FS7: High noise floor when using UWP D11 mic with SMAD MI Shoe on Sony FS7

P

Patfilms

New member
Hello all,

I've read posts on this forum to find answers to questions in the past, but I haven't been able to find a clear answer to this one.

I'm using the UWP D11 wiresless microphone set. I have this connected to my FS7 with the SMAD P3 MI Shoe, which gets around the need for an XLR input or AA batteries in the receiver. However, I've done a like for like comparison with this microphone when it is powered through the hot shoe and then with AA batteries, connected with an XLR cable. There seems to be a much higher noise floor when using the MI Shoe. Below is an example I've uploaded to Youtube. All levels are set the same and amplified in FCP the same amount to demonstrate the noise floor more clearly:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uCwjYLqjiU

Now I know there were issues in with earlier models, but the model number doesn't appear to be one of those affected. I have also tried turning the GPS off and it doesn't make a difference.

Is anyone experiencing the same issue? I really like the ability to use the MI Shoe, but I don't want to compromise the sound quality.

Many thanks in advance!

Patrick
 
I have never used this device, but I have been eyeing off the newer dual wireless receiver. Some users seem to complain that using the hot shoe disables manual gain control. Is it possible that auto gain has been enabled, thus it is maxing out the gain (and introducing noise)?
 
I use this same setup all of the time with very low noise - compared to old school Microns and Lektros, the performance of this low cost native setup is seriously good. The radio mic feeds via the shoe and I assign channels 3 and 4 to record in parallel at different levels for headroom (levels are 38 and 45 in level input menu.) Check your receiver output level is set to 0dB. Also check the bottom 2 Audio Input menu items are set to CH3 Level and CH4 Level.

Ben.
 
Thanks for the replies.

swphotovideo - I seem to be able to control the gain manually while using mic through the hotshoe.

bengiles - I tried changing the camera to your settings (I usually only have the mic coming through channel 1 so that I can monitor when filming). Unfortunately I still have the same problem. Double checked the receiver output and it is at 0.

Does anyone experience the same problem? I'm on a shoot with a second FS7 on Monday, so will try using the adapter on the other FS7 and see if it's the same deal.
 
I remember reading something about this on a facebook group as well.

Consensus basically was -> it would be a great idea to use the shoe for power, use the extra audio channels in cam, etc -> but its unacceptably noisey and Sony isn't going to do anything about it, making it something to not even consider with an FS7.

Couldn't find the link to the thread/convo, but I remember reading it and being disappointed, as I was going to consider it for my next set. Not coming from my experience obviously, so continue the search for answers!
 
I use two UWP-D11 mics, both using AA batteries. I have one plugged into XLR 2 and one plugged into the hot shoe for channel 3. I do not notice a difference in the noise floor at all. Both sound great.
 
I have had the same issue with the fs5. I have actually had a meeting with a Sony tech at the uk service centre in Bridgend, as its local to me. He was originally unaware of the problem but acknowledged the issue when I clearly demonstrated it to him. He has raised it with the dev team in Japan. This was at the beginning of summer, whether anything gets fixed is a matter for debate.
 
Heh, it still is a great option for scratch reference audio! To later sync up.

As getting rid of messy cables, and not needing to worry about batteries, that is a bonus!
 
Hi all,

So I've done a little more testing and I think I was wrong. The levels coming through the hot shoe seems to be quite a bit louder than those coming through the XLR. I've now got the receiver powered through the SMAD P3 and simultaneously coming into channel 1 through the shoe and channel 2 through the XLR input and once the channel 1 and 2 side levels are adjusted to match each other there is no noticeable difference between them. I also did this test powered with AA batteries and compared those results to the results powered through the hot shoe and, again, there's no noticeable difference.

In short I mistook the increased levels coming through the hot shoe as a higher noise floor. I don't know if this is the case for anyone else having problems with this set up or not. I also feel that the noise from this particular microphone has a slightly higher pitch than previous Sony mic sets I've used, which perhaps makes it more noticeable.
 
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