The built-in microphones on the camera are good mics. They will be adequate for many situations, but not all. It is always worth getting better sound quality and for very little effort you can hugely improve your audio.

If you are taking control of your audio, your main aim is to get as much of the sound of your primary subject within the frame as possible, with as little background sound/interference as possible. External sounds, ambient noise, footsteps and belches can be added in editing – don’t forget to record ambient tracks and audio cutaways separately to your main shots. High levels of background sound and muddy audio cannot be dealt with in editing, you will have to scrap the shot and reshoot if necessary.

Always get both good, clean sync sound of your primary subject, and also record enough 'atmos' (background sound) of the environment to cover your entire scene in the edit - it may or may not be necessary, but you won't know that until you get to the edit suite. Little chunks of sound obtained whilst doing cutaways will not do, you need decent sized clips.

Check to see if the mic has an on/off switch. If it is battery-powered ensure it is switched off when you have finished using it.

The mic will pick up "handling noise" when you move your hand around on the mic casing. Do not let the mic or the leads rub against your clothing, and do not bump the mic, especially if you are wearing headphones.

If there is an unexpected noise in your atmos track (eg a plane or train in the distance), always keep recording until it has faded. This makes editing easier, but you should re-record the shot if possible. If it is your job to monitor sound don't neglect to communicate the sound quality to the rest of the crew.

About the different microphones
Different microphones are available for different jobs. The main difference between them is in their directional characteristics (or how far in which direction they pick up sound).

To use the internal mic set the Audio In CH/CH1 switch to Front (located behind the closed LCD screen) and ensure there is nothing plugged into the Front External Mic Jack (located on the front of the camera just above the zoom grip).

Whenever possible you should use a microphone more suited to the shot than the all-purpose built-in mic. Plug it into the XLR socket on the back of the camera and set the Audio In Switch to Rear for the appropriate channel. Also on the back panel is a switch marked Mic/Line. Mic is balanced for microphones, whilst Line is the setting for sound from a mixer. Adjust the Audio Level on the side panel so as the level averages at 0dB. If there are many louder sounds you will need to reduce this a bit otherwise you will get distortion when the sound level peaks. If your sound levels do not look right you can adjust the overall response in the Camera Mode Menu. Also in this menu, check that you are recording 16bit sound rather than 12bit which is lower quality. 12bit allows 4 channel sound, but more of that later.

In the Camera Menu, if you set Wind Cut to on the noise of the wind hitting the microphone will be slightly reduced. However, the quality of bass sounds will be reduced, so check it is off unless you need it.

The rifle mics, being very directional will bring background sounds within their range closer and should be pointed up or down towards the sound source to stop them picking up unwanted background noise. If the background is sky or floor there is less chance of picking up unwanted noise (unless you are on a flight path or near a busy road).

Levels
The “auto gain” setting should be left on unless you have had a chance to monitor your sound levels. You should adjust the audio level to its optimum setting using the Menu options and the dials on the side panel.

Do sound checks as often as possible. If an interview is being set up, take a minute before it starts get the people to speak as they intend to during the interview. Check your levels and adjust your microphones giving whatever instructions are necessary. Remember, only the person doing the soundcheck will hear what is going on in the headphones – they will need to communicate something about that to other members of the crew.

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Intro - Camera - Controls - Zoom - Tripod - Shot Categories - Movements - Sequences - Composition - Audio - Better Sound - The Procedure

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