Test video clips - Audio noise in HMC150 - white noise?...

F

frankmcma

Member
Had the HMC150 only a few days, but I have been experiencing white noise (floor noise) with the XLR inputs. The built in mic has a lot of it, but I was surprised to find a lesser amount, but still there, in using a handheld XLR mic (set to run into both channels)

Here are two test videos:

http://www.fmstudio.com/audiotest1.m4v

This clip above has the mic levels at first at 5 (halfway) then at 8 and then at 2

http://www.fmstudio.com/audiotest2.m4v

This clip does not have me speaking, just the mic plugged in, so you can boost it to hear

I am very curious what you all think! The mic comes through nice and loud, no problem there. The mic has a pickup like a lav, only really picks up a foot or so away (I use it for voice). So if you turn up the clips when I am not talking you will hear the white noise from the camera. This is a silent room.

Let me know your opinions...if you hear it..if you don't..if its acceptable..etc.

Basically want to know...is this normal?

Thanks!

Frank
 
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dvxuser.com just ate a post that took 20 minutes to write. Not sure why. Short version:

What you are hearing is a combination of your body's sounds, possible cable and inherent mike sounds, and building borne sound, all summed and divided by the time it takes for all this to decay below audible levels. Recording devices record what's there---our brain/ear combination does not. Many reasons; can expand.

That room *cannot* be silent, because it's not an anechoic chamber. What you are hearing is referred to as "room tone" which another poster mentioned in another related thread.

As well, there is a possibility that you are hearing artifacts from either the cable, the mic, or both. This is why I tested the unconnected states in my camera, reported in yet another thread.

What you recorded sounds normal. What's important in recording in the real (i.e., noisy) world is the signal to noise (all this stuff) ratio: if the signal is strong enough, the background stuff does not matter.

OTOH, if you are concerned, get it checked out: one of the advantages of a long warranty!

Cheers

KL
 
Kit,

It's too bad I missed the 20 minute post :) I have lost some posts on this board because preview and submit are reversed, submit is typically on the right side, so I preview when I think I am posting.

Anywho....

It's good to have one vote for "normal"...I was hoping to get some other opinions as well.

Yes every room has noise, my concern is that there is a certain amount of this noise with no mics plugged in. Of course no one will really sit down and do extensive tests with no mics plugged in (haha) but when there are no mics plugged in and you bring the headphones up to half way you can hear it. I was just trying to figure out if this is standard for this camera. I am used to audio equipment, firewire, etc...which has (and has to have) a pretty clean signal as a base before you plug in your mic. With this camera I was just surprised to see it dialed up more than usual.

The tests I did not put up were recording in Logic Pro with the mic and cable via firewire, then using the exact same mic and cable on the camera. There is a difference you can hear as well as see in Logic. I also did not put up a video with no mic...but the exact sound, noise, can be heard in the clips.

I have only had the camera less than a week, so really deciding to keep it or not. I worked in TV for ten years, cable and broadcast, so I have a more critical view and ear I am sure. I always give lots of slack to prosumer camcorders, this camera has impressed me even though its relatively mid-range, love the picture on it.

My main issue is figuring out if the camera is defective, and returning. if people listen to the tests and say, yep, normal then I will most likely keep it. If they hear it as odd, then there may be a problem with this unit.

If you do pro stuff and you say its clean then thats great, thanks for taking the time to check it out! And love to hear what others think...

Frank
 
OK; I think I understand.

If you were to return it (rather than have it checked out by Panny) what would you consider replacing it with?

I bought the 150 simply because, apart from the 170, there is nothing near it, quality-wise, AND the fact that it records on SDHC cards. If I had gone 170, I would have mated it to a FireStore: the P2 system is not for me. But, and this is a big but, is the 170 audio any cleaner than the 150? Others will have to chime in here, because I can't answer that Q.

Now, with that out of the way, two questions: with your broadcast background (like mine; I was an ABC director here for 10 years), is the *signal* to noise ratio acceptable and, the second Q., is that noise normal for that camera? If you suspect that it is not, have it checked out by Panny, assuming you have enough time before the return date comes up.

For my purposes, the audio is sufficiently clean, but your needs may be more demanding. To that end, IF I had to have better audio, I would have no problem recording double system on critical projects either, and that would still be cheaper than the 170. I have a Zoom SD card recorder that is very very clean, and is very inexpensive too (and has two XLR connectors). Just a thought.

hth, kl
 
You are right, there is nothing close in this price range. Everything else about the camera is great.

Here is a third test:
http://fmstudio.com/3.m4v

About 18 seconds..this is with both channels set to Mic and NO mics plugged in. In addition, the volume of both level meters is turned down to zero. In theory, should be silence, but if you turn it up, noise. It's low but there. This is the same sound I hear when I plug in my headsets and turn the volume up half-way on the camera, with no mics plugged in.

Does anyone hear it? Is it there but too low to notice? Is it..oh yeah..now I hear it? Inquiring minds want to know :)

Need to decide on the camera this week....

Frank
 
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