D3100 audio playback quality

Hiker1

My D3100 takes great video, but the audio sounds scratchy and weird. Any ideas?

Moose

@Hiker1 - The D3100 has a pretty average internal monaural microphone just above the 'D3100' logo on the front of the camera. Unfortunately, it doesn't do so well with distant subjects or with wind. In addition to that, it can sometimes pick up the sounds produced by autofocus or when adjusting your lens. If you want better audio quality, you'll need to record audio separately using a portable digital recorder and then sync it with the video in post-processing.

Hiker1

Thanks, will do!

JohnPaulPatton

Can you add an external mic to this camera? I though it had no means of doing this? I would love to use it for filming my band if possible but the mic can't really get the low end at all tho to be fair we do heavy rock and it's pretty loud as well! : )

Moose

Howdy @JohnPaulPatton - Unfortunately the D3100 doesn't come with an audio input jack, so you have to record audio with a portable recorder and then sync it to the video in post processing.

The H1 Zoom recorder (see here) is an affordable solution, giving you much better audio quality...especially when recording musicians, bands, etc... If you don't have a third hand available, you can slide it onto the hot shoe using a threaded adapter (see here). Happy shooting! :)

JohnPaulPatton

Awesome! Thanks a million...and so my wish list grows...great! :)