bad audio feature

A

alexrodz

Member
Hi - I love my DVX100, but the thing is that when I am shooting live events, it is very hard to have to "ride" the audio when it gets low or high I have to bring the levels up or down. It would be great if this camera had an automatic audio to prevent it from peaking or being too low.

does anyone have the same problem? if so, how have you dealt with it
 
i dont know if it is the same problem that you are having, but i shot with my ntg 1 for the first time this weekend and i noticed that i had to turn my chanels almost all the way down to stop from peaking. This with the second time i shot with the camera and i was checking to see if there was any where to turn the master volume down but couldnt find it. If you figure it out let me know!
 
Your best option is to have your mic(s) running into a mixer. Out of the mixer, into
the XLR's of your DVX.
Either you or a sound tech can monitor the signal coming into the mixer with the
headphone mix and make any adjustments as needed.
Also, he or you can monitor the feed coming into the DVX as well.

This way, ensures you that the audio signal will be strong but not distorted. In addition, the sound tech can tell if there are "unwanted" sounds being picked up.
i.e. outside ambience, planes, traffic or inside from 50-60 cycle hums from AC's or
lighting fixtures etc.

You can invest in an inexpensive mixer for about $100.00. Behringer has a line to choose from: http://www.behringer.com/
Or, if you can afford it, look for a shure field mixer. I picked up a used one in mint condition for $800.00

Good luck.

Mark Dalzell / AudioScapes
Las Vegas, NV
 
You can also record in mono with both channels reading from the same imput. Set one channel at your ideal level, and the other significantly lower as a safety channel. That way if you peak or blow out, you'll have that second channel to replace the blowout when you're editing.
 
Yeah, if you are using a shotgun set it to record to both channels and have one channel set close to peaking and one way under. This way everything thats too loud use the lower channel and everything thats too low use the almost peaked channel. Then you split it in post, make a copt and flip the channels(make left the right and make right the left) and then bring both back into the editing program to make both channels stereo again. If you are shooting a band you have to get a modulator... no thats not the name...there is something you put between the mic and camera but I forget what its called. I have one but havn't used it in years. It basically limits the signal so it doesn't get too hot but you also have to use a good mic thats not going to fold under the load.
 
wait so are you saying that it is possible to record to two separtate channels? I am very new with the dvx, i previously had a vx 2100 so i am not familiar with all the fancy audio. How do i go about making my shot gun record to two separate channels? And does this mean that when i bring the audio into post i will have two channels with differnt audio on each one?
 
still not satisfied

still not satisfied

thank you guys...you know this is all great...i've actually done most the things you've advised, but the thing is that this turns a live shoot edit into a nightmare...I am having to sit in front of the editing system for at least 4 more hours just to edit audio. This would have been fixed with a simple feature that all cameras that I've owned (XL1S - DV5000, the 2100, and a Betacam) and all that I know of - the feature makes the audio levels automatic so and keeps the levels at an average rate without peeking or going too low.

Hooking up my camera to a mixer is a great idea, BUT....that keeps me from moving around, and this extremly unpractical when shooting live events.

I so sad now :-( - i love my camera but not having this feature is a huge flaw
 
alexrodz said:
thank you guys...you know this is all great...i've actually done most the things you've advised, but the thing is that this turns a live shoot edit into a nightmare...I am having to sit in front of the editing system for at least 4 more hours just to edit audio. This would have been fixed with a simple feature that all cameras that I've owned (XL1S - DV5000, the 2100, and a Betacam) and all that I know of - the feature makes the audio levels automatic so and keeps the levels at an average rate without peeking or going too low.

Hooking up my camera to a mixer is a great idea, BUT....that keeps me from moving around, and this extremly unpractical when shooting live events.

I so sad now :-( - i love my camera but not having this feature is a huge flaw
Click to expand...

The AGC (automatic gain control) feature you are referring to is a nice feature but really has limitations. When there is no signal the mic will search for anything audible and in times will bring up the noise floor thinking this is what it's supposed to do. Then when there's dialog, you'll get a momentary spike as the AGC adjusted to the new level.

If you have ever seen any professional ENG crews, the camera operator and sound tech move as one. They have gear that's extremely portable and can move on the fly at any given time.

As far as the editing goes, it all starts with the recording. Good video and audio makes less work. Not always easy but something to strive for.
 
MDSLAMMER - I agree when you say that the AGC has limitations, but again....this is not something I would use on a "controlled" shoot like an interview, or a well micked scene...BUT...AGC is a very important when you are shooting live event, like concerts events where there are diferent speakers where one speaks very low and the music following the speaker is very loud.
I also agree with the Pro ENG crews comment...but again...the whole point of having AGC is so that the camera guy can concentrate on the shot without having to worry about peaks. This is just a big big thing this camera is missing
 
and there are workarounds, but every workaround adds a few hours to my editing proccess, this brings profits down
 
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