Search TRS to TRRS adaptor, found that Rode also makes an adaptor with the part number "SC4".
Here is a link. www.rodemic.com/accessories/sc4
Here is a link. www.rodemic.com/accessories/sc4
GH4 audio bug discovered
- Thread starter tacotim
- Start date
Sol M.
Veteran
It's a good thing people are getting Panasonic's mics and these TRS to TRRS adapters. Soon, enough people will be saying that their mic or the adapters do nothing to resolve the buzzing and Panasonic will actually have to take a closer look at the cause of the issue.
For now, Panasonic are sitting pretty because it seems like no one has their mic or had a need for these adapters previously.
It's also interesting to note that the GH3 exhibits none of this buzzing yet Panasonic still maintain that both the GH3 and GH4 were designed for TRRS inputs.
For now, Panasonic are sitting pretty because it seems like no one has their mic or had a need for these adapters previously.
It's also interesting to note that the GH3 exhibits none of this buzzing yet Panasonic still maintain that both the GH3 and GH4 were designed for TRRS inputs.
Fran Guidry
Active member
If you haven't heard this buzz in the GH3 you must not be trying hard enough. Try recording some silence then normalize the result, as in the post way back at the beginning of this thread. I can hear a very low level of self-noise in my GH3 compared to the Zoom H6 I used to feed the audio in ... but I have to raise the level beyond normal listening.
Fran
Sol M.
Veteran
I've done just that. While self-noise is inevitable, the GH3 does not exhibit the same buzzing sound as on the GH4. With the GH4, you don't need to normalize the audio at all to hear it. When mic gain is turned above 0db, it's easily audible by the naked ear.
Ed Kishel
Veteran
These are smart guys, really smart guys. To get this much imaging capability in a camera this affordable takes some very talented engineers. So after listening to the explanation of this issue during the B&H webinar ("our engineers designed the input for our TRRS microphone") just amazes me when the vast majority of dual channel audio outputs are TRS. And then to not test for backwards compatibility? Come-on now, I returned mine over this...and now have $1700 just waiting. Panny- fix it and take my money, please! 
I think this speaks to the larger problem that permeates video productions to this day, that audio is a second thought.
I think this speaks to the larger problem that permeates video productions to this day, that audio is a second thought.I personally suspect the modulated noise-floor bug was an oversight from Panasonic engineering as they rushed to get the camera out on the market, and that the TRRS connection thing is a convenient excuse.
The main problem is that GHx beta-testers are always using semi-working firmware, so these bugs are never found until enough users are working with the final release firmware.
I expect that Panasonic will do one of the following:
1- Do nothing and let users cope with this issue ( i.e. use a noise-gate to eliminate the modulated noise-floor sound in post )
2- Reduce the camera gain back to GH3 levels, which puts us back to having to feed a -20 dB signal to the camera for optimal audio results.
3- Slip-stream a hardware fix into production, that will be discovered by new buyers 6-12 months down the road.
mdifilm
Well-known member
Hi All, I just did a test, using those cheap xlr to 3.5mm mini input and all of them have the noise, and when I used this Kopul LMT100 - Low to High Impedance Matching Transformer
the audio noise is very much almost gone (it's there but very minimal). I remembered that I got this cable back when I had the t2i to trying to get a good mic to work with the mic in. lol so this would help (plus using a Tascam 60D).
Here's the link. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/885062-REG/kopul_lmt_100_lo_to_hi_impedance.html
the audio noise is very much almost gone (it's there but very minimal). I remembered that I got this cable back when I had the t2i to trying to get a good mic to work with the mic in. lol so this would help (plus using a Tascam 60D).
Here's the link. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/885062-REG/kopul_lmt_100_lo_to_hi_impedance.html
Erik Naso
Veteran
Also tested the Rode SC4 TRS to TRRS with the VideoMic Pro and it didn't work at all. No audio. The buzz was present when the cable was plugged in without the mic plugged into the adapter. Thats all I got. I'm done testing adapters.
Ed Kishel
Veteran
Ah... the joys of early adopting: to pay top dollar for the privilege to troubleshoot a company's product. This issue would have never occurred had all those early testers out there stopped getting all moist about 4k and actually listened to their headphones.
I re-watched the dozens and dozens of reviews of this camera (pre-release and production units) where sound performance is ignored. And so let me take a few more swings at this dead horse- audio is and will continue to be an after-thought.
I'm hoping though that these weeks of shortage of GH4s is a good sign, maybe a fix is slowing down production a bit.
Small observation. My friend received his GH4 today and I did a real quick test with regular Rode VideoMic, Sennheiser headphones in NTSC mode and there were no buzzing at all. Tomorrow, we might do side by side testing with my videomic pro and GH4 and with his mic and GH4. I'm talking about the buzz while monitoring. I will record as well tomorrow, if we do the tests.
