Rode Shotgun vs Zoom H2 for interviews?

Rode: http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …eoMic_Camera_Mo​unted.html
Zoom H2: http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …rtable_Digital_​Audio.html

Hey everyone! I recently purchased a MKII--finally and one of my retainer clients is a recovery facility. We suggested that we start creating video content for them to use as informative material for the public.

We'll be interviewing an anonymous rehab patient about hope and her recovery. One thing I'm conflicted with is an external mic...I've used both microphones before and had good results with both. I like how I can use the Zoom H2 to record both speakers via 360 recording but I've heard there's issues with syncing the audio with video. I also like how crisp the Rode mic is and I won't have to worry about syncing. The downside to this is, I'll have to record additional B roll footage so I can overlay her audio with video which isn't a huge problem...

Any advice on which to choose? I like the Rode mic because I can use it for other fun projects to promote viral videos sponsored by my studio. On the other hand, the Zoom is flexible and can keep recording while I let my MKII cool down in case I shoot for long periods of time...(or run out of memory)

So hard!

If you can't sync your AV together you have bigger issues... it really takes all of 5 seconds per clip especially if you use the on-camera mic as a scratch track. If you're only interviewing one patient why do you need to worry about getting 2 speakers? With a shotgun mic, straight back is nearly as strong of a pickup as straight forward, so if you are talking about recording yourself asking the questions (which probably won't be in your final video anyway so it's not a big deal) you can just talk into the back of the rode. The two really are separate tools, though, and not mutually exclusive.

Chippy569 wrote in post #12296652
If you can't sync your AV together you have bigger issues... it really takes all of 5 seconds per clip especially if you use the on-camera mic as a scratch track. If you're only interviewing one patient why do you need to worry about getting 2 speakers? With a shotgun mic, straight back is nearly as strong of a pickup as straight forward, so if you are talking about recording yourself asking the questions (which probably won't be in your final video anyway so it's not a big deal) you can just talk into the back of the rode. The two really are separate tools, though, and not mutually exclusive.

Thanks for the info. The speaker will be the interventionist or counselor. I suppose their input isn't as important as the patient's. That's why I was wondering if I should use the H2. I don't have much experience in video production and I'm in the midst of learning it all... (used to be an early hobby but slowly phased out thanks to photography)

Luckily, the videos are only meant to be hosted on Youtube so the production won't be anything high end. Just quick & dirty lifestyle interviews. Anything more and I'll have to know my place and hire a pro.

I think I'll lean towards the Rode.

Even if you use the Rode, you still want to be recording it to your zoom for more robust control over the audio. Then you sync using the audio channel recorded to camera. If you start and stop both around the same time you should have very similar length clips and using the waveform to sync will be a snap. You line up the waveform and then slip it one way or the other until you get no "echo" and you're done. Or you could use pluraleyes and save yourself the hassle.

Gameface wrote in post #12296793
Even if you use the Rode, you still want to be recording it to your zoom for more robust control over the audio. Then you sync using the audio channel recorded to camera. If you start and stop both around the same time you should have very similar length clips and using the waveform to sync will be a snap. You line up the waveform and then slip it one way or the other until you get no "echo" and you're done. Or you could use pluraleyes and save yourself the hassle.

Thanks for the tip! Unfortunately, I can only purchase 1 for the time being...It's a hard decision for sure so I'll have to think ahead on which one would be more beneficial in the long run...

Get the new Rode Videomic pro (not the one you listed). It has +20DB capabilities, meaning you can turn the amp in your camera way down, reducing noise. Very good results.

will you have a couple of helping hands on your shoot? since you'll have multiple speakers being recorded, the ideal way to do this is either putting a directional mic (possibly the rode) on a boom with suspension and having a reasonably skilled operator reposition the mic based on the person speaking, or putting lavs on each of the speakers and running them into a mixer/recorder. putting a zoom in-between a few people is a compromise, and will probably give you usable audio with the downside of quite a bit of room noise. postioning the rode and leaving it in one place (either on or off-camera) is a bad choice as it's too directional to capture everything going on in a room. it sounds like you're on a budget, so my advice would be to get a couple of inexpensive wired lavs (audio technica comes to mind) and run them into a mixer connected to the camera if you're a one-man show. if you have a second hand helping with sound, get either the rode or zoom on a boom. anything else will just sound like amateur video. just keep in mind that a shotgun like the rode is far more directional than the built-in mics on the zoom, which can be good or bad for you.

http://www.cinema5d.co​m/viewtopic.php?f=88&t​=30187

^ might help your decision

Personally.... I'd go Rode. I've found their mics to offer much better sound than many of the alternatives; but take Hans' suggestion as well, the Videomic Pro is an excellent choice.

http://www.amazon.com …-Microphone/dp/B004K8WP​UQ

how do you guys reconcile a shotgun mic with a very narrow pickup pattern to record audio from multiple sources simultaneously? don't get me wrong... i have a rode videomic pro and consider it a great bang for the buck shotgun, but it seems like the wrong tool for the job to me, unless it's manned by someone on a boom. the zoom h4n is much more appropriate with it's wider pickup, but still not ideal, for what the OP has said he wants to accomplish.

BH has a Rode shotgun kit that comes with a boom pole and 10ft cord. If I had to choose, I'd want to make sure the patient is being recorded out of anything else. Since the facility isn't large and I'm sure the distance between the counselor and patient isn't great, booming the mic seems like a good idea.

I have a few interns and my biz partner to help out if necessary. I've had great results with the Zoom but I do agree that it tends to pick up more noise than usual. The shotgun mic from my experience was pretty good but I'll have to make sure I use custom noise levels.

Thanks for the help guys, I know I'll always find help here

the zoom has very capable internal mics, but the problem is they always seem to be placed too far away from the sound source that they pick up everything else going on in the room. mic placement will always trump mic quality.

that rode kit looks good. if you do find a boom inconvenient, or impossible, a mic placed on a handgrip slightly out of frame will work better than nothing at all.

such as:
http://ktekbooms.com …nd-grips-and-boom-cradle/

mizer357 wrote in post #12305238
how do you guys reconcile a shotgun mic with a very narrow pickup pattern to record audio from multiple sources simultaneously?

Because I didn't read his statement as it being simultaneous audio. First post says getting from the patient. I would expect that during the interview it will be less conversation between the counselor/patient, and more of Q&A.

If thats not the case.... I still wouldn't use an omni. I'd use two mics.