Reddit reviews TAKSTAR SGC-598 Interview Microphone for Nikon/Canon Camera/DV Camcorder

I'm gonna offer my two cents here, I hope this helps:

Here is pretty much exactly what I would buy with that amount of money:

1. G7 with 14-42 Kit Lens - 497 on Adorama w/ a $50 gift card. here.
   
   
2. use that $50 to get yourself a couple of 64GB Transcend Class 10 SD Cards. here.
   
   
3. For a tripod, this Amazon Basics fluid head is a great value at $65, but frequently goes on sale for $35-$45. here.
   
   
4. Low light on the kit lens sucks, you can solve that by grabbing some FD lenses on eBay. I'd go for 50mm 1.4 and 28mm 2.8 as a start. Each can be had for ~$50.
   
   
5. To use those lenses on your G7, you'll need a simple, cheap adapter. Find that here.
   
   
6. For audio, you can get surprisingly good sound out of this cheap, cold shoe mountable shotgun right here.
   
   I believe that totals a little less than $700 for an enviable amount of non garbage, budget friendly equipment. You can even add some lighting and still stay under that bundle price.

The D3200 has an external mic input, so you can buy an inexpensive external mic like the Takstar SGC-598. I bought one for my D3200 and it massively improved the quality of the recorded audio.

Yeah, make sure it's charged. Try to test it with a phone. The way it splits into two looks gimmicky, I suspect you have a bad mic or something isn't plugged in right. You might want to send it back for an exchange.

If you can't do a Rode Video Micro, this alternative has good reviews:
Movo VXR10 Universal Video Microphone with Shock Mount, Deadcat Windscreen, Case for iPhone, Android Smartphones, Canon EOS, Nikon DSLR Cameras and Camcorders https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0723D3FVL/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_ZDdMDb5BMNV1V

This is an even cheaper mic, a bit larger, but it's surprisingly good, rivals the original Rode VideoMic:
TAKSTAR SGC-598 Interview Microphone for Nikon/Canon Camera/DV Camcorder https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E58AA0I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_KGdMDbNG7HMBK

Don’t forget a mic. this mic should be all you need to get started. It’s a great mic that punches well above its price class. But please don’t forget about audio. I know you stated “I won’t do much of that” but audio is so damn important and this mic is so cheap that you can’t afford not to pick one up. Even for tiny bits of audio it will make your stuff sound 1000times better and audio is often what separates the people with pretty images from people making truly great videos. And definitely a big factor in what separates amateurs from professionals. I guarantee you’ll use/need/want quality audio way more than you think. For under 30$ bucks it will be the best investment you make. Much more important than a new camera IMO.

It's good, my buddy has that one, but it's hard to tell the difference between that and my $29 taskar mic.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00E58AA0I/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1521095013&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=taskar+microphone&dpPl=1&dpID=41mBUtB2sJL&ref=plSrch

So heres a curve ball for you. Ive used a ton of mics in the past and have realized that most of them are expensive mainly because of the name. I recently purchased this Takstar mic and have been blown away with its performance. For example, here is a video i did only using this $25 mic. Mind you this audio isnt even edited. I had the AC running which is the constant white noise you hear. https://youtu.be/mea39_6Xidc?t=147

Rode Shotgun (if its in your price range, there are cheaper) http://amzn.to/2cqqWVA ($200+)
Takstar mic - http://amzn.to/2cqqA10 ($24) got really good reviews and claimed that it's the same manufacturer as the rode?
Recorder: H1 - http://amzn.to/2c6zbJS ($90)
Lav: Rode Smartlav - http://amzn.to/2cqofTU ($80)
Cheaper Lav - http://amzn.to/2c0jWh6 ($18) works just as well
Trrs - Trs adaptor - http://amzn.to/2c6zbJS ($15)

Hope this helps, check out my gear list if you have any questions!

https://medium.com/@IndiemarchFilm/wedding-season-gear-list-eda046d9749a#.rhqzcw6d9

i have one of these takstars. for what you're paying, it's a huge upgrade from an onboard mic. there's videos of people compairing it with the rode mics and it holds it own pretty well.