UPDATE:
Tested both cameras, mine and my friends and the buzzing issue is there with the VideoMic Pro, and it is both very apparent while monitoring and it gets recorded. So, looks like his camera isn't the magic unicorn. One thing though. I could not hear buzzing with the regular VideoMic when monitoring. I haven't recorded anything with that mic to see if there is buzz on recorded file, but while monitoring it was just fine on both cameras. Could be the sensitivity of the regular VideoMic or it may just be that it doesn't create the buzz at all.
UPDATE:
Tested both cameras, mine and my friends and the buzzing issue is there with the VideoMic Pro, and it is both very apparent while monitoring and it gets recorded. So, looks like his camera isn't the magic unicorn. One thing though. I could not hear buzzing with the regular VideoMic when monitoring. I haven't recorded anything with that mic to see if there is buzz on recorded file, but while monitoring it was just fine on both cameras. Could be the sensitivity of the regular VideoMic or it may just be that it doesn't create the buzz at all.
Last edited:
I also found no buzzing with a rode videomic. I loaded the audio from some test clips that had a range of sounds into Audition and could neither hear or see (in waveform or spectral display) anything resembling a buzz. The white noise is there but it seems to be only close to my GH2. I was able to set the level to +6 in camera without any noticeable buzz. I also tried and old cheap Sima mic with similar results. My camera came in the second round of shipments from TMS but it seems unlikely that the issue would have been addressed so quickly. Luck of the draw? BTW, I also have a rode sc4 trs to trrs adaptor and like Eric found that it does not work.
Many testers were using beta firmware, so bugs and missing features were expected, which is how I imagine this audio issue got through. Just too much of a rush to get the product to the market before the firmware was finished.
Copperplate
Active member
Thanks KMA_WWC and Jmcadory for that info!! That's a relief that the original Rode VideoMic doesn't exhibit the buzz.
Copperplate
Active member
Thanks jdatkinsn for sharing that information.
Harry Pallenberg
Well-known member
Agree that all the ones I've seen have the noise... but also it is VERY CLEAR that in real world situations if you set camera to -12 it will not be a problem as even the slightest room tone will cover it - and you can always add a noise gate. The only situation where it MIGHT be a problem is some sort of sound booth VO or music recording.
Copperplate
Active member
Thank you Harry for sharing your experiences.
CustomerGH4
Well-known member
Has anyone used Azden mics? http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/887095-REG/Azden_SGM_DSLR_Shotgun_Microphone_Kit.html
Apparently my local store only has mics made by Azden, but honestly its the first time I am hearing about that company. If anyone has experience with them especially with GH4 I would be glad for feedback.
Currently Im looking for audio options. The plan is to get the upcoming Shogun Atomos and use XLR inputs straight to GH4, but since that is not an option currently I still want some sound to use that would not originate from internal mic.
The options I have thought for the mainstay are either:
1) One of them Azden mics, because their relatively cheap.
2) Panasonics own DMW-MS2, because apparently there should not be that buzz issue as Panasonic said? Don´t know if true. But still having Shotgun and stereo mode in one is nice to have. I know that the quality is inferior when compared to pro mics, but still its better than the internal mic itself. Price here is 320 eur.
3) Getting Zoom H4N (price here is 270 eur) with Rode NG2 (Price is 220 eur). The quality of course would be good, but I think for the run and gun days its not the best option. Besides if in the future maybe I would have the Shogun then there would be no need for Zoom.
What setups people here favour the most? Because of the buzz probably recording straight onto GH4 is a big no no?
Any advice helping me to decide is appreciated.
Apparently my local store only has mics made by Azden, but honestly its the first time I am hearing about that company. If anyone has experience with them especially with GH4 I would be glad for feedback.
Currently Im looking for audio options. The plan is to get the upcoming Shogun Atomos and use XLR inputs straight to GH4, but since that is not an option currently I still want some sound to use that would not originate from internal mic.
The options I have thought for the mainstay are either:
1) One of them Azden mics, because their relatively cheap.
2) Panasonics own DMW-MS2, because apparently there should not be that buzz issue as Panasonic said? Don´t know if true. But still having Shotgun and stereo mode in one is nice to have. I know that the quality is inferior when compared to pro mics, but still its better than the internal mic itself. Price here is 320 eur.
3) Getting Zoom H4N (price here is 270 eur) with Rode NG2 (Price is 220 eur). The quality of course would be good, but I think for the run and gun days its not the best option. Besides if in the future maybe I would have the Shogun then there would be no need for Zoom.
What setups people here favour the most? Because of the buzz probably recording straight onto GH4 is a big no no?
Any advice helping me to decide is appreciated.
David W. Jones
Veteran
Skip the Azden.