•• Wireless Mic Crackles ••

[Coco Bermudez]

Anyone knows what the heck is going on. I have connected two different wireless mics into the input of the Panasonic GH-1 (Sennheiser and Audio Technica)

BOTH sucks..audio cracks and is over modulated...anyone has a similar experience or knows whqt the heck is going on?

[Martti Ekstrand]

Perhaps the cam interferes with the radio reception of the wireless receiver? From page 3 in the Gh1 manual:


This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy

[Coco Bermudez]

That would suck...and makes no sense at the same time.

I connected the same setup with the Canon 5D and the sound is amazing.....

[upshot]

You have to realize that the panasonic interface is a 4 pole plug not a three pole like your typical stereo. You'll have to get/make a 3 to 4 pole converter before you start plugin any ol mic...

[Coco Bermudez]

You have to realize that the panasonic interface is a 4 pole plug not a three pole like your typical stereo. You'll have to get/make a 3 to 4 pole converter before you start plugin any ol mic...

is there such an adapter for this? How useless is this? Why could they not make a simple connector like any stereo mic?

[upshot]

How useless is this? Why could they not make a simple connector like any stereo mic?

Call it useless or call it space saving. The jack is used for the shutter trigger as well.

[rubberbandito]

You have to realize that the panasonic interface is a 4 pole plug not a three pole like your typical stereo. You'll have to get/make a 3 to 4 pole converter before you start plugin any ol mic...

upshot:

is there a converter somewhere? i bought this http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10401&cs_id=1040109&p_id=2780&seq=1&format=2

but am afraid its not going to work because of the pole difference. i don't have a camera to test.

i am trying to avoid buying the h4n hoping i can get away with the sound from my rode video mic on top of the gh1 but its looking like its not going to work.

[upshot]

I have no idea if the poles are correct but a standard cell phone 3 to 4 converter may work... You can find em at radio shack (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2603246) or on the internets.

[Coco Bermudez]

I have no idea if the poles are correct but a standard cell phone 3 to 4 converter may work... You can find em at radio shack (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2603246) or on the internets.

I got the right converter so here are my test results....

forget about wireless...it sucks..it sounds as if someone were screaming into the mic and everything gets blown off....

I connected the BeachTek DXA-5D....
As I do a test, I can hear the audio much better but there is HORRIBLE hum. SO I connected a pair of headphones to the DXA-5D box and the hum was coming from the DXA-5D box. I thought to myself...AH CRAP! the box is defective! As soon as I disconnected the camera from the DXA-5D, the HUM disappeared and I could hear CRYSTAL CLEAR sound coming from the DXA-5D...

My conclusion...the camera must be sending some interferance through the cable connected to it.

Another thing I noticed when I connected the wireless and also the DXA-5D, there is an error message that displays as soon as I connect the external mics "PLEASE TURN ON THE MIC"
it only dissapears once I hit record on the camera...

This totally blows!

[Coco Bermudez]

problem solved....
will post later

DXA-5D works awesome!

[mhood]

I bet you found the the "G1/G2" ground switch. The SignVideo XLR-PRO has the same ground switch for $200 less money and you can park your car on top of it.

[Coco Bermudez]

I bet you found the the "G1/G2" ground switch. The SignVideo XLR-PRO has the same ground switch for $200 less money and you can park your car on top of it.

Nope..I had tried everything. I think it need a certain tyoe of "solid contact" connector.

I went to Radio Shack and a couple of other electronics stores and I got every single type of connector that was labeled "2.5mm Male to 3.5mm Female" Adapter. They all had hum issues. The only connector that worked for me was Radio Shacks PART NO. 274-373.

Eventhough all the others are basically the same, the one mentioned above makes a solid snug fit...all others did not.

[mhood]

Are you working with mono or stereo adapters? Nevermind...I looked it up and that 2.5 male end has four sections to it. Seems it's built for Cel phones too. I just don't understand why a standard 3.5 couldn't have been used.

[upshot]

The only connector that worked for me was Radio Shacks PART NO. 274-373.

Thanks for that info. I figured some adapter would have the poles in the right spot.

[rubberbandito]

Super 8

I am anxiosly awaiting your review of the DXA 5d connected via 4 prong adapter to GH1. Like cost of that unit (no info on their site on hat), how well it fits below camera on tripod, if the sound is stereo tracked on the timeline? If the adapter is sticking out in risk of breaking etc.