I would say pretty much do what everyone else has said, but if you are still set on getting a shoe-mount mic, don't get the Rode. Get this thing: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E58AA0I/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2JWDL4YMPY6SP&coliid=I38DDYBSAL4YB6&psc=1

I've used both, as well as a few sennheisers and others mounted on my T3i, and for my money, the Takstar has sounded as good if not better than most of them. Max Yuryev did a video comparing the two: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6Dwrd3mMX0

Congrats on your new camera! As a general rule of thumb, having purchased hundreds of thousands worth of gear over my career, it's best to invest in the best glass that your budget can allow. Lenses generally hold their value over time and as long as you take care of them, can last decades. They will certainly outlive your camera. That said, the lens that you've chosen is fine as a starter, but I think you'll quickly outgrow it. Look for a faster lens (lower f-stop) if you can afford it. Personally, I went the route of going with vintage prime lenses that are cheaper but still great quality. I added a Metabones Speedbooster to be able to mount them. Higher up-front cost for you, but if this is more than just a hobby, I think it's a good investment.

The other thing I would add is an onboard microphone. A cheap one that is actually pretty good is this no-name brand one. The built-in microphone is pretty much useless.

Those are the bare essentials, in my opinion. I actually do okay with a handful of EN-EL20 batteries. They're cheap and compact. Just don't expect to record long events or anything beyond 20-30 minutes. You can get an external battery pack for not too expensive, though. If you have the budget, I'd also recommend a cage to protect, provide stability, and get extra mounting points. Hope that helps! Oh, and you may also want to hit up bmcuser.com for more info.

Don't underestimate some peoples' desires towards production quality, though! I bought an external DSLR microphone recently just so our GW-spinoff stuff would be better quality, and I'm beginning to pay attention towards lighting, too.

Yeah the reviews are not exactly inspiring me to upgrade yet either. I wouldn't be shocked if the GH5 gets some sort of a patch or Mark II or something, I'm going to wait it out.

You could always get an extension bracket take off the mount and screw one side directly into the H1, and on the other side run a shotgun mic. Believe it or not this can hold its own with the Rode for the price points. I have one I've used as backup before and used the audio professionally. Also if you get a mini tripod you can set that zoom up places and let it roll, or put the windcap on and let your kids play news reporter.

For what you're describing, the video camera sounds like it would be sufficient.

Rode's are OK, but I think they're a bit overpriced and not all that awesome for the price. For the money, Takstar makes a widely-touted knockoff that many people feel sounds better. It sells for about $25. Link here: https://www.amazon.com/TAKSTAR-SGC-598-Interview-Microphone-Camcorder/dp/B00E58AA0I/ref=sr_1_5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1537758700&sr=1-5&keywords=video+microphone

You also might consider a wired lavaliere mic. There are several on Amazon from about $20-30. I always have a few as backups and frequently use them as primaries, too. Here's one that's pretty highly rated: https://www.amazon.com/Professional-Microphone-Omnidirectional-Recording-Conference/dp/B01AG56HYQ/ref=sr_1_6?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1537758700&sr=1-6&keywords=video+microphone

Best of luck!

​

Here’s my 2 cents from someone who has done both professional video and amateur photography. Don’t get any of those kits. Almost everything is cheaper/better quality buying separately.

First, the body. I love the rebel series so I think a T7 is more than fine with what your trying to do right now. As someone who also has a “family camera” (aka I do all the family photos and some video), I personally have a 70D but I have used the T’s a lot and they are decent. My only recommendation is to by a referb from canon directly. They are usually $100-$200 cheaper and (from what I have seen) no difference in quality.

