GH4 audio bug discovered

I hear it too... but only with a mic plugged directly into the camera. It is not there with my wireless kit. Sigh. Will have to import to edit to see how bad it is when camera is set to -12 or -11.
 
Sounds like a grounding or shielding issue, hardware related not a software bug. Does it occur if you put a transformer or active preamp isolated mixer stage between the mic and the camera input for line level use. Beachtek passive transformer interface would isolate any ground issues with a mic.
 
sounds like hardware design fail to me also.
however, as long as it does not affect the actual recording AT ALL, I don't think I will return mine for correction or replacement.
I know it is not for everyone, but I plan to use my external recorder for anything critical, rather than the GH4 onboard.
 
I just tested it with a rode videomic as well as a juicedlink and have some good news and some bad...

Bad news is I hear the noise too. Even worse news is that I recorded a clip and the noise showed up in the recording too NOT just when monitoring sound through the headphones!

The good news is that even though it showed up in the actual recording, it's basically imperceptible. I was using a rode videomic and when playing back the clip, I only hear it when the mic is plugged in but the mic is turned off, so essentially all I'm hearing is the noise floor. Then I have to turn the volume all the way up and I hear it subtly mixed in with the normal noise floor hiss. The second I turn the mic on, the room tone completely covers that electronic buzz, and by a lot.

SO, yes it sucks that it's there but I feel like in real life use, it's prob not an issue. It's most perceptible when you jack up the internal mic gain, which I never do anyways. At least with the GH3, and what I'll do with the GH4 starting out, is use the lowest possible internal mic gain level. I use a JuicedLink which has good preamps so I control gain there. Even if go with the rode videomic plugged directly into the camera, that mic is so sensitive that when internal mic level gain is at 0db, it's plenty loud. Loud enough that I might even turn internal mic level down into the negative dbs (this is new on the GH4 so not sure how it'll work).

So I really can't see a situation where it'd be an issue and I can only hear it when pushing everything to super extreme non real world situations. Even then it blends in with the noise floor hiss and I only really hear it because I'm looking for it. With a hot live mic, I don't hear it at all above room tone.
 
It looks like that the GH4 beta testers didn't tested their units properly. :/
How guys the hell you missed that ???? I don't think that retail units are different...
 
I just wish they didn't cheap out on shielding, and I wish they didn't put the audio inputs right next to the LCD. That being said, there isn't really another place to put the audio jacks. The headphone input is not in a good place. The least they could do is start shielding the audio wiring better moving forward.
 
well mine arrives soon and if there is even a hint of electrical noise in the recording, however faint- it's going right back to the dealer. It will be the first thing I check when it gets here. I'll wait a few months until they get is figured out and will re-order.
 
Give them a chance to find and fix the issue. Contacting them via FB was a great idea. I'd really like to report the 96fps lockup bug too but can't reproduce it on demand.
 
I'll give them all the time they need, but I only got 10 days return period at the dealer. I'd keep it and wait if I knew it was a firmware issue, but time is short before the sales-guy says "it's got a warranty, talk to Panasonic now".
 
Transcend TRSD128GBU3. I'm not the only one as others have reported the same lockup using different cards.
 
SuperSet said:
Transcend TRSD128GBU3. I'm not the only one as others have reported the same lockup using different cards.
Click to expand...

So far, the only reports of lockups I've heard about have been with 128GB cards. Perhaps there's a connection as to why the GH4's manual states only cards up to 64GB are compatible.
 
Sol M. said:
So far, the only reports of lockups I've heard about have been with 128GB cards. Perhaps there's a connection as to why the GH4's manual states only cards up to 64GB are compatible.
Click to expand...

There are folks reporting the same hangup using Kingston 64GB SDXCs on Personal View too.

KMA_WWC said:
Please guys let's keep this thread audio bug related only.
Click to expand...

Apologies. That's the last I'll mention it.
 
Which mode are you guys testing this one, I was listening to the noise (as I was testing more mics here) while the mode was in 'M' mode, I then moved the mode dial around to M-Movie and the hum disappeared....
 
Panasonic just respond this on facebook:

Hello everyone, our team has tested the camera and experienced the same situation. The situation occurs when a 3 connector TRS microphone is plugged into our camera and specific settings are applied to the headphone output and microphone input.

Panasonic microphones, shotgun mic DMW-MS2, or Stereo mic VW-VMS10, use a 4 pin connector plug and do not experience this problem.

We recommend you use the Panasonic microphones for connecting directly to the camera or use the DMW-YAGH should you desire to connect other microphones to this camera.
Click to expand...

So no firmware fix but rather going to buy panasonic microphone or using the DMW-YAGH. ???
 
Hi everyone, I've been corresponding with Panasonic engineering on this issue. This morning I spoke with them on the phone and they think they have discovered the issue. The mic socket on the gh4 is made to accept a 4 ring mini jack (like iPhone headphones use) because that's what panny's aftermarket mic uses. Standard stereo mini Jacks are 3 rings. I'm on the road shooting, but next week I'll try wiring up a custom cable to see if that solves the issue.
 
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