Noisy microphones
- Thread starter Till
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PerceptionFilms
Active member
I have the same problem. I also tried using an AT835b and AT4073a and I hear noise with them also.
bbalser
Veteran
It's normal. Audio is very tricky to get. Folks tend to think audio is easier than video. Truth is, it's actually more difficult to get really clean audio than really clean video.
The mics on any camera are just a bad idea. Using external mics only help if you actually place them and adjust them properly. What other noise is in the room while you're recording? If you answer None, then you're not really listening to the room noise.
I've been spending some time with a professional sound guy locally I just met. He spends more time getting good clean professional audio than the film guys do setting up the cameras for the shots.
Try using a muff on the mics. Muff is my personal term, not a technical one. It's actually called a wind screen. They do a lot to cut out ambient sound, even in a studio setting. Cause there's no such thing as an enviroment with no abient sound.
I have an AT835b, as well as other mics. It takes some doing, but I've gotten my sound coming out really nice. Then in post, SoundTrack Pro cleans it up even better.
The mics on any camera are just a bad idea. Using external mics only help if you actually place them and adjust them properly. What other noise is in the room while you're recording? If you answer None, then you're not really listening to the room noise.
I've been spending some time with a professional sound guy locally I just met. He spends more time getting good clean professional audio than the film guys do setting up the cameras for the shots.
Try using a muff on the mics. Muff is my personal term, not a technical one. It's actually called a wind screen. They do a lot to cut out ambient sound, even in a studio setting. Cause there's no such thing as an enviroment with no abient sound.
I have an AT835b, as well as other mics. It takes some doing, but I've gotten my sound coming out really nice. Then in post, SoundTrack Pro cleans it up even better.
Flash Beaver
Well-known member
BenB is definitely right about the sound. We had to do nice interviews in a noisy factory environment. I spent more time scouting location and positioning mics than setting up my lights. Which really made the project a success. I got fantastic results with my AT897 with my rycote "muff" as benb so nicely calls it, hehehe.
Still if you are going to place a mic on your camera, spend the $40 to $90 on a good mount. I have a post over in hardware on just this thing. It makes a night and day difference with shotgun mics on camera.
Still if you are going to place a mic on your camera, spend the $40 to $90 on a good mount. I have a post over in hardware on just this thing. It makes a night and day difference with shotgun mics on camera.
Cees Mutsaers
Veteran
what brand mics are you talking about when you mention nr. like AT835b and AT897???
Audio technica? I do not want to stur up a new discussion but what is the best external mic for ENG? Is there a mic which has can be used universal?
Audio technica? I do not want to stur up a new discussion but what is the best external mic for ENG? Is there a mic which has can be used universal?
ozduc
Well-known member
Cees Mutsaers said:
Unless you are prepeared to spend well in excess of $1000 (probably closer to $2000) for a mic, you can forget about asking for "the best". If you have a budget range in mind then I suggest you go over to the audio forum and read the stickies at the top of the page, or do a search. There is a ton of info there on mic selection.
I put the camera in a quiet room, started recording, left the room. Came back, whistled into the microphone to get overload. I then checked the signal to noise ratio, and it is 60 dB.
I build sound measuring systems with over 100dB signal to noise ratio and 120dB dynamics.
Even knowing that the microphones in the camera aren't going to be great, 60 dB signal to noise ratio is a little disappointing. I requested technical data from Panasonic to check if the microphones are supposed to be this noisy.
Till
I build sound measuring systems with over 100dB signal to noise ratio and 120dB dynamics.
Even knowing that the microphones in the camera aren't going to be great, 60 dB signal to noise ratio is a little disappointing. I requested technical data from Panasonic to check if the microphones are supposed to be this noisy.
Till
The Engineer
Active member
Onboard mics are built for run-and-gun situations only, when quality is not that important, or for taking you out of deep deep s&%t when your "real" microphone didn't work for some reason. Also, the camera is NOT a broadcast spec'd camera, even if it's using state-of-the-art codecs and some broadcast technology and produces impressive pictures. 60dB off the onboard mics is more than anyone should expect - remember also the noise the servos are making (zoom, focus and tape drive when used). For 100dB S/N there are also other things to take into account, including your own breath. I don't even want to think at the price of the HVX if it would of been built with 100dB S/N specs...
ullanta
Veteran
BenB said:
I agree completely with everything BenB's saying except the muff. Cutting out "ambient sound" is not quite so simple. The windscreens cut out specific sounds (air blasts), but do not in any way distinguish "ambient sound" from "the sound you want". In fact, windscreens always color the sound you record to some extent, particularly in the high frequencies. So, like everything else, they involve a tradeoff, and should be used wisely. Outdoors, sure, pretty much always... but indoors, if you can, you might wanna skip 'em!
Dick Campbell
Veteran
I use a Sennheiser ME66 shotgun mounted on the shcck mount that came with the camera. I use it in noisy situations (wedding receptions), and the rejection is amazing. Sometimes the noise in my headsets is so loud I can't hear the speaker, but when I get to post, there they are, very clear. (but, I get a close as I can to the speaker)
vidled
DVXuser Sponsor
PerceptionFilms said:
The pre-amps within the camcorders are normally not that great. You'd probably get better results using a good external pre-amp and feeding the HVX or DVX with a LINE level signal. Look at Sound Devices for some good products...although they aren't inexpensive.
Also, regarding the built-in mics: we've yanked the internal mics out, and replaced them with connections to allow external mics instead of the internal ones. It works, but wasn't easy to achieve.
Read all about it here:
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=70971
You can improve your indoor sound recording with a simple cheap studio mic
but the crew must be verry quiet ,it has more sensitive and random recording , the cost is about 150 dollar (GATT) is the mark and the sound is warm.
('not for outdoor) therefor you need the long sigar ( Sennheiser or sony and others ) to reduce the ambiant as we all know. Build in mic's sucks I gues Panasonic knew that the HVX200 is not realy for the common man, so every pro uses stand alone mics, see it more as a last option if you forgot your real good mic.
Guy
but the crew must be verry quiet ,it has more sensitive and random recording , the cost is about 150 dollar (GATT) is the mark and the sound is warm.
('not for outdoor) therefor you need the long sigar ( Sennheiser or sony and others ) to reduce the ambiant as we all know. Build in mic's sucks I gues Panasonic knew that the HVX200 is not realy for the common man, so every pro uses stand alone mics, see it more as a last option if you forgot your real good mic.
Guy
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