Because there was no info on all of this I bought the Olympus LS 10 since I don't use any XLR. I've been using Rode Video Mic on an HV30 but I think it will be too big for the little gh1 so hoping the LS10 being so small will mount on hotshoe and produce excellent stereo sound, thought its not a directional condenser mic. And hook up my 3.5mm wireless to it as well as a momo lav. And if LS10 no good then connect little sensennier directional mic to hot shoe.

But my plan means syncing in post which is not easy or perfect. It would be awesome if the DXA outputs awesome sound directly into the camera and is able to disable the auto gain.

I'm surprised this post is not hugely popular. Too me the audio is so essential for run n gun documentary style filmaking gorilla style. Are you posting somewhere else?

The H4n seems way to big to mount to top of the little gh1 btw.

[nathankw]

I've got an old beachbox I want to use with my GH1 so this is of great interest.

We don't have Radio Shack here in the UK. Do you think this would do the job?
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=218492

Was the one that worked the only 4 pole one or were there other ones that looked similar but didn't work?

[Coco Bermudez]

Like cost of that unit (no info on their site on hat), how well it fits below camera on tripod, if the sound is stereo tracked on the timeline? If the adapter is sticking out in risk of breaking etc.

I think I paid $380 for the unit..as soon as I got it it went backordered in most places. It does not fit well with the GH1. I think it was designed exclusively for the 5D body. Why? Well it has two locating pins on top of the adapter that align with the holes on the underside of the Canon 5D. The main know will fit just fine but as the camera body gets closer to the Beachtek, the two poles interfere with the GH1 body so you can't clamp it all the way down. If you align the bog diagonally you can make it fit...but it looks funny. I wish they had not put those pins in there...I guess you can hack them off...I will.


It would be awesome if the DXA outputs awesome sound directly into the camera and is able to disable the auto gain.

It works pretty good. It disabled the horrid AGC on the GH1...One thing though is that the trim control on the Beachtek are kinda funky...you would think that as you turn the knobs clockwise, the gain would raise smoothly. In my test it seems to raise in steps...kinda weird.


I'm surprised this post is not hugely popular. Too me the audio is so essential for run n gun documentary style filmaking gorilla style. Are you posting somewhere else?

The H4n seems way to big to mount to top of the little gh1 btw.

I am surprised too...but then again, this is a new product so many people are just getting their hands on them...I only post here...people seem to me a little more friendly and the moderators don't censor your posts if you post something TRUE but not favoring a product they are endorsed by......

[Coco Bermudez]

IWe don't have Radio Shack here in the UK. Do you think this would do the job?
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=218492

Was the one that worked the only 4 pole one or were there other ones that looked similar but didn't work?

It doesn't look like the one I got...I bought so many adapters that looked similar but they were of different manufacturers. If you happen to go out there and don't find one that seems to work, send me a message and I will be more than happy to go to my local Radio Shack and send you an adapter to the UK...free of charge...how is that for service? :)

[nathankw]

It doesn't look like the one I got...I bought so many adapters that looked similar but they were of different manufacturers. If you happen to go out there and don't find one that seems to work, send me a message and I will be more than happy to go to my local Radio Shack and send you an adapter to the UK...free of charge...how is that for service? :)

Wow, that would be super generous. I'll happily refund you via paypal.
I'd ordered one adapter before seeing this thread but I suspect it won't work (just 3 pole I think). I'll let you know.

ta.

[Martti Ekstrand]

DXA-5D dimensions: 152 (L) x 75 (W) x 43 (H) mm. Weight: 450 gr

H4n dimensions: 156.3 (D) x 73 (W) × 35 (H) mm. Weight: 280 gr

DXA-5D goes to the cam's compressed 2 channel audio with a high frequency tone to fool the AGC. (Doesn't that require a low-pass filtering in post to get rid of the tone?) It has 2 XLR inputs.

H4n does up to 24 bit 96KHz uncompressed with 4 channels and doubles as a USB soundcard with a computer. Inputs are 2 XLR/tele combo balanced/unbalanced and one mini-tele stereo and then the built-in stereo mics. And you will still have the cam's sound as backup.

Personally I'll get the H4n. Syncing audio in post isn't that hard, just a boring job. Plus there is software out there to automate the task:
http://www.hdwarrior.co.uk/2009/05/26/pluraleyes-review-coming-soon/

[nickybee]

thanks for this man - my GH1 hasn't arrived yet - but I just ordered two of these...

$5.99 each - ripoff - they should be tiny and cost like $1...

in fact beachtek should be sending them included with their unit

nick

[rubberbandito]

Thanks much for your review super 8. I'm going to go with the LS10 for now until somebody makes something to fit. Ergonomics and tiny backpack equipment is essetial for me.

I didn't know about the political stuff on here but I guessed it might be the case. Its a business after all.

