Replacing built-in mics
- Thread starter vidled
- Start date
ullanta
Veteran
Interesting... sorta kludgy but maybe the simplest (cheapest?) way to do it...
However... were there any baffles in there between all the mics? Can you give us a wider picture of all the parts? Four mics - all facing the same direction and pretty close together... SOMETHING must be attempting to give directionality, or what's the point?
However... were there any baffles in there between all the mics? Can you give us a wider picture of all the parts? Four mics - all facing the same direction and pretty close together... SOMETHING must be attempting to give directionality, or what's the point?
vidled
DVXuser Sponsor
No baffles.
The four mics are "embedded" into a rubber holder, which is meant to act as a shockmount. They are all facing upwards (IIRC, it's closed up again right now).
The pic shows two mics as they are sitting in the "shockmount" still, whereas the other two are removed from it.
The four mics are "embedded" into a rubber holder, which is meant to act as a shockmount. They are all facing upwards (IIRC, it's closed up again right now).
The pic shows two mics as they are sitting in the "shockmount" still, whereas the other two are removed from it.
vidled
DVXuser Sponsor
An HVX with a BUILT IN OKTAVA!
An HVX with a BUILT IN OKTAVA!
SUCCESS: I ran an Oktava and a 416 as a REPLACEMENT for the built-in mics:
I checked the 4 internal mics again, and it appears that there are 2 sets of two mics. 2 per channel, each blended together by the HVX200 in what I would have to describe as at a slightly different EQ settings. I have to assume that the 4 mics are all identical, but not sure about that.
Anyway, I de-soldered one of the mics, and hooked it up to a tube pre-amp to which an Oktava MK012 was connected. (Initially this was tested using a 416 through a MixPre, but that thing is way too hot on its line-out...although it worked fine also).
Limitations seem to be within the HVX's mic circuit, as there is a definite noise floor present. Although in all fairness, the tube pre-amp puts out noise too.
Not sure how to proceed, maybe try and blend the two circuits together, other options would include running 4 Oktava Mk012 mics into the 4 "built-in" circuits.
These "built-in mic" channels will most probably never be as CLEAN as the two XLR connections, but it will offer recordings from a source other than on top of the cam. (I can't even recall when I last used the int. mics on the old DVX cam we had....)
Sound bite? Sure thing. First is the built-in mics (probably working for the LAST time on this particular HVX, as I am not going to use them again); then an Oktava Mk012. Now this was feeding into the "lower frequency" channel. The other one sounds "tinnier" IIRC.
So, just some initial testing:
An Oktava Mic replacing one of the four built-in mics of an HVX
(MP3 file, about 760kb. Note: it was recorded only on one channel and was copied over to the other channel. Amplitude was modified.)
KIDS: DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!
We ended up buying a GREYMARKET HVX knowing that we'd probably end up modifying it so much, that we'd void any warranty anyway. Opening, and removing the built in mics, IS NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED, and will void your warranty!
An HVX with a BUILT IN OKTAVA!
SUCCESS: I ran an Oktava and a 416 as a REPLACEMENT for the built-in mics:
I checked the 4 internal mics again, and it appears that there are 2 sets of two mics. 2 per channel, each blended together by the HVX200 in what I would have to describe as at a slightly different EQ settings. I have to assume that the 4 mics are all identical, but not sure about that.
Anyway, I de-soldered one of the mics, and hooked it up to a tube pre-amp to which an Oktava MK012 was connected. (Initially this was tested using a 416 through a MixPre, but that thing is way too hot on its line-out...although it worked fine also).
Limitations seem to be within the HVX's mic circuit, as there is a definite noise floor present. Although in all fairness, the tube pre-amp puts out noise too.
Not sure how to proceed, maybe try and blend the two circuits together, other options would include running 4 Oktava Mk012 mics into the 4 "built-in" circuits.
These "built-in mic" channels will most probably never be as CLEAN as the two XLR connections, but it will offer recordings from a source other than on top of the cam. (I can't even recall when I last used the int. mics on the old DVX cam we had....)
Sound bite? Sure thing. First is the built-in mics (probably working for the LAST time on this particular HVX, as I am not going to use them again); then an Oktava Mk012. Now this was feeding into the "lower frequency" channel. The other one sounds "tinnier" IIRC.
So, just some initial testing:
An Oktava Mic replacing one of the four built-in mics of an HVX
(MP3 file, about 760kb. Note: it was recorded only on one channel and was copied over to the other channel. Amplitude was modified.)
KIDS: DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!
We ended up buying a GREYMARKET HVX knowing that we'd probably end up modifying it so much, that we'd void any warranty anyway