FiiO Headphone Amplifier as a Microphone to Camera Solution
There are a slew of benefits to using a low noise preamp when recording audio directly into your DSLR. Not only do most preamps (like a JuicedLink) provide phantom power and automatic gain control (AGC) disable, they also accept XLR microphones and cut down the post production process of having to sync audio. The basic function of a preamp is to improve the signal coming in from the microphone and reduce the noise. A preamplifier will throttle back the noisy amplifier in your camera and replace the noisy gain with clean gain- ultimately improving the signal to noise ratio for optimal sound.
In light of the fact that not everyone can afford a preamp or for those who simply want to keep their production to a bare bones setup, we decided to test out a less versatile, yet inexpensive, alternative to both a preamp and double system shooting with an external digital recorder. The FiiO Headphone Amplifier does not have the ability to connect XLR mics, monitor via headphones, provide phantom power or ACG disable, HOWEVER, we hoped it would reduce the noisy hiss while amplifying the signal coming into the microphone.
We paired the cheapest lavalier microphone we have in our studio, the Audio Technica ATR-3350
FiiO E11 Quick Specs
FiiO E11 Portable Headphone Amplifier – E11
Great test, I am sure this will help solve a problem for many people. Another option is to take the cost of the mic and the headphone amp and purchase one microphone that is very sensitive – if one exists for that price and sounds good so you eliminate wires and things that can fail.
This looks awesome. When using the preamp can you still monitor the audio levels with the meters in the camera?
You can only manually dial in the level in the camera prior to hitting record. You cannot monitor or adjust levels while recording as we did with a Canon 5D mkii. This is an amp, not a preamp. =)
-Unless you start using Magic Lantern firmware that has meters on the screen. This will be a cost effective solution to amplifying a signal and being able to monitor with ML.
Ok cool. So did you have Magic Lantern? If not, how did you determine proper audio levels when using the amp?
Chris, the Canon 5D Mark II, the 60D, and I believe the T3i has manual audio levels with meters to set the audio. Other cameras don’t have the manual audio so you’ll have to rely on Magic Lantern.
Sweet. Thanks alot!
The FiiO E11 Headphone Amplifier does work well IMO.
Looking at the reviews on Amazon this works on the iPhone/pad/pods too as a nice amplifier so it appears to work as both a pre-amp and an amp which is pretty nice at the price point.
I was also interested in how well the Audio Technica ATR-3350 sounds too. It sounds pretty good too (though I am sensing some boominess), but to me testing something listening to your own voice recorded then played back on either high quality microphones or an excellent stereo system would tell me a lot about how well it works.
When I have looked at the comments from the professionals (http://www.dvxuser.com) they prefer lavaliers in the $300+ range based mostly on reliability. Personally I would spend the $300 on a professional mic because reliability/durability as well as professional acceptance is important to me. ie if I was every asked to use a mic on a paid gig I would only want to pull out something professional.
Olivia any chance that you might be checking/comparing the performance of the E11′s little brother the E5?
Hi Chris, not anytime soon.
Great test! I looked up the specifications of this microphone and found that it contains a small battery which supplies phantom power. Would this microphone still work if I removed the battery, connected it to a mic preamp using an XLR adapter, and then supplied phantom power from the preamp? I am thinking about pairing this microphone with an ART USB Dual Pre, which will run off of a 9 volt battery for remote recording. Many thanks!
Hi, I have this mic and it’s great for quick interviews or getting sound on a budget, but it doesn’t give you the option to run it over phantom power, the battery has to be turned on. It works great with my h2n and dr-40, though I might pick up a Fiio E5 and try it on camera, it’s only $20
If I plugged the tie clip mic into the Fiio headphone amplifier’s audio input and plugged a bluetooth transmitter to the audio output of the Fiio then plugged a bluetooth receiver straight into the camera microphone input, would it work as a wireless lavalier?
I don’t know… want to try it and report back?
Aww, go on, you guys do it first, it could be a scoop!? Plus i’m broke! There’s some cheap bluetooth transmitters/receivers on amazon.com plus you already have the rest of the gear! Awesome if it worked!
Great information Olivia. I bought the ATR-3350Lav in the Video to use with my Zoom H1, great setup for the price. I own the 7D and to deal with the AGC issues I use the Juiced Link box, which works great, but not for run and gun situations… I’m looking at getting the 60D as more of a run and gun camera and today I did a test with the 60D at the camera store using the H1 zoom as the pre-amp with ATR-3350… still listening to the tracks trying to find out if I can get good clean audio, but what I do like is I have the SESCOM cable and it allows me to monitor as well. If I bought the FiiO and used the 60D will it be able to monitor the audio as well through the FiiO. I hope all of their makes sense.
Chaz
Chaz, the Fiio does not allow you to monitor your audio unfortunately.
Let me look into whether or not this can be modified to allow for headphone monitoring: Fiio + Sescom + Zoom + 60D. Will get back…
Did you ever find out anything?
@Chaz You cannot monitor your audio levels with that setup as far as I know, you’ll have to rely on Magic Lantern.
I was wondering is there anyway to link up two of the lav mics into the preamp to the camera. Would a splitter work?
I have not tried this with the FIio. I don’t know if a splitter would work. If you test this out, let me know!
Hi Olivia, can you test also the E3, E5 and E6?
@Anthony not sure if I can but I’ll look into it.
Anthony, I tried the e3 alongside the e11 and there’s no audible difference.
I imagine it would be the same for the others too.
Hi Olivia!
After trying out your solution with the E11, i found that the +12Db of gain is just not enough to make a difference on some mics.
However, I have found another solution that lets me bring the camera right down to 0Db and still have a really strong, clean signal.
CLICK HERE
If you want to, feel free to post the video on the blog.
@Nitsan Awesome video, thank you!
Hey Olivia, quick question.. when you guys plugged in the fiioe11, how did you gets get the lcd screen to stay on? When I plugged it into my camera, it automatically turns off.
I heard that installing magic lantern solves the problem, but i’ve already had a recent version downloaded yet the monitor still shuts off.
Any insight or solution to this bit of an obstacle?
@Paulo How are you plugging the Fiio into the camera? Via USB or 3.5mm input?
I plug the canon wire to the camera in the a/v out digital slot, then connect the wire to the 3.5mm input which is then plugged into the fiio e11
What would be the cons and pros to this scenario: You connect an XLR mic to an XLR female to 1/8 jack, and then plug the 1/8 jack into the FiiO? This way you could actually hook XLR mics to the FiiO.
@Cameron Sorry, I’m just now seeing this comment! Have you tried this yet? Technically, it could work with the right adaptors. However… I don’t know how good or bad the sound quality would be. Any reports on this? Also, the Fiio doesn’t have a 1/8 input.