Again thanks much!

[BrianMurphy]

You should look at the receiver and on the Sennheiser there should be a menu where you can select the output level. Since the jack in the GH! (though I don't have one...yet I assume at this stage) is probably mic level input and the receiver for the Sennheiser is probably outputting line level signal. Try adjusting the output. I know on the G1 series from Senheiser this is possible. Or use pads. But I may be way off after reading all the threads and if so my apology.
Brian

[nickybee]

the signvideo seems a cool deal - but can it trick the GH-1's AGC circuit ?

If not then sadly it's not as cool a deal anymore

nick

[mhood]

Isn't it pretty much accepted wisdom that the best audio will be had by feeding an XLR-Pro into an H4N or Edirol HR09? You can mount the XLR-Pro to the bottom of the camera, the head plate to the bottom of the XLR-Pro and the Edirol to the hot shoe. Makes for a fairly self-contained setup.

[rubberbandito]

i own the sign video xlr pro but it has no power. its just a xlr adapter to 3.5mm jack with mixer and two line in mics. it won't do what the dxa does since it has no power to do anything.

question: my plan is to use Oly LS 10 on the hot shoe of the GH1 (its perfect since its so small like the camera). I want to use it as a directional mic for run and gun interviews mostly outside. I plan on NOT using a directional mic (like Rode Video Mic) at all and just rely on the Oly. Will the LS10 hold up? I don't want to use the Rode anymore because I find it too big and bulky for this little camera and it creates noise when the rubberbands get old. If the LS10 won't work as a directional mic I plan on buying the little Sensennier and mount it next to the LS10 with a hotshoe splitter (get both units next to each other up there)

Another q: would it be better to plug in any additional lav mics I have like audio technica (or future Sensennier) directly into the LS10 or better to plug into the Sign Video unit first and then into the LS10?

thanks for any help in this area. trying to work around the gh1s audio problems and have no budget to do it.

[BrianMurphy]

You guys who are looking for adapter style mixers for your cameras should also look at:
http://www.juicedlink.com/index.htm
Small company and great specs and reviews. The guy who designs and builds actually answers emails.
I also have to say that when I look at the brackets and the connections etc. I am glad my main camera is an HMC 150.
Brian

[nickybee]

but it doesn't kill the AGC with the high frequency tone...

and although disabling the AGC via firmware is of course the ideal solution - there's another option - but I wonder how easy it is to do it simply...

It's based on reading this...

http://www.cinema5d.com/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=2495&p=16561

The guy connected an MP3 player playing a continuous high frequency sound (like the beachtek adaptor does)....but here's the thing...MP3 player is a bit of overkill - especially when there are devices like this one...

http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/72-7440&CAWELAID=220584622

problem is of course the frequency of this little XLR tone generator is wrong...what we need is an XLR tone generator at that high inaudible frequency - so basically ANY mixer with XLR inputs becomes GH-1 and 5Dmk2 compatible

Nick


You guys who are looking for adapter style mixers for your cameras should also look at:
http://www.juicedlink.com/index.htm
Small company and great specs and reviews. The guy who designs and builds actually answers emails.
I also have to say that when I look at the brackets and the connections etc. I am glad my main camera is an HMC 150.
Brian

[J Davis]

@super8
Any chance you could record some dialog thru the DXA-5D and post it for us all to hear?
Might help people make decisions between sync and no sync options.

[nathankw]

An update from me.
I just received this - a cheapo 2.5mm adaptor from dealextreme:

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.733


I wasn't expecting to work because it's only 3 pole, but to my surprise it seems fine. That said, I'm only using one channel. I've got my GH1 connected via the dealextreme adaptor into a passive beachtek type box and a single mono mic plugged into that.

Haven't done a full test yet but I'm certainly getting sound through (recorded onto one channel) with no obvious crackles. The AGC is evident though. I wonder if I feed a constant sound source into the other channel?

I'll try to do a proper test and post the results here.

[J Davis]

I wonder if I feed a constant sound source into the other channel?


Thats a pretty clever idea.

I've heard some of the recording modes result in 16kHz audio. Do you know if this is the case for the AVCHD formats as well?

[Martti Ekstrand]

16KHz uncompressed audio is only with the MJPEG mode, with AVCHD it's 48KHz AC3 licensed from Dolby Digital.

[nathankw]

I've heard some of the recording modes result in 16kHz audio. Do you know if this is the case for the AVCHD formats as well?

My understanding is that in MJPEG mode the audio is only 16khz, but in the AVCHD modes it's a much healthier rate (48khz I think).

[Slice]

Super8, please post a dialog test.