How Many People Use ALC?

[tommygdawg]

Hey howdy,

Was just wondering what everyone's thoughts are on this. I always feel like such a beginner when I use the ALC feature, but honestly it's very helpful sometimes. For instance, I'm working on a very run and gun project at the moment which requires me to quickly go up to people and ask them a question and I just point the camera in their face. There's really no time to get the levels just right, so if someone happens to clip out or if there's a lot of background noise that clips me out, then it's really nice to have that ALC feature to bring those levels down so they don't actually clip. Probably not worded the best way, but you all know what I mean, right? Anyone else have any thoughts on this? Am I the only one who uses it?

 

[Vultch]

Hey howdy,

Was just wondering what everyone's thoughts are on this. I always feel like such a beginner when I use the ALC feature, but honestly it's very helpful sometimes. For instance, I'm working on a very run and gun project at the moment which requires me to quickly go up to people and ask them a question and I just point the camera in their face. There's really no time to get the levels just right, so if someone happens to clip out or if there's a lot of background noise that clips me out, then it's really nice to have that ALC feature to bring those levels down so they don't actually clip. Probably not worded the best way, but you all know what I mean, right? Anyone else have any thoughts on this? Am I the only one who uses it?

The ALC on the AF100 is not an automatic level control, its an Automatic limiter.
And yes I know ALC on every other camera is a level control. It caught me out when i first got the camera so you'll have to keep adjusting those levels. Thou I was never really a fan of (ALC level control) I felt it destroyed the recording pumping up and down.

 

[tommygdawg]

The ALC on the AF100 is not an automatic level control, its an Automatic limiter.
And yes I know ALC on every other camera is a level control. It caught me out when i first got the camera so you'll have to keep adjusting those levels. Thou I was never really a fan of (ALC level control) I felt it destroyed the recording pumping up and down.

That's true but I guess anytime I use something with the word "auto" in it, it's frowned upon. I haven't really noticed a lot of pumping in the levels, I think the trick is getting the levels in the sweet spot where you only have occasional clips when the audio spikes.

 

[awelgraven]

When I'm shooting with teh AF-100, run and gun or not, I plug my mic (whether shot gun or lav) into Input 2, and then set both channels to Input 2. Then I can record one input at normal levels and one a little lower... that way if the person gets loud, I have a built in safety audio track.

 

[mainstreetprod]

I like the ALC function. Unlike the HVX, no "pumping", so I can set the levels on the high side and just worry about adjusting when there are louder sounds that might peak. For general dialogue, it works great.

 

[tommygdawg]

When I'm shooting with teh AF-100, run and gun or not, I plug my mic (whether shot gun or lav) into Input 2, and then set both channels to Input 2. Then I can record one input at normal levels and one a little lower... that way if the person gets loud, I have a built in safety audio track.

This is a good idea, I'll have to give it a try sometime.

I like the ALC function. Unlike the HVX, no "pumping", so I can set the levels on the high side and just worry about adjusting when there are louder sounds that might peak. For general dialogue, it works great.

Glad to see I'm not the only one! I think for things where I can control the levels easily and fine tune them, I'll probably leave it off, but for this run and gun stuff where I don't have time to really fiddle with controls it's incredibly helpful.