No audio with external mike

[tweaver113]

Using brand new VIXIA R500 camcorder, auto mode.  Normal audio with built-in mike.  Normal audio with headphones.  But when I plug in external mike, there is no audio, and level meter doesn't move.  True for headset mike, and brand new Nikon ME-1 mike.  Can you help?

[Richard]

Hi Tweaver113,

From your description, it sounds like the microphone may not be compatible with the camcorder.  Here are the specifications for external microphones:

• 3.5 mm stereo minijack
• -57 dBV (with 600 Ohm microphone)/5 kilohms or more

I recommend checking with the manufacturer to ensure that it's compatible with the VIXIA HF R500.

[tweaver113 · Accepted solution]

RODE Stereo mike arrived today, it works perfectly!  The difference is it has a built in 9V battery.  That's one more thing to crap out in a middle of a shoot, but I'll live with that.  RODE is higher price, but regarded as the defacto standard.  Next step is shooting outdoors on a windy day, see how much noise supression there is.  That's the whole reason I went with external mike.