Bizarre audio problem with my FS100

Yes, as a final confirmation that the SD card is not contributing to the problem, I took the SD card completely out of the camera while recording to the FMU only, and the beeps are loud. So anything causing the problem is under Sony's control.

One more twist to the story, when the FMU unit is in and I'm recording to both the FMU and the SD card, the FMU unit which has a loud beep when the FMU is read to, also induces another very faint beep when the SD card is read to. So there are two strings of beeps being created by the FMU.
 
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Very Odd, i've not had my FS long enough to test with, but is there a difference between European and US models perhaps? How many versions of the firmware are out there already?

cheers
Paul
 
Yesterday I read a post in the NX5U section of DVINFO.net by a person that was having the same beeping problem on two of his NX5U's.

He finally found that an RapcoHorizon ISOBLOX 1:1 Isolation Transformer placed in line eliminated the beeping. That is one solution but having another piece of stuff hanging off the camera isn't ideal.

I was thinking an XLR mic is an XLR mic, but finally realized today there are at least three kinds, one requiring external power from the cam, one having an internal battery for power, and a third that needs no power (dynamic mic).

My observation on the FS100 today is that XLR mics that get their power from the camera or do not need power at all don't cause the beeping.

Only the mics that have an internal battery, and are used with the camera switch set to 48v OFF are causing the beeping.

I also again note there are two different types of beeps, one a lower pitch, but louder, tone made by writes to the FMU and a higher pitch, but quieter, tone made by writes made to the SD card. Sometimes the writes coincide so you hear only the lower pitched tone.
 
You can also get some weird anomalies with different types of condenser mics. Some brands of mics create a heavier current draw from the phantom supply, i.e. they require more power to drive their internal electronics. I been on a beta testing team for a pro audio interface and some mic brands have proven to cause problems if the 48v supply isn't very robust.
 
Interesting, that is probably why I've not heard it. I just use the phantom power from the camera to run the mic. Got tired of carrying AAA batteries with me and given the REALLY LONG record times on the FS100, using the mic doesn't really affect it that much for me.
 
The 48v on vs off factor makes sense in my experience, I believe the time I heard the beeping really loud was when I had a small battery powered mic plugged into the XLR 1 port and the 48v phantom power was off. The beeping did go away though or got a lot softer over time. I believe I heard the beeping when I had the mic only partially plugged into the XLR port, when I realized that and pushed it in further I believe the beeping went away. Do we know if having the phantom power on, even with a powered mic, alleviates the issue (I don't recommend this as the 48v may cause damage, but some powered microphones or connectors have a blocking capacitor to protect against damage).
 
Received and tested today the RapcoHorizon ISOBLOX 1:1 Isolation Transformer .

With the transformer in line between a Sennheiser ME64 battery powered XLR mic, connected to Channel 2: no beeps

Transformer removed: beeps

Happily the 45 degree cut on the bottom left hand side of the camera is a nice spot to velcro this transformer.

Having workarounds now, I don't plan to send the camera into Sony anytime soon. I would like for them to know what is causing this and to have a guaranteed fix before it is sent in.

I again repeat the problem has been noted by an owner of two SONY NEX5U's with the FMU installed, which I regard as a sister videocamera to the FS100.
 
Had the same problen today, working as a Sound Recordist with an FS100 for the first time. unplugging the remote cable to the hand grip seems to cure it, in which case it seems to be an earthing problem. Like some of the other posters have said, the level of the intermittent buzz (not a beep!) varies depending on card, with class 6 quieter than class 10. Haven't had time to conduct proper tests. Problem only really stood out in a quieter location, but could have been there all along. Using line inputs, so no phantom.
 
Another sound issue I discovered is that when I touch the metal body of the battery powered ME64 (I have to check my other battery powered mics) a very loud buzz is generated. Touching the cable near the mic makes a much less, but detectable buzz, which gets quieter as you go down the cable away from the mic.
 
That's the same issue, i think. The K6's earth is connected to its outer casing (as it's meant to be). Power's 'leaking' from a dodgy connection in the camera and the audio buzz is a symptom. Probably class 10 cards use a higher voltage than class 6, so more buzz. A few millivolts is an audible difference. Try disconnecting the hand grip jack.
 
I tried disconnecting the hand grip jack, and haven't noticed any effect yet.

Tests are often inconsistent, last nite touching the mic caused a huge buzz in the headphones, today, its a low hum and a low crackling sound. (I am not real concerned about this because touching your mic while recording is a no-no anyway).
 
We only get the headphone buzz (in time with the tally light) while the camera is recording. When in pause mode there's no sign of it (and of course the tally isn't flashing). When we disconnect the hand grip jack and record, the buzz is gone. When we reconnect it, it returns.

Not an expert, but when you touch the case of your mic you're completing the unearthed earth circuit. The crackle is the discharge of the static that's built up at the mics capacitor because of the extra amps. Same cause, different symptom? I'd be wary about connecting any mic to that camera in that state. This is a power thing, not an audio thing - we're just hearing the effects.
 
I can see that this thread is a little stagnant but I wanted to mention my workaround for this problem. It seems the camera just has a lot of grounding problems. Everyone's might be different, but this worked for mine: Set your inputs to separate channels (i.e. both should not be on "input 1" or "input 2") and switch any unused input to "line." I only have the standard mic attached, but I can't hear any scratchiness, beeps, etc. with these settings. I'm outside the initial 90 days on my FS100 so I expect it would cost me some money to get this fixed. It's a shame, I don't think I'll ever really trust the camera for primary audio. Still, I'll take it over filming red tuxedos with my EX1;)
 
bimdas said:
The handgrip is junk and it causes all types of interference with my g2 wireless.
Click to expand...

I had some unusual interference a while back with my G2. I thought the interference was the result of external issues. Can you provide more details about the conditions when your handgrip is interfering?
 
I used to hate the handgrip, but I gave it another chance and moved the way I use it and I have to be honest, I like it now. I'd like it to be a little tighter to the body, but I rotate it up with the button on top, but back a little and it's very comfortable to hold now (with the other hand holding under the front so I can adjust the lens.

Now, electrical noise wise, I've not heard anything yet, but I am using phantom power.
 
bimdas said:
The handgrip is junk and it causes all types of interference with my g2 wireless.
Click to expand...

It was quite easy to isolate. On a shoot we got this constant interference (almost like a mobile beeping and buzzing interence) and at first I thought it was the OS on the lens so I turned that off. Then I moved the receiver away from the camera body and let it dangle behind the camera but still got interference. Then I noticed everytime I passed the receiver over the handgrip cable, the interference noise would come on everytime. I disconnected the handgrip and that was the end of it. It's quite obvious the handgrip cable is cheap and flimsy with no shielding whatsoever.
 
Fs100 audio issues

Fs100 audio issues

Beware everyone…

This FS-100 has an incredible image…but you cannot get good sound with this camera…it records barely audible beeps to your sound…they don’t follow a pattern…but it renders all recorded audio useless…Sony does not officially recognize this as a defect….though they are taking my FS 100 back…

I really hope they fix this problem with the fs700…

Love love love the image but not being able to record trustable sound is a deal breaker for me…don’t want to always have to record sound separately…

Tried with 2 different fs100s and different mics but always get the beeps…

And many people are having this problem…just google fs100 beep…

This is heartbreaking…

Beware indie film makers…
 
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