On Thu, 16 Jan 2003 03:51:44 GMT, Michael O'Connor <moc-news1@lunch.org> wrote:

>I have a Sony DCR-PC9 which I use for truly amateur video (family,

>holidays, vacation, etc.). It works well for my needs except I'm very

>disappointed with the microphone. Being on top, it really picks up

>crowd/background noise much more than the person being filmed (even if

>that person is just a few feet away). In searching for help, I have

>found that others have had this problem but I can't find a solution.

>

>This does not have to be a "professional" solution - I just would like

>to hear subjects better. I don't record music or other situations which

>require high quality sound (or even stereo sound for that matter).

>

>The nature of the situations I record makes a microphone wired to the

>subjects out of the question.

>

>And since I bought this model for it's convenient size, I'd like a small

>solution.

>

>And I'd like it to be free... and I'd like to be taller...

The mic position on the camera is not the problem.

Camcorders have near-omni mics on them to provide good

"ambient-sound" recordings (and top-mounted mics often

work better than lower-front-mounted mics). Omni-mics

are also far more compact (and generally better-sounding,

and less distance-sensitive for sound quality) than more

directional mics ("short-shotguns" are the general

alternatives, short placing mics directly on subjects of

interests). Suggestion: put a wide-angle on the camera,

and move even closer to subjects you want to hear on tape

(though if the ambient noise level is high, this will not

help a lot...). Remember that mics indiscriminately record

what is out there - and no practical mic can pick an

individual voice out of a crowd of voices at any great

distance...