Disclaimer: I could be wrong, I'm not a sound guy, so If someone suggests otherwise i'd follow there advice over mine. But I do not think the Videomic Pro has a Preamp, those settings I believe are just level attenuation, which aren't actually changing the audio through the Preamps just increasing the sensitivity of the mic itself so that the audio from the mic can go in to a camera or Recorder and have lower noise on lower quality preamps. But I could be wrong, I'm a Camera guy not a sound guy!

I've not used the H1 so i'm not super sure how high quality it is, I use an H6 and use XLR cables to a boom mic, But since I don't think the Video Mic pro has a preamp in it, having it at the highest setting should not have any negatively adverse effects except power expenditure. Plus that would allow you to make level changes on you H1 instead of worrying about fussing with the audio level by changing the level attenuation on the mic itself during a clip with a sudden audio change. If i'm wrong I'd love to hear why, but thats the logic thats standing out in my brain, hope its useful to you!
-Kent

any news on how this worked for you? I have bought cheap shoulder rigs for like $20 dollars that worked really well in crowds Loupes really really help. Also camera straps that are comfortable you can use as a another point of contact if you keep it tight. Monopods can be helpful.

I have a Miller DS-20 with solo legs and its a tank, but before that I used a set of Manfrotto sticks and a set Satchler, My Manfrotto sticks died in 6 months, my satchler ace tripod is still kicking though I don't use it much now I've got my DS-20.

The only way you can really fail at anything is if you give up and stop trying to improve. Never stop working, shoot something and edit it and then re-watch it and ask yourself what you could of improved, then re-edit it and see if you can learn something new from it. Watch movies on Vimeo and figure out what you liked from videos and more importantly what you didn't, discovering from others and then using those discoveries to improve. A guy that does some brilliant work out there named Preston Kanak believes strongly in the 10,000 hr rule, (as do i) and he for a year did a 3 min Short film EVERY DAY just because he knew with deliberate practice and learning that he would Improve.

http://prestonkanak.com/about/3-minute-shorts/

as far as feeling like your better then the work your doing, that reminds me very much of Ira Glass's the Gap Speech,

http://vimeo.com/85040589

I hope your feeling a whole heck of a lot less discouraged, best of luck in all your projects just don't ever give up and you'll be a great filmmaker!

Great advice here! Also check out the two (rather cheap) books Steal like an Artist, and Show Your Work, Very inspiring and really help to make video work seem a lot less daunting.