get) I just got a cable like that yesterday and at a short distance like that one, the hiss is not noticeable.

[Ronster]

That is perfect, as long as you get a mic that has a built in battery (Azden SGM-1x is what I use and what you should get) I just got a cable like that yesterday and at a short distance like that one, the hiss is not noticeable.

But even if I bought, let's say ... a 20' xlr cable (I want to use the mic as a shotgun boom for dialogue), would that still produce hiss? I thought xlr didn't have a drop in quality or real noticeable hiss over longer distances as compared to a 1/8'' cord...

[PadawanGeek]

But even if I bought, let's say ... a 20' xlr cable (I want to use the mic as a shotgun boom for dialogue), would that still produce hiss? I thought xlr didn't have a drop in quality or real noticeable hiss over longer distances as compared to a 1/8'' cord...

If you need want to use the mic on a boom, then you will need something like a BeachTek DXA-2s (http://beachtek.com/dxa2s.html).

[Macaholic]

Does it still work well outdoors?
I'd like something versatile to use both out doors and indoors.


It was my first and only mic, i do both indoor and outdoor things, it is phantom powered so u will need something with phantom power, not batteries.
literally everything on my vimeo account was shot with that mic: www.vimeo.com/lorensimons/videos

[MiniMogul27]

Ronster: That is the wrong cable. It lacks a matching transformer. This is the one you need:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/423360-REG/Hosa_Technology_MIT_156_MIT_156_Low_to_High.html

[Ronster]

If you need want to use the mic on a boom, then you will need something like a BeachTek DXA-2s (http://beachtek.com/dxa2s.html).

What exactly does that do?

[freakonaleash223]

it allows u to plug the Azden into ur camera, since it is an XLR microphone