As you rightly pointed out, lenses are going to be the most important and most expensive thing that you buy (more than likely). Personally for a first lens, I would go with a nifty fifty (canon 50mm 1.8). It’s about $100 and it is fantastic for both photos and video for that price point. Plus, unless you are planning on getting a light kit of some sort you will probably want the addition aperture room for low light (unless you are doing video outside). There is a reason why it is the most recommended lens for amateurs. I personally have shot tons of portraits, music videos, and just other general video/pictures with this lens and even though I (now) have a few others I keep coming back to this one.

I don’t know much about audio, but I have heard some decent things about the rode mic. There is also an off-brand version of the rode mix (what I use) called [Takstar](TAKSTAR SGC-598 Interview Microphone for Nikon/Canon Camera/DV Camcorder https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E58AA0I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_S1M1BbAP1Z3QC). It seems to be pretty decent for amateur stuff, so it might be good enough for your purposes with the added bonus of being 1/3 the price. But I’m sure that someone can speak more to the audio than I can.

One place to absolutely NOT skimp on/don’t buy in a kit is a tripod. For the most part, the more expensive a tripod is, the better quality it is. Not always true, but for the most part the materials that are used to make tripods are just expensive. If you want a metal tripod, which you probably do since the plastic ones wear out easily and can’t hold much weight.

Anyway, just my thoughts!

If you are a newb and want something that sounds better than an on camera mic, i'd buy this and screw it into a monopod.

https://www.amazon.com/TAKSTAR-SGC-598-Interview-Microphone-Camcorder/dp/B00E58AA0I

I have a videomic too and they are pretty much on par but with a 1/10 of the cost.

Also, it's 3.5mm, so you won't need to get a field mixer.

When your movies get so good that you need better sound, then hire a sound guy or pay $500 for a nice mic.

My opinion.

Depends on what you're trying to film. If you're looking to do interviews something like the Aputure A.Lav or RODE smartLav+ work great. They plug into your phone and let you record the sound.

If you're doing something where you want more ambient or background noise (travel videos/etc), I would go for something like the Zoom H1, and then get a Takstar SGC-598 to plug into it. You could mount them both to your camera, or have them off camera somewhere else.

Syncing the audio after is actually really easy. If you're using Premiere all you have to do is drag the video and audio clips onto your timeline, select both clips, right click select Synchronize, select the Audio option at the bottom and then Premiere will sync them both for you. Keep in mind that the video clip will still need audio in order to sync, so you still need to record with the internal camera mic when filming. If you're not using Premiere or software that can sync them together, just make a loud clap on camera (or ask your filming subject to clap) at the beginning of the recording, and then go and sync the clap sound with the frame when your hands come together.

Yeah. I might test out another USB mic that I've had for years; I bought it about 5 years ago: CAD U37. This is what I used to use with some of my older videos on Youtube. Then I got a TAKSTAR shotgun mic to hook up to my mirrorless camera. I might compare those two with the Insignia. We'll see! I mostly did it to avoid doing homework lol

As for the stereo, it's not the most accurate, but I do like how deep it sounds. Would have to play with the placement of it in relation to the board; I don't have a mic stand/arm that fits the threading that it has. It uses a smaller mount.

No.

Get a $23 Takstar SGC-598 mic and strap it to the top of your camera. Is it perfect? No. But it records nicely and no one watching my film notices the difference.

Good luck.

Thanks!

Just a couple more questions
Someone suggested a cheap shotgun mic that provides comparable audio quality to the more expensive rode mics. Here it is: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E58AA0I/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Could it go along with the tascam instead of the rode?

One last thing about the dual audio setup. So if I have the right idea, pretty much what's going on is that the shotgun mic (is the only one recording), and it records to the tascam? So having the shotgun mic record to the tascam provides much better quality then if it were recording to the camera?

Thank and sorry for all the questions!

> Tascam dr 22wl

Your Tascam with it's XY is going to pick up everything in the room, just about. That'll be great for family videos, but if you want to shoot anything dramatic or promotional, a lav mic would be your best bet.

Personally, I was in a pinch one day and got this cheap shotgun mic and it's slightly warmer and has a slightly fuller sound than my more expensive AudioTechnica shotgun. Trouble is, both of them start to suck at over 5 feet away, so that's why I suggest a lav.

