Even when mounted on a shockmount, any mic that is physically connected to a camera will pick up camera noises. Shockmounts definitely help, but if you want to avoid camera noise altogether the mic needs to be off the camera.

Putting the mic somewhere else you'll still need to be mindful of the mic picking up any other kind of handling noise, so you're not off the hook. Sure, you won't have camera noise, but you can get any number of other undesirable noises, even if you've put the mic on a boom, or have even used wireless lavalieres attached to your subjects. Getting good audio for video requires learning the tricks of the trade.

Strangely enough some dedicated video cameras somehow neutralize camera motor sounds from their internal mics, perhaps by mixing out-of-phase signals to cancel out the internal sounds. My old Sony TRV-900 was like this. You don't have this luxury with DLSR video.

What it comes down to is doing research on audio for video, learning the tricks of the trade, and practicing them to make them second-nature in your DSLR video recordings.

I don't have the ME-1, but the little Sennheiser MKE something or other. I find it really good, and vastly superior to the built in mic. The Sennheiser has an on/off switch, and I know to my cost cuts off the cameras mic when plugged in (I recorded a sequence and couldn't understand why I had NO sound at all, later noticed I hadn't turned the external mic on! :-( it now has a bright red elastic band on it to remind me. I would suggest that if you can't hear a definate difference in sound recording, then you have a problem. You don't say what camera you're using, so I can't suggest a menu number.

I saw a video where a guy used a piece of black electrical tape on the bottom of the external mic and it actually worked to reduce almost all of the noise. It wasn't the ME-1 so it would probably depend on how sensitive the mic is. Simple idea really - bounce the sound away from the mic.

That said, "almost" was the key word - From what I can tell, every camera maker has this issue as some noise has never been an issue before.

As Scomer comments pointed towards - Video is a whole different animal where much of it seems to go against what DSLRs were created to do. (Granted I hate doing video)
The thought to me is "Who in the hell wants to go manual - Are you kidding me?" add with, "Why in the hell do I want an external recording doohickey - a Rode mic is how frick'n much?" ending with, "How much is the software and all this other crap going to cost me? I just want 2 minutes of video without pisssvvvvv - pissssvvvvvv - pissssvvvvvv!"

Hi Photog4Fun
I am new to Nikon rumours, but not to sound.
This may seem somewhat strange. But when using video, you actually do not need the autofocus at all.
Its very hard for the camera to know what it is that you want to tell. Whats the important element in your story, what to focus on and how fast etc.

Whats important is how nice the manual focus rubberwheel on the lens is to move. Fortunately Nikon has anticipated this in most of there lenses, making a nice big rubber grip for manual fokusing with almost no mechanical sound, except in some models of the 24-70mm 2.8

The ME-1 is no better or worse than any of the other microphones out there. (Actually a bit better, cause of no need of battery)
All you need this little mic for is sound good enough to sync later on with your even better external recorded audio.
Maybe the very good and very pricereasonable external recorder Zoom H4n.

So I would dive into the wonders of manual focus, and consider some kind of lcd viewfinder magnification so its easier to focus correctly, and maybe even some kind of focus assist wheel.

Oh, yes even more money to spend hehe. But start out with a fairly priced lcdviewfinder. Maybe like this one. (Havent tried it personally, but gets good recommendations and price fairly good.
http://www.kinotehnik.com/

Atb of fun in manual focusing.
Sofus

@Photo4Fun - You should hear at least some difference between built in mic and external, please check the connections. Also it doesn't eliminate 100% of the lens noise, it should be reduced as it's further away from the lens barrel. OTOH, if You will look for better mic there's always Rhode which manufactures mics for different kind of users.

Re: lauzobe

Ok. Thank you for your time and thought.

I'm no expert on this mic and do not own one. But I was once interested in getting one and did some research on web reviews.

What I remember reading is that : - it does still pick up lens noise,
- it is not a directional mic but instead picks up 360 degrees of sound.

The only advantage I conluded was that it takes its power from the DSLR. So I decided not to purchase it. I'm not that big into video anyway.

Cheers,

Hello Fellow Nikon Rumor Users!

Subject: Nikon Stereo Microphone ME-1.

Ok! So, I Looked every were on the web and this website about the Nikon Stereo Microphone ME-1 on Auto focus noise reduction. And Can't find anything on it.

Question 1: Is the Nikon Stereo Microphone ME-1 supposed to not pick up the Lens auto focus noise?

Question 2: Is their any settings or something I'm supposed to do for the sound to go through the Nikon Stereo Microphone ME-1 for it to work? Cause I did a bunch of Video/Audio tests between the built in Mic and the ME-1 Mic and I could not tell a difference.

Thank you for your time and help. I Greatly appreciate it.