I been trying out some of my kit recently and dusted off my old AT822 and paired it up with a Zoom H2. No the best sounding chain of gear but I was struck by how good the AT822 sounds even considering the significant noise it produces when working with the H2 (I’m sure it wasn’t this noisy with a Hi-MD).
The H2 in-built mics are OK for Instamatic recording and the AT822 has good stereo field where the H2 mics do not at the expense of noise for which, in most urban and similar environments, is perceptibly lost thanks to my brain helping out. A plus side on the external mic is the low cut for windy situations and the fact that the mic units in their assemblies are much more tolerant to wind than the H2 in-builts.
So, as a workable set up for Instamatic sound recording, a little bulkier and a lot less stealthy but overall, worth the effort. I think that if Sony managed to get their act together on Hi-MD usability I’d still be using my units regularly and so would many others.
I have two AT822 microphones now. I am mainly into doing and recording stand-up comedy. I want to start using one with my HV20 camcorder, but need to figure out what accessories I need to use the mic with my HV20. I’d like to use the other with my MZ-RH1 sometimes, but because a) I am not sure how exactly to keep the microphone held up and pointing at me on stage and b) worry that people are sitting to close to it.. I usually just end up using my MZ-RH1 w/ a lavalier mic that I got from http://www.giant-squid-audio-lab.com/
If you are working via a PA then can’t you take a feed from that then turn the AT822 on the audience to add in some ambient recording later in a mix?