CX370: New Panasonic 1" Camera - CX-370

[NorBro]

Just one last note, in general, about the dB and what not; I'm talking about the input sensitivity directly related to preamps.

If you look at a mic's specs, say, the CS-3e, it's a very sensitive mic but it's also very directional, so the general sensitivity of "I pick up everything in the room" and signal sensitivity aren't related.

The Sanken is at -20dB which is really unbelievable. The famous 416 sits at a very good -33dB (but that's not -20dB).

Mics with a lower negative number are so forgiving for lackluster preamps (the CS-3e might be good at 4 or 5 on a camcorder, but the 416 might need 6-7 on the knob/thumb dial).

But, yeah, it did feel like those older cameras were thought about more (naturally at the time they were a priority).

Had a HMC150 and HPX250 and they were both solid with audio (at least from what I remember).

 

[Tom Roper]

I am by no means the audio expert but you don't have to be one to know that close-mic'd solves a lot of problems. Manning 1 camera position with a directional mic on top is one thing but if you are using 2 or 3 cams you are hoping that at least one you can cut to and not have a blocked shot. I can't be in all places at once so I'm moving between them, but the speakers are also often moving about, or guests are moving in front of the lens (and mic); you would have to be live monitoring 1 camera at a time.

I realize everyone's use case is different but consider almost any event, a public address system, mixer or soundboard, all the mics in the best positions are already feeding into it, and you get an unbroken audio timeline from it whereas with camera preamps you only get audio when rolling footage. You can get concert audio from the house but it's never as good as from the stage. That's the feed I want, the full mix. My jack pack has 1/4 inch TRS, TRRS, 1/8 inch, XLR, everything needed to get a feed from almost anything, and if not, the zoom or tascam mic placed on the stage, or the speaker's podium works too.

 

[Bassman2003]

I agree Norbro, I was speaking to input attenuation settings in the camera. Both eras of cameras are set to -40 dB (most attenuation of the input signal).

It is probably best to just let this discussion die. I am discussing the tool and Peter & Tom are giving advice on specific use scenarios. I think we all know that close micing is better than far away...