Other than that, does that Tascam have both a headphone AND a line out? I use a Tascam DR-80 and I use the line out just as /u/HybridCamRev suggested, so I can match audio nicely.

Get a Takstar shotgun mic: amazon (only $27 USD!!)

To anyone other than video / audio professionals, the audio quality difference is unnoticeable when compared to the rode video mic pro. Just tried it out for the first time on a wedding a couple weeks ago and it was fantastic. Incredibly useful investment.

From reading the other comments I'm guessing you don't so I would either get a used camera or use your phone. The budget of yours is quite limiting to fit in audio, lighting and a decent camera however it may work if you get a slightly older camera.

I would get the t3i body only which you can get at an average of $300. This has an articulating screen, good for interviews, and is still a good beginner camera years on from when it was released. The lens I would get is the YONGYUO YN50mm f.18 which is an cheap autofocus lens at a fixed distance to achieve the best quality.

For microphones I would reccommend the Takstar SGC-598 which is really cheap and surprisingly good. You can put this on a mic stand and get it as close to both the interviewer and the interviewee for the best sound. You will then need a wire to connect it to the camera. However if you have extra money you can save up for a Zoom h1 which you plug the mic into and it records seperately for better audio.

All in all this kit will cost you $500 for just the audio and no lighting. This would cost you about $50 extra for softboxes however if you shoot in daylight it will be much easier and require less lighting.

Another kit you could try is using your phone for video and then buying just audio and lighting. For this I would get the Rode Videomic Pro, the Zoom h1, a mic stand, a softbox lighting kit (2 lights) and any other things like memory cards etc. This would cost you around $400.

Are you using a DSLR camera? If so, start of with something cheap like this. Start off with trying to get good audio of voices, and when you're comfortable with that, try and get good audio of things you are seeing (ex. if someone puts their glass on the table in your short film, go back and record the sound of the glass being put on the table and insert the audio to sync up with the video)

I recommend the TAKSTAR SGC - 598 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E58AA0I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_n4HFzbPQPT5RG (as said in another comment)

For Film, your best bet is to invest in a follow focus so that you can manually focus on various subjects with precise focus and so you have full control. I often times end up using my ZOOM H1 with a hot shoe to tripod adapter piece and just use my Zoom an external mic since you'll need one anyway to record external audio. If you would like to use autofocus while filming, my advice would be to invest in a quiet lens. I've heard that the popular Sigma 18-35mm f1.8 is really quiet and has stunning results. That's just my 2 cents.

You can also use a rig/hotshoe adapters to lift the mic further from the camera/lens.

Also I chose these over the Rode mics and have no regrets but lots more money in my pocket:

TAKSTAR SGC-598 Interview Microphone for Nikon/Canon Camera/DV Camcorder https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E58AA0I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_n4HFzbPQPT5RG

https://www.amazon.com/TAKSTAR-SGC-598-Interview-Microphone-Camcorder/dp/B00E58AA0I

you can probably find it even cheaper on ebay

https://www.amazon.com/TAKSTAR-SGC-598-Interview-Microphone-Camcorder/dp/B00E58AA0I/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?crid=3C19XG3R3J46M&keywords=shotgun+dslr+mic&qid=1556856695&s=gateway&sprefix=shotgun+dslr&sr=8-5

As PM said, you need a fluid head for your tripod, specifically for video. The fluid head, well, allows your pans and tilts to be fluid. Cheaper heads will make it tougher to be smooth, more jerky.

The Manfrotto 502 as recommended is great. The ball head you have is a photo head, great for stills, not so much for video. But if you don’t plan on renting a tripod, as PM said PRACTICE with your tripod - a lot - EVERYDAY from now until the shoot. AND check your footage on your computer, not your camera screen, using as big a screen as your can so you can easily see what you did well and what you did wrong.

If you shoot & upload some samples to YouTube/vimeo, post a link - would love to see and give feedback. I’m sure others here would as well.

