Sorry to the people who have answered this question fifty thousand times before, but I am to lazy to go dig up the old posts!

My question is... I have a GL2, and I want to build a boom mic. THe only mic I have available is a Mic (not sure what type it is, a guy uses it to sing with in a rock band, if that helps?) that I am borrowing, its plug is one that goes into most amps.. its a quarter inch. What do I need so I can hook it up to my camera? Is there some kind of converter, that would allow me to plug into the mic hook up on the Gl2? Any type of converters you guys could recommend? With price? Has anyone done this and could tell me what the quality is like with this type of microphone? This isn't a cheap mic, since they use it quite a bit etc.

Thanks

If you don't look I'll force you to _=_

Most musical PA systems use 1/4 inch phono inputs for the electronic insturments and balanced xlr inputs for mics. Yet, some mics have a 1/4 phono connectors (somtimes it's just an adaptor cable for xlrs, however). If you want you use this mic with your GL-2, all you'd need is a 1/4-1\8" phono adapter (under $10 at radio shack). However, this probably wouldn't be the most ideal setup.

How is the mic powered? -phantom power? -battery? This might be a problem. I believe the GL-2 sends a 6v power signal through the mic connector, which often can distort the signal if it's not handled corectly.

Further, 1/4 inch phono is an unbalanced signal, meaning the quality degrades quickly the longer the cable you have. Granted, these quality issues are all relative. It would still probably be better than the on camera mic.

Check and see if your mic has an xlr connector where the cable goes in. If you can make use of this, it would be ideal--but not cheap. You'd need to buy a beachtek or studio one converter which transforms the balanced, xlr connector to unbalanced 1/8" phono to go into your camera. It also absorbs any voltage the camera sends out which might distort the mic signal. I own the DXA-6 from beachtek which also has one channel of phantom power to power one of my mics. It's cost was 300. W/o phantom power, you can get them for 150 I think.

hope this helps, ask if anything was unclear.
joren

If it is one of those mics u see at a rock concert used by the singers DO NOT attempt to use it as a boom mic. If It is a 'shure SM57' you might get away with it other than that you would be better off just using the mic in the camera. To be honest the sound is Sh**house. and you don't want to be spending a million hours in post-production fixing it.


Another option is to by a realy cheap shotgun(as low as $80 US) and spend a couple of hours fixing the quality up.


But please record with the Camera mic as well no-matter what path you choose, you should always have a backup

The mic your friend probrally has is a dynamic mic. Most all handheld mics other than studio recording mics are all dynamic. The post above is very correct, if its a mic like the $80 shure 57(dynamic), dont use it. I bought and returned one for the use of a one day voiceover in my film. The range is very short, as are most all dynamic mics. You'll basically have to pass it around to get good sound. Shotgun mics offer more range, and you could get a better $50 shotgun mic than the microphone you have now. If you told us how much money you have, we could help you better on what mic is in your range.