FX6: Fx6 fan noise

scorsesefan

scorsesefan

Veteran
I had the fx6 for a few years, sold it, and then recently re-purchased. The fan seems a little loud on this unit, especially in “off when recording “ mode where it runs very high when not recording. I can’t really remember how my first unit behaved, but I don’t think I touched the default settings. Anyone else experience similar?Thanks
 
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I’ve worked on quite a few shows that used the FX6 and have never had fan noise issues. Granted, I’m never standing next to the camera, but I’ve never heard it in my headphones.
 
Alex H. said:
I’ve worked on quite a few shows that used the FX6 and have never had fan noise issues. Granted, I’m never standing next to the camera, but I’ve never heard it in my headphones.
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Thanks,Alex. In the default settings it’s not terribly loud, but revs up quite a bit in off while recording mode which seems logical but I would like to know if it’s normal
 
Have you checked the fan speed setting?

I think I’m normally working with fans in “Minimum” mode, rather than “Off in Rec”. That keeps it constant and very quiet. I’d only move it to “Auto” or “Off in Rec” when you’re shooting off-speed at high rates or are otherwise pushing more intensive images, which is where the camera sensor really needs thorough cooling.
 
Alex H. said:
Have you checked the fan speed setting?

I think I’m normally working with fans in “Minimum” mode, rather than “Off in Rec”. That keeps it constant and very quiet. I’d only move it to “Auto” or “Off in Rec” when you’re shooting off-speed at high rates or are otherwise pushing more intensive images, which is where the camera sensor really needs thorough cooling.
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I put it in Minimum mode and it's pretty quiet. Not as quiet as my fx30, but it's a much bigger fan, so I guess that makes sense. In Off in Rec mode it really does rev up, but someone on Reddit mentioned that it's normal for it to do so...
 
I've been aware of it when it comes on. Also, if you are not using an external XLR mic and are only using the internal mic on the front of the top handle, or the body scratch mic if no handle, then the fan sound can be picked up and recorded when it kicks in. I wouldn't call it excessive, though. No more so than the FS7. The PMW-300 had the loudest fan I've heard.

Chris Young
 
cyvideo said:
I've been aware of it when it comes on. Also, if you are not using an external XLR mic and are only using the internal mic on the front of the top handle, or the body scratch mic if no handle, then the fan sound can be picked up and recorded when it kicks in. I wouldn't call it excessive, though. No more so than the FS7. The PMW-300 had the loudest fan I've heard.

Chris Young
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Thanks, Chris. Coming from the c70 it sounds a tad louder so I just wanted to check. I got it from EBay in LN condition at a deal but without a mfg warranty so I’m a little nervous and “kicking the tires”
 
scorsesefan said:
Thanks, Chris. Coming from the c70 it sounds a tad louder so I just wanted to check. I got it from EBay in LN condition at a deal but without a mfg warranty so I’m a little nervous and “kicking the tires”
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Here it is. I hunted around the house for the quietest spot. It turned out to be in a spare bedroom upstairs. I just stuck the camera on a chair in the middle of the room. Fan set to MINIMUM. Top handle mic as the source. The audio input switches were set to AUTO. There was no discernable movement on the audio level meters in the VF.

On listening to it back, I do hear a couple of our local parrots squawking somewhere distant up in the trees down the street. Totally acceptable in my book for an ambient atmos mic.

Chris Young

Sony FX6 - Top Mic - Fan Test.mp4

drive.google.com drive.google.com
 
Okay, thanks, Chris. So the very faint hum I here is the fx6 fan? If so that's totally fine. I have an fx30 and it's so quiet it's almost inaudible but the fx6's fan is much larger, as is its cooling needs... Thanks for indulging my OCD ;)
 
scorsesefan said:
Okay, thanks, Chris. So the very faint hum I here is the fx6 fan? If so that's totally fine. I have an fx30 and it's so quiet it's almost inaudible but the fx6's fan is much larger, as is its cooling needs... Thanks for indulging my OCD ;)
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Not a problem :D. I've been caught out on a job with a different camera where fan noise was an issue. Fixed it with Sound Soap in post, but it is something to be aware of.

Cheers
Chris Young
 
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