Audio Gear

Zoom-H5-Handy-Recorder

You can spend a lot of money on audio equipment, but I had used a very simple set-up on a lot of my productions – including a feature-length film – with great results. It consisted of the Zoom H4 portable audio recorder, and the RODE NTG-2 shotgun microphone (with a boompole, blimp, windscreen, etc.).

Since then, I have upgraded to newer versions of this recorder and mic. Here is what I currently use

Rode-NTG-4+-shotgun-microphone

Zoom H5 Handy Recorder on BH Photo Video, Adorama, Henry’s, eBay, Amazon, Amazon Canada, Amazon UK, Amazon Germany

Rode NTG 4+ shotgun microphone on B&H, Adorama, Henry’s, eBay, Amazon, Amazon.ca, Amazon UK, Amazon.de

The Rode NTG-2 mic is still a good option – and it is much cheaper than the NTG-4+. You can get it here: B&H, Adorama, Henry’s, eBay, Amazon, Amazon.ca, Amazon UK, Amazon.de

Zoom-F8-Multi-Track-Field-Recorder

If you want an even better audio recorder, with 8 tracks, a safety track, and other great features, then I would get this one

Zoom F8 Multi-Track Field Recorder on B&H, Adorama, Henry’s, eBay, Amazon, Amazon.ca, Amazon.de

Rode-RodeLink-Wireless-Filmmaker-Kit

Sometimes you cannot use a shotgun mic in a scene, and you’re better off using wireless lav microphones. Although some people complain about the reliability of wireless microphones, the following kit from Rode has never failed me. I strongly recommend it.

Rode RodeLink Wireless Filmmaker Kit on B&H, Adorama, Henry’s, eBay, Amazon, Amazon.ca, Amazon UK, Amazon.de

I have a post where I talk more in depth about my audio set-up on films. It also lists all the audio accessories I use. You can check it out here.

I also have a video where I directly compare these three portable audio recorders: Zoom H6, Zoom H5 and Tascam DR-40. You can check out my tests here.

If you want to find out how I used my old audio set-up (with NTG-2 and Zoom H4) on my documentary “Montañita: Beach Life”, then please check out Tutorial 19.

3 thoughts on “Audio Gear”

  1. Hi guys,

    I just bought a Zoom F8 audio recorder and recently downloaded the 3.0 firmware. I don’t know how to operate the whole devise and need help, if you have video tutorials on how to operate it I would really appreciate it.

    Thanks!

  2. I was in the market to buy a recorder and I ultimately went with the Sound Devices Mixpre-6. Mostly because Sound Devices are often used in the industry, but also, how small that unit is.
    In the hindsight, I might have picked the Zoom F8. Why? Because of the timecode option. With MixPre, you don’t get a timecode generator unless you go all the way to MixPre-10T (T version is for timecode).

    Mixpres have slightly better pre-amps than the Zooms. But with a good condenser microphone, the difference is so small that the microphone placement and technique will be more important.

    Mixpre-6 can take timecode input. So if you have a sony A7iii for example, the HDMI can output a timecode into MixPre as well it can automatically trigger sound recording when the camera starts recording video. It’s also very small so you can just mount it at the bottom of the camera.
    However, if you need a separate timecode generator and are not concerned with size the Zoom F8 might be a better option.

  3. I’ve had great luck with the Zoom H5. Its fairly inexpensive and for a little more coin you can make it a 4 mic recorder that works very well. Having individual gain knobs is really nice rather than having to adjust them in menus with a rocker switch.

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