Recommended microphone for camcorder?

[yetanotherlogin]

Hello,

I bought a Sony HDR-PJ30 camcorder a few years ago.



It supports using an external microphone and the plug says "MIC (PLUG IN POWER)".

To record an interview with a dedicated microphone and avoid catching any surrounding noise (echo, traffic, etc.), what affordable micrphone would you recommend ?

Also, should I add a small sound mixer board between the micrphone and the camcorder, so as to manage the audio input fed to the camcorder?

Thank you.

[aedipuss]

it's best to record the audio separately and mix in post. camcorders do a bad job with audio.

[flashandpan007]

What about pro camcorders with XLR inputs?

[julitomg]

What about pro camcorders with XLR inputs?

Pro camcorders? well, they are great.
Now, for the OP´s question (since he already has a camcorder), well, it depends on many things, usually a shotgun microphone will help or at least produce better sound tah the camcorder´s built in mic. Rode is a well known brand with several models to choose from, with good sound quality and a lower price than other more Pro brands (like Senheisser or Shure), also there are other brands, some a lot cheaper, but most are designed to be mounted on a camera´s cold shoe which I think your camcorder doesn´t have, you´ll need to figure out some way of mounting it (if yo want it "on board") or have someone else handle the microphone (either with a hand mount or a boom pole), you´ll need an extension cable (stereo miniplug male to female), that´ll be fine if you´re interviewing someone, as the boom person can be close to the subject just making sure the microphone doesn´t get into the frame.
You may also want to check out wireless microphones, specially if your main interest are interviews, there are some inexpensive lavalier kits. In either case if you come across a microphone you like but has an XLR connector, there are also XLR to miniplug adapters available.

[aedipuss]

LOL all audio should be recorded separately. video cams do video and audio recorders do audio without extra compression.

[flashandpan007]

overkill

[flashandpan007]

to get back: here you can get some microphones and don't pay too much:
https://www.thomann.de/de/video_kameramikrofone.html?oa=pra
just select your language and it should be fine

[chris319]

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/857043-REG/juicedLink_RM333_RM333_Riggy_Micro_Low_Noise.html

[smrpix]

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/857043-REG/juicedLink_RM333_RM333_Riggy_Micro_Low_Noise.html

Since that one's no longer available..

I've been using these happily for many, many years.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/672719-REG/Beachtek_DXA_2T_DXA_2T_Universal_Comp...Camcorder.html