Motor sounds picked up on tape.

RockArt

RockArt

Member
Hey all,

About a month ago I did a run and gun and decided to use the auto focus. The only reason i went auto is because there was a lot going on and wanted to catch things as they happened. As a matter of fact I think it is the only time I switched the camera into auto.

I have the original DVX100 and I was using a combo of the Sennheiser ME66 for outdoor and ME64 for inside. When I reviewed the tapes I noticed a motor sound that was recorded onto the tape. After doing some tests I found out that the mics were picking up the sound of the auto focus motor. Has anyone else noticed this? Are the mics just ultra sensitive or does the camera need to be repaired?

Any info anyone can give me is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Chris
 
Re: Motor sounds picked up on tape.

Where did you mount the mic? I'd try to get the mic as far from the cam as possible for starters.
 
Re: Motor sounds picked up on tape.

mic was mounted in a Sennheiser mount that sits in the hot shoe. I needed it there for the run and gun stuff.


Chris
 
Re: Motor sounds picked up on tape.

I found that sound can be transferred through the cable to the microphone if the XLR cable is attached to the camera. Did you clip the cable to camera using the clip?
Try recording sound with the cable not clipped nor touching the camera body. (Of course the cable is plugged into the XLR jack.) Let the cable hang free from the back of the mic to the XLR jack.
The principle is like the string between two cans that we played with as kids. The camera sound (vibrations) are conducted along the mic cable to the mic which records it.
Cecil beta
 
Re: Motor sounds picked up on tape.

Cecil beta

Thanks for the info. I used a 1 foot XLR so i don't need to clip the cable anywhere. It is the perfect size to go from the XLR port to the back of the mic. But you have given me some ideas for things to check.

Thanks so much,
Chris
 
Re: Motor sounds picked up on tape.

Chris,
What is your mount? Is it a suspension mount? During my doco shoot I noticed that sometimes I could hear transmission sounds. Try moving the placement of the mic in the mount. Shotgun mics pickup from the rear as well. Not sure about your particular model? Have you tried both mics and compared their sensitivity to picking up the extranous noise. Try moving the mic forwards and backwards in the mount.
Hope this helps.
regards
Cecil beta
 
Re: Motor sounds picked up on tape.

[quote author=RockArt link=board=Events;num=1091207845;start=0#0 date=07/30/04 at 10:17:25]I have the original DVX100 and I was using a combo of the Sennheiser ME66 for outdoor and ME64 for inside. When I reviewed the tapes I noticed a motor sound that was recorded onto the tape. After doing some tests I found out that the mics were picking up the sound of the auto focus motor. Has anyone else noticed this? [/quote]

FWIW, I use the medium shotgun off of a Sony 300 on one of our 100A's, and I don't hear the motor, but it is mounted in the shock mount on the side, not in the hotshoe. I've also used a Sony 635 shotgun in the same mount without this problem.

Is it possible that mounting it in the center (using the hotshoe) is making it more vulnerable?
 
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