How to record internal mic on audio tracks 3 and 4?

K

KevinP

Well-known member
Hi

When importing footage from the P2 card there are four audio tracks.

1 and 2 relate directly to whatever I assign to them but I also get tracks 3 and 4 (even when recording in an SD format).

My question is how can I actually get to place audio on to these tracks - they are always blank.

EG: If I was using two external mics how could I make the camera's internal mic go to track 3 and 4?

Or if I was pushing one (main) external mic on to tracks 1 and 2 how could I perhaps record from a backup external mic on to track 3 and then the camera's internal mic on to 4.

Many thanks if you can answer this.
 
Thanks Richard - hope someone can shed light on it (Barry ;o)

I can't see how you can record on to 3 and 4 even if not using 1 and 2.
 
Check the manual for the matrix of selections. On P2, 4 audio track are always recorded. When you have externals set to Channels 1 or 2, the camera mics will automatically go to Channels 3 and 4, the level is fixed and cannot be adjusted. There are other variations, but what you don't have is the ability to externally input to all 4 channels at once.
 
Right, the internal mic always gets pushed onto 3 & 4 whenever you assign an external mic to 1 & 2. So yes, you can definitely have all 4 tracks simultaneously.
 
Thanks guys for the info.

My audio tracks 3 and 4 are as silent as the grave.

I've checked the manual that came with the camera and the HPX book - and I've looked in all the menus but I can't locate any referencs to controlling (or using) audio tracks 3 and 4.

Could you point me in more detail?

Thanks.
 
You don't have any control over them (chs. 3 and 4) with the 170/200. They simply record from whatever input is assigned to them at a mid-level setting.

So, they're always recording, but if you have the internals set to chs. 1 and 2, and having nothing plugged into the XLR ports, they're getting no signal, so the channels will be silent.

But if you have the XLR inputs assigned to chs. 1 and 2, the internals will be recorded to chs. 3 and 4 automatically. You should have something, even if it's very weak.
 
Hi

Some information I have found that may explain.

When set in DVCPro50 the menu option "25M REC CH Sel" which (I understand) allows you to set whether to record 2 or 4 channels of audio to the P2 card, is "BLUED" (Not changeable) and defaults to 2CH.

So it will only record 2 channels - and therefore I'm guessing this is why the channels 3 and 4 are dead - but they are still there in the P2 format.
 
No, the 25M Rec Ch Sel is the same function that many, if not all, DV camcorders have where you can record 4 reduced-quality audio channels. This is only available in the 25 megabit/second modes -- DV, or DVCPRO 25 (which is almost identical to DV). This is available for tape, too; has nothing to do with P2. Don't know of anyone who's ever used this function on any camcorder, or why. :)

That mode has nothing to do with DVCPRO 50 or DVCPRO HD.
 
David Jimerson said:
No, the 25M Rec Ch Sel is the same function that many, if not all, DV camcorders have where you can record 4 reduced-quality audio channels. This is only available in the 25 megabit/second modes -- DV, or DVCPRO 25 (which is almost identical to DV). This is available for tape, too; has nothing to do with P2. Don't know of anyone who's ever used this function on any camcorder, or why. :)

That mode has nothing to do with DVCPRO 50 or DVCPRO HD.
Click to expand...
Close but not right. When recording to tape, you're right. But when recording to P2, it always records 48KHz 16-bit. There is no other option. So when you record DV or DVCPRO to P2, you have the choice of recording two channels of 48KHz audio, or four channels of 48KHz audio. It results in a nonstandard recording, yes, but that's the way it works. They let you have the choice of a regular/compliant DV/DVCPRO file with 2 channels, or a noncompliant file with 4 channels, but all the channels (on P2) will always be 48KHz 16-bit.

On tape, it works like you expect from DV -- 2 channels of 48KHz 16-bit, or 4 channels of 32KHz 12-bit.
 
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