Question about audio to hvx

[godamgo]

I'm shooting a short on Sunday. I'm using a Sennheiser ME-66 (not phantom powered) mic directly to my hvx via xlr connection (no mixer, just boom mic). I have the original manual but it's confusing as hell as to what I"m supposed to be doing. I'm shooting on tape (480 24p). Anybody know, step by step what to do so I dont get the channels wrong or any setting wrong? Thanks a million.

[eagleye]

Use input/mic xlr channel 1 for the boom, set the audio switch accordingly to mic 1. I read a post once from Barry that said you want your audio to be averaging about 3 dots above the 2nd mark in your audio meter, at least hitting the 2nd line/mark. I've shot numerous times using that as reference and have great audio.

Also use headphones and listen to every take as it shoots. any problems or background noise heard? then do another take.. save you lots of time in post.

[Filip Staresinic]

Let me go into this. I have shotgun mic Rode ntg-2 brand new.
When I got HVX I was dissapointed about its internal mic sound quality so I was thinking when I use good shotgun mic it will be better, and it is better but not to much. I have tryed lots of combinations and tried to tweak it but if this what I am getting is its sound quality then I need to say HVX sucks.
I mean I bought this camera to make movies and the sound is not good enough for it, so what do I need to do, buy a sound recorder that costs as much as camera it self? Not only I can't get enough volume(if I turn the volume on it to much the there is too much noise) but the sound quality is not there, my 500$ Sony handycam has better sound. Can you comment this? I bouhgt camera from Panasonic dealer with waranty. As well as mic.

[Jeff Anderson]

where is the mic? anything mounted on any cam is going to sound like crap. dont care if its a schoeps or any other hollywood caliber mic, its going to sound bad if its not placed near the source of the sound. The HVX has one of the better audio sections of any other cam in its range. I have an HVX, NTG1 and when boomed properly the sound is fantastic. I suggest reading the audio stickies as theres a lifetime of audio knowledge right there. Jay Rose also has a fantastic book on production sound, forget the exact name though.

[Filip Staresinic]

where is the mic? anything mounted on any cam is going to sound like crap. dont care if its a schoeps or any other hollywood caliber mic, its going to sound bad if its not placed near the source of the sound. The HVX has one of the better audio sections of any other cam in its range. I have an HVX, NTG1 and when boomed properly the sound is fantastic. I suggest reading the audio stickies as theres a lifetime of audio knowledge right there. Jay Rose also has a fantastic book on production sound, forget the exact name though.
It is placed on the boom pole and I tryed lot of combinations in distances from the source. Ideal distance is for about from 50cm to 1m. But it is not good.

[THoff]

Nobody shoots movies with onboard mikes -- unless the camera is right in the face of the talent, you will need a boom or lavalier mike.

If you are getting poor audio from an external mike with low audio levels and lots of self-noise when you crank up the input levels on the camera, check to make sure that you are using the correct input level (MIC vs. LINE). You can also switch the camera gain between -50db and -60db -- experiment to find the optimal settings.