Manual/Auto audio on DVX100

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olwiggum

New member
Hey everyone,
I did a quick search and couldn't find the answer.

I've had my camera a couple of months and have been riding the audio channels manually at every shoot. I've had some times when it was a little more of a pain in the neck to be riding them during the shoot, but I can't seem to find an auto audio feature on the camera. I've looked through the manual that came with the camera and can't find an answer either.

Is it buried somewhere in the menu? There are some shoots where I'd prefer to have manual control , but there are some times where I'd rather just put the audio on "auto".

Can anyone help?
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The DVX100 does not have an option for putting the audio on "auto". There is, however, an ALC (automatic limiter control) to help keep you from clipping. It won't work with sudden punctuated sounds, but it works fairly well if you are just listening to someone speaking. You access it from the recording setup menu.

One thing that you might try if you are only using one mic is to go ahead and turn on the ALC and then send the mic signal to both channel one and channel two. Set both channels at different audio levels and if one clips occassionally then you have the other as a backup.

Personally, if you really want to ride your audio levels during a shoot you need to invest in a good mixer. The least expensive "good" mixer that I can think of for someone only using one or two mics is the Sound Devices MixPre. It's around $600.

If you have not purchased Barry Green's DVX Book it is GREAT! Packed with easily understandable information. MUCH better than the manual. And it will up your understanding and skill level with your camera in no time!
 
Auto audio level is a tool of the Devil and should never be used - ever! :angry:

It is a horrible thing that makes a mess of all your sound - it destroys it completely.

Manual level is best, with a limiter to take care of the overloads.
 
I get it... but sometimes I'd like to be able to just set it to auto if I'm trying to film a conversation that goes from very quiet to very loud in the course of a few seconds. That way, I can concentrate on making sure that my shot doesn't get wobbly if I'm shooting hand-held.
 
olwiggum said:
I get it... but sometimes I'd like to be able to just set it to auto if I'm trying to film a conversation that goes from very quiet to very loud in the course of a few seconds. That way, I can concentrate on making sure that my shot doesn't get wobbly if I'm shooting hand-held.
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But it won't sound very good - if the sound is quiet the auto level control will slowly increase the level so it sounds as if it's getting louder and louder. If it gets louder the level is reduced, if it suddenly gets louder, you get distortion and a sudden clamping down.

It sounds absolutely horrible.

Best to set a manual level and leave a limiter to cope with the peaks.

Better still - use a sound recordist who will do it properly. Just like the cameraman should do the picture properly.

You can't do both jobs properly - and the sound is more important than the picture in most cases; so it's better to get good sound than good picture. :Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)
 
John knows what he's talking about.

Some cameras DO have "auto" audio. Its called automatic gain control - AGC for short. If you ever see it on a camera AVOID IT LIKE THE PLAGUE. You'll end up with so much hiss on your soundtrack, that pumps in and out when someone starts speaking and then stops that it will sound pretty amateurish.

If you're only recording one person then turn the ALC limiter to ON in the menu and just route the signal to both channels of the DVX. Run a few tests and set channel one where you have 4 bars of red on your peaks and set channel two to where you have one or maybe two bars of red on your peaks. Now you have two different channels of audio recording at two different levels that you really shouldn't have to ride during an interview (if that's your goal). The ALC will catch most of your peaks. Just pick the best channel in your editor.

It's not the best solution, but if you are by yourself, it is a heck of a lot better solution than using Automatic Gain Control.

John may say otherwise, but this has always worked pretty well for me when I was by myself.

I'll definitely be happier when my mixer shows up from UPS and my friend who is a sound guy is riding levels while I run the camera.
 
Yes any AGC is the death. Luckily for the DVX it does not have that, which has saved more tracks than most people even realize. the ALC has it's uses and is nothing like imo the AGC, I've used the ALC and glad to have had it for certain situations hardly any of them film related however...

I understand if you are a one man shooting army and don't want to have to worry about levels AND the camera/video, but - imo still better than the alternative. =)
 
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