another gear question

[Mike Crupi]

I'm shooting with a Vixia HFS100 with the 1/8" external audio port and picking up very little sound when using the Azden 305/35 wireless lavalier. When using the same mic with an xlr connection on my audio recorder the sound is fine. Do I need some kind of adapter for the camcorder? Thanks.

[Chuck Fadely]

I don't know what the problem would be but I suspect it might have something to do with mono plugs in stereo jacks.... or vice versa? The Vixia will take any audio signal and run it hot on auto gain, so the output from a wireless mic should be plenty loud.

[Mike Crupi]

thanks chuck. i'll experiment with a stereo-mono adapter.

[James Kamp]

Unfamiliar w/ the Azden lavs but, assuming it has an internal power supply, could be as simple as a dying battery. Have you used other non-powered mics w/ this cam w/o a problem? If that's not it, possibly an impedance issue and you might be able to correct it w/ a matching transformer or better still a mixer if that's practical.

Mics are sort of analogous to speakers on a stereo. Pro quality mics are def worth the added investment; they pay for themselves time after time in lack of hassle alone.

[Mike Crupi]

I use the sennheiser mke400 mini-shotgun with the same camcorder and same 1/8" input with no problem. The battery power is okay. The mixer is something I've considered. Thanks for the feedback.