"Joe" wrote in message
...

wrote in message ...


Joe wrote:

I am looking for a mic for a JVC camcorder which can only be purchased
in
the States at the moment. So I have just a few hours to find a
Camcorder
Store that stocks JVC equipment. Could any of you kind Los Angeles
folks
suggest a store near to 3515 Wilshire Boulevard where I can buy the
mic.

I would suggest Fry's Electronics: they have a website at:

http://www.outpost.com/

and a toll-free number, 1-877-OUTPOST, that will guide you to the
nearest store to the Wilshire location. A HUGE electronics superstore,
with many outlets in the LA area.
Many thanks to Azzure and PTTravel for their helpful advice. There's
nothing
easy. The more I look up the net, the more I learn and the more I realize
I
am chasing rainbows. We are from Ireland. We are just taking a tour of
California with Cosmos. My JVC Camcorder is a GR-DVP9EK (probably European
PAL). The USA equivalent is GR-DVP9US (probably NTSC). The hot shoe mic is
MZV3U which does not appear to be for sale in Europe. I think that the
sound
part of the camcorder should be compatible with the zoom mic.Unfortunately
none of the stores suggested have the mic on their website. I think I will
phone around and thanks to all you warm hearted people for all your help,
Joe

Joe, Sony manufactures a shoe-mount zoom mike that might work with your JVC,
if you can't find one any where else. Incidently, someone mentioned Frys --
it's very unlikely they'll have it and, at any rate, there is no Frys
convenient to where you'll be in the mid-Wilshire area.

With all that said, let me add this: I am a very serious video hobbyist (I
spend as much or more time in the rec.video newsgroups as here). I'm
familiar with the type of device that you're looking for. To be perfectly
honest, I don't think you'll be happy with the performance. I assume you
want the top-mount mike so that you can isolate distant sound sources from
ambient noise. Though a good shotgun mike will do this, consumer "zoom
mikes" intended for camcorders will not perform anywhere near as well, or
even well enough to justify their cost. There are some less-expensive
shotgun mikes available for this purpose that will offer somewhat better
performance, but unless you're prepared to spend $300-500 US for a
microphone, don't expect to get something that will give you great
performance.

You might take a look at Audio Technica's mikes, which are readily available
(and, probably, can be found at Best Buy, Circuit City or the Good Guys --
the latter is in a shopping center at 3rd and La Cienga, not very far from
where you are on Wilshire). I use an Audio Technica ATR55, which is shotgun
mike with switchable capsules, providing an enhance cardoid effect in the
"tele" position, i.e. it doesn't "zoom" automatically, but it does let you
switch between "near" and "distant" settings. It's a monophonic microphone
that comes with a shoe mount that should fit your camcorder. It plugs in to
"mike in" jack (I'm almost certain your camcorder has one). It provides
reasonably decent sound, certain good enough for amateur purposes, and sells
in the $55-75 US range. The only negative for you is its size -- it's 12
inches long (a little less than 1/3 of a meter, I think). However, I think
it will do what you want, and when you're not using it you can take it off
the camera. Oh, and try Samy's Camera -- they used to be on either 3rd or
Beverly Boulevard (it's been some time since I've visited them), which is
about a 5 minute cab ride from where you're staying.

Good luck, and have a great trip!

Paul