GH4 Recording Audio Internally With The GH4 and RODE Lavalier

Erik Naso

Erik Naso

Veteran
After shooting a promo with the GH4 and using a Sennheiser EK 2000 wireless for recording the audio direct into the camera I wanted to compare the quality with the C100 using the XLR input. Since I also recently purchased the RODE Lavalier system that doesn't require phantom power only 1v that the GH4 supplies I now had the perfect mic to test both the sound quality of the Rode and the recording quality of both cameras. This isn't a scientific test but a particle one. Check out the post here

I'm very pleased with the results. The GH4's preamp is pretty darn good. I wouldn't hesitate to record direct into it. YMMV and having a low noise microphone will help too. The Rode does a pretty good job of being a low self noise lav mic. Add a Stereo to dual mono cable and you can get two mics going into the GH4.
 
shadowProd said:
So after these tests, what are you finding regarding the GH4 hum and buzz issues?
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I haven't experienced this issue. If a mic isn't plugged in and you get a hum and buzz then that camera has issues. If it happens only when a mic is plugged in and you have this problem I think the mic has issues or the adapter is to blame. Test other mics to see what happens. It's important to use quality microphones to get good results.

Kit said:
Erik i love your blog and thanks for doing this test.
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Thanks!
 
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Erik Naso said:
If it happens only when a mic is plugged in and you have this problem I think the mic has issues or the adapter is to blame.
Thanks!
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Glad to hear your gh4 doesn't have the buzz, but for those of us who do it isn't our mics or adapters. Panasonic has reproduced the issue themselves. For us, they suggest using the YAGH or their mics.
 
Ed Kishel said:
Glad to hear your gh4 doesn't have the buzz, but for those of us who do it isn't our mics or adapters. Panasonic has reproduced the issue themselves. For us, they suggest using the YAGH or their mics.
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That's ridiculous. Does this issue occur when no mic is used or only when one is plugged in? What brand mics seem to have this problem with the GH4?

Updated.
Okay I just read the post regarding this issue. All I can say is with the Rode Lavalier I haven't experienced any of the hum and buzz. I shot at 180 degree.

Looks like we have to be careful what mics we use and post the ones that work and dont for a sticky.
 
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Good stuff Erik. Great blog and informative. The Gh4 is really quite the camera. Took mine to Hawaii and it performed well under the brutal sun without a hitch!
 
For those of us with the issue- any mic, adapter, or mixer that uses a standard 3.5mm mic level out connector is fair game. That's probably why panasonic suggests to use the YAGH- it bypasses that jack completely. An additional 2k to remove the issue for us XLR mic users is out of the question.
 
Ed Kishel said:
For those of us with the issue- any mic, adapter, or mixer that uses a standard 3.5mm mic level out connector is fair game. That's probably why panasonic suggests to use the YAGH- it bypasses that jack completely. An additional 2k to remove the issue for us XLR mic users is out of the question.
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I got the DR-60 for my GH2 so I could monitor audio, use XLRs, and what not. Similar size to the YAGH, and 1/10th the price. That said, I haven't had the audio issue yet and have only heard bits and pieces of the conversation. I'll have to look into it more, but I thought I heard that this was only on the sound out of the camera. That the buzz was not recorded. Is this not correct?
 
blazer003 said:
I got the DR-60 for my GH2 so I could monitor audio, use XLRs, and what not. Similar size to the YAGH, and 1/10th the price. That said, I haven't had the audio issue yet and have only heard bits and pieces of the conversation. I'll have to look into it more, but I thought I heard that this was only on the sound out of the camera. That the buzz was not recorded. Is this not correct?
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Sadly, the buzz is recorded. Here is the thread on this forum. I also wrote a blog post about it with a video and audio samples. Really hope that Panasonic comes back with a response better than "it's you, not us".
 
To be fair- they have admitted to hearing the issue, it's their suggested fix that doesn't sit right. And again- yes for many it does get recorded.
 
Erik Naso said:
After shooting a promo with the GH4 and using a Sennheiser EK 2000 wireless for recording the audio direct into the camera I wanted to compare the quality with the C100 using the XLR input. Since I also recently purchased the RODE Lavalier system that doesn't require phantom power only 1v that the GH4 supplies I now had the perfect mic to test both the sound quality of the Rode and the recording quality of both cameras. This isn't a scientific test but a particle one. Check out the post here

I'm very pleased with the results. The GH4's preamp is pretty darn good. I wouldn't hesitate to record direct into it. YMMV and having a low noise microphone will help too. The Rode does a pretty good job of being a low self noise lav mic. Add a Stereo to dual mono cable and you can get two mics going into the GH4.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the test and post. I was looking at that mic before but I couldn't quite make sense of the system. Your blog cleared that up nicely. I don't suppose you happen to have this mic to compare it to? I'd be interested in a noise floor comparison between the two. I've been using the audio technica and I like it. I think the sound quality is fine and the noise is non existent for normal volume speaking people. But I've recorded a couple of very quiet speaking people and I have to raise the volume so much in post that I'll start to hear some of the noise floor.
 
bdjansen said:
Thanks for the test and post. I was looking at that mic before but I couldn't quite make sense of the system. Your blog cleared that up nicely. I don't suppose you happen to have this mic to compare it to? I'd be interested in a noise floor comparison between the two. I've been using the audio technica and I like it. I think the sound quality is fine and the noise is non existent for normal volume speaking people. But I've recorded a couple of very quiet speaking people and I have to raise the volume so much in post that I'll start to hear some of the noise floor.
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Thanks! Thats a common problem with all mics. If you have a soft spoken voice just put the mic closer to the persons mouth and ask them to speak up. You just have to get a better record level when shooting. Even the most expensive high end mics will be noisy if they are pushed to hard in post.
 
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