What kind of sound quality can I expect from my camcorder?

What kind of sound quality can I expect from my camcorder?

Tim Smith (Camcorder Training Specialist) gives expert video advice on: What kind of sound quality can I expect from my camcorder?; What do I need in order to use an external microphone for my camcorder?; Can I use professional microphones with a consumer camcorder? and more...

Probably pretty good sound quality, but what you need to ask is where the manufacturer placed the microphone. is it faced forward? is it faced up? Some of these smaller cameras have microphones mounted in some of the strangest places. So, look for where your mic is and try to understand or at least visualize where the sound is coming from and how its going to end up on the camera. That will affect the sound quality. Lets say the microphone is placed on the top of the camera above the lens, that means the sound is coming from above your head. Now, it will pick up most things and you'll be happy with it, but if above your head is something very loud like an air conditioning vent, that's what you're going to hear. Stay cautious of that. If your camcorder has a headphone jack I would suggest using it, that's how you'll be able to best tell where your microphone is placed and get the best sound quality. But, always think about the sound, think about where it's coming from and how it gets to the microphone based on the positioning.