p.1 #1 · Canon R6 MK II 3.5 mic line RF interference
I am using a RODE external mic with male to male 3.5 jacks and while the audio is fine, I am also picking up local radio stations and this seems to be a common problem with the R6 MK II and Canon has no interest in solving it apparently. Any ideas or workarounds? Thx
p.1 #2 · Canon R6 MK II 3.5 mic line RF interference
I've had this issue from time to time on every camera body I've used, and the issue has been solved (for me) by swapping out the mic cable for something much more shielded than what comes with the mic. I use mostly Rode microphones, too, but the problem is not exclusive to them. My primary body for video with sound is the R6ii.
Picking up radio stations with microphone cables is a lot more common than you might think, even when they (the mics) are attached to things other than camera bodies. My work is mostly in the classical music realm and it can be a real hassle in some locations.
Try a few different cables of different qualities and lengths and you'll hit on a winning combo soon I'd bet.
p.1 #3 · Canon R6 MK II 3.5 mic line RF interference
Thanks for the response -That was my thinking too, but there are all kinds of "Shielded" or "Balanced" or "4 core"....etc - I would be most grateful if you could refer me to a specific brand or type in various lengths so I don't suffer the hit or miss method - Thanks again JT
p.1 #4 · Canon R6 MK II 3.5 mic line RF interference
I live in a high RFI area—downtown Honolulu—and all my 3.5mm TRS output mics pickup RFI—including a classic rock station so loud it sounds like a sound track. I own the Rode Video Mic Go II, Deity V-Mic D4, and Sennheiser MKE 400 and 440. Among those 4 mics, the Rode suffered the most extreme amounts of RFI and the MKE 400 the least. Changing to a better shielded cable helped a little but ultimately still picked up RFI on my R7 and R6 MK II. Those same mics also picked up RFI when plugged into the 3.5mm jack of my Tascam DR 5 and DR 100 MK II. In rural areas no problems.
I found three ways of getting around RFI: XLR mics into outboard audio recorders, Comica wireless shotgun and the Canon Stereo Microphone DM-E1D.
The solution that worked best for me in terms of sound quality was to use an outboard audio recorder with XLR mics. For example, a Sennheiser MKE 600 jacked into the XLR inputs of a Zoom F3 or Tascam DR 60 MK II is 100% RFI free and sounds amazing. My studio mics—Shure SM137, Beta 27 and Neumann KM 184 were also RFI free using the Zoom and Tascam, but are awkward to use unless on a studio set (most of my shooting is on set).
The Comica VM30 shotgun mic was also RFI free if used with its integral transmitter with receiver in camera shoe. If I use the TRS cable it picked on the same damn radio station as the other TRS mics. It sounds good, but not as good as the Sennheiser MKE 600, but doesn't require an audio recorder. So great for running around town.
I also own the Canon Stereo Microphone DM-E1D and it is RFI free even next to the radio tower. It uses a direct digital connection through the new multi-function shoe on the R6 MK II, R5 MK II, etc. However, while much better sounding than the built-in camera mics, it doesn't sound nearly as good as my other video mics and output is on the weak side. However, it's fine for video blogging use and for making a scratch track to sync later in post—basically what I use it for.
p.1 #5 · Canon R6 MK II 3.5 mic line RF interference
WOW - a lot of expensive solutions - I am not a pro podcaster, or pro videographer so these are not viable for my budget, maybe someday. - I see you play music, so no doubt you are taking the audio needs to the next level, so when I am in the market for premium solutions, I will refer to this NFO - Thanks for sharing!
ITMT I ordered a VidPro XM-88 shotgun with an XLR out and a 3.5 adapter into the camera - Amazon is easily returnable if it is not a solution. OR if I can find a highly shielded cable, I will also try that on the RODE mic I already have.
p.1 #6 · Canon R6 MK II 3.5 mic line RF interference
I spent years trying all sorts of cheaper solutions to solve the RFI problem for camera mics. The only cheap solution that worked was to avoid recording in urban centers and around radio towers! I tried the same mics on my Olympus and Nikon cameras and they suffered the same RFI problems, so I don't think it's a Canon problem—they all had cheap preamps and the tiny 3.5mm jacks. TRS cables and sockets can't be designed to be RFI proof to the extent the XLR system is. Wish Canon's USB-C could handle audio...
However, if your Rode mic is the Video Mic Go II, NTG, etc., the USB-C output is RFI proof. You can't plug directly into your R62 but you can use an audio app on a smartphone, tablet or computer and sync audio in PP. I've done it many times and it works and sounds great. Only takes a few seconds of extra work to sync the audio track to the video even without time code. A couple of claps makes it easy to find the spot to sync.
p.1 #7 · Canon R6 MK II 3.5 mic line RF interference
OK Thanks for the response - That post sync is a workaround I can handle - Yes I thought about the USB C too, but alas it is not supported. So weird that this clearly widespread issue hasn't been addressed in this time of technology. If not only by the mic companies themselves. Thanks again for the help. Mahalo.
p.1 #8 · Canon R6 MK II 3.5 mic line RF interference
Pabugs27 wrote:
OK Thanks for the response - That post sync is a workaround I can handle - Yes I thought about the USB C too, but alas it is not supported. So weird that this clearly widespread issue hasn't been addressed in this time of technology. If not only by the mic companies themselves. Thanks again for the help. Mahalo.
The RFI problem has been addressed well by Rode, Deity, Sennheiser, etc., but only with their professional products. Those silly heavy brass shotgun mics provide amazing RFI shielding, waterproofing, etc., but of course are designed to use with XLR audio and phantom power.
For consumer level gear, Canon solved the RFI problem via a direct digital connection through their multi-function shoe. Unfortunately there is only one mic choice for that solution—Canon Stereo Microphone DM-E1D—and it's mediocre albeit RFI free. The only other aftermarket camera device for a digital connection is the Tascam CA-XLR2d-C, basically an XLR preamp that directly interfaces with the multi-function shoe.
p.1 #9 · Canon R6 MK II 3.5 mic line RF interference
I don't have much to add beyond the great answers from Gochugogi. Because I work in the musical area, when I do have to have great sound that I'm also recording (usually it's a separate engineer) I always use off-camera solutions which is of course expensive, usually heavy, and not at all convenient for most situations.
I forgot to ask about the very original question: what're you trying to record on camera? Sometimes the most surprising things around you can act like a huge antenna, metal staircase railings are a particularly irksome one for me in quite a few locations.
p.1 #10 · Canon R6 MK II 3.5 mic line RF interference
I have a Canon R6 Mark III and was running into the same issue. What worked for me was reducing the length of the unbalanced cable and adding ferrite cores. On longer cables, you can add multiple ferrite cores along the cable, or loop the cable 2–3 times through an oversized core for better RF suppression.
I run most of my audio balanced into a Whirlwind LM2C. From the LM2C into my R6 Mark III, there’s only about 3 inches of unbalanced audio, and even that was picking up RF interference. Adding two ferrite cores to that short cable completely eliminated it for me.