Also recommend a decent shotgun mic for the camera. The internal mic won’t cut it for outdoor work. If you need a decent cheap option, I went with the Takstar SGC-598 for $30. Not the best, but close to a Rode in performance. You could also get one of the Rode mini mics, but this one has its own power, which is important for more volume control.

TAKSTAR SGC-598
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E58AA0I?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

I have a Movo VXR40. It might not be ideal due to the long wire and the fact that the shoe mount needs to be epoxied for better stability, but I've found it to be quite useful. I have a boom stand and I ended up using it with my Zoom H4n and boom instead of on my camera shoe.

Rode is a well-respected brand, but they are pricey and you can get better on-camera mics for less money, albeit at a visual aesthetic penalty (but let's be honest: who cares what your mic looks like?) The "affordable" Rode mics get lackluster reviews and are not very good; I'd buy nothing lower than the VideoMic Pro due to various issues I've read and listened to in comparison tests.

If I wanted an on-camera mic on the cheap today, I'd go with the ~$30 Takstar SGC-598 as can be heard compared against two cheaper Rode mics in this video where it gives the Rode mics a run for their money.

Two caveats: on-camera audio sucks, even with a good mic; you'll get better audio if a mic on a boom stand is an option; also, the G7 heavily compresses audio to 128 Kbps AAC which is not suitable for a significant amount of post-processing, but is perfectly fine for personal recordings or pro stuff where inaudible losses of quality won't be pushed enough to be heard.

With the found-footage genre you have a lot of freedom to create with limited resources.

You get a lot of wiggle room with exposure, framing, shakiness, and (mostly) sound. You don't have to follow rules/standards of cinematic film, considering it's made to look and sound like someone just picked up a camera and hit record. You just need to know you should write things you know you can make, so that no wild post-production or high-budget set design will be needed.

But for the most part, all you need is a camera. A camera-mounted shotgun mic could do your sound nicely, but even that isn't essential for found-footage.

Your house/neighborhood setting shows you're not being overambitious, which is great.

Also, side note, I have had this extremely similar idea that seems to align exactly with what you're going for, both thematically and stylistically. I'm a film student in South Florida and I'm most likely going to write a draft in the coming weeks for this "found-footage web series figuring out an ARG with your life on the line" idea for my screenwriting class.

I'm interested in hearing more about what you're trying to do, would you like to PM?

I'll be starting a new job which has a long commute and I would like to vlog during that commute. I'll be using a DSLR for video and want a quick and easy setup. My budget it $75 CAD and I live in Canada.


I'm kind of stumped on the audio part because while I appreciate good quality sound I also want a setup that's quick. I want to spend the least amount of time possible to set everything up in the morning and between shots. I don't need film or documentary quality audio for this.


I was considering this mic: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00E58AA0I/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1977604502&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B00GQDORA4&pf_rd_m=A3DWYIK6Y9EEQB&pf_rd_r=0K6HBMF9DTZ12W1C2D54

However I don't have any previous experience with shotgun mics. I'm not sure if it's a good option if I'm not always facing the camera.

Depends on your budget and what videos ur making.

Shotgun mic:TAKSTAR SGC-598
https://www.amazon.com/TAKSTAR-SGC-598-Interview-Microphone-Camcorder/dp/B00E58AA0I

Camera I would recommend: Canon vixia hf r800
https://www.amazon.com/Canon-VIXIA-HF-R800-Camcorder-Black/dp/B01N7OAH3I?th=1&psc=1

Video editing depends what your computer can handle and what video ur making. I use hitfilm express which is free. However it needs a decent gpu of some sort. Shotcut on the other hand is pretty basic and runs well on lower end hardware.

https://shotcut.org/
(Make sure you use express)https://fxhome.com/

It'll grow faster if your gear is right. Those little things really make a difference.



Try the "Takstar" microphone. I love mine, they're Rode nockoffs and they're great.





https://www.amazon.com/TAKSTAR-SGC-598-Interview-Microphone-Camcorder/dp/B00E58AA0I