What is the best external microphone for a Sony ZV-1?

Question

What is the best external microphone for a Sony ZV-1 because I'm honestly starting to freak out about my audio quality? I'm launching my travel vlog in about ten days and every video I've tested so far has this weird hiss from the internal mic or just picks up way too much background noise from my AC. I've narrowed it down to two main options but I'm stuck.

I'm looking at the Rode VideoMic GO II since everyone says Rode is the gold standard but then I saw the Sony ECM-G1 which is super tiny and doesnt need a cable because of that multi-interface shoe thing. I have a strict $150 budget for this part of the rig. My main worry with the Rode is that it might be too big and block the flip-out screen or just look ridiculous on such a small camera. But then is the Sony one actually any good or am I just paying for the convenience of no cables?

I'll be filming mostly in my apartment in Brooklyn - lots of street noise outside - but also taking it out to parks. Is the shock mount on the Rode worth the extra bulk? I just want something that sounds professional without being a total headache to set up every time...

cbd pre rolls · Accepted Answer

Re: "Ten days is plenty of time to fix..." - honestly, youre totally fine. Looking at what others said, it really comes down to balancing that bulky shock mount with portability. If the Rode feels too big but you dont want to sacrifice audio for the Sony convenience, I think the Sennheiser+is+a+better+middle+g&linkCode=osi&tag=5422-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">Sennheiser is a better middle ground. It fits the $150 budget easily and is super reliable.

Sennheiser+MKE+200+Ultracompact+Directional+On-camera+Microphone&linkCode=osi&tag=5422-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">Sennheiser MKE 200 Ultracompact Directional On-camera Microphone - has the shock mount built inside the housing, so it stays tiny on a ZV-1.

Rode VideoMicro II Compact On-camera Shotgun Microphone - tiny, no batteries needed, and much shorter than the Go II. Quick tip: that hiss is often just the camera auto-gain going crazy. Try setting your manual gain levels to 3 or 4 in the ZV-1 menu and see if that clears it up. The MKE 200 is basically plug-and-play and wont block your view... should save you some stress before the big launch.

tank_zyOi · Answer

Ten days is plenty of time to fix this!! If you want to save some serious cash while getting amazing sound, you really should look at the Deity V-Mic D4 Mini Shotgun Microphone instead of the Rode. It is basically half the price and sounds fantastic for such a tiny setup. But look, quick question before you buy anything... are you planning to do mostly talking head stuff where youre right in front of the camera, or will you be walking around filming other people? It matters a ton for how we deal with that Brooklyn street noise! Honestly, the Sony ECM-G1 Vlogger Shotgun Microphone is super convenient with the cable-free setup, but youre paying a premium for that convenience. I love finding deals that punch way above their weight class so you have money left for extra batteries or a grip! Let me know about your filming style cuz that AC hum is a beast to kill.

bhp0 · Answer

In my experience, avoid anything lacking a solid shock mount.check for hisswatch handling noise Proper isolation is honestly what makes the difference. Dont stress about the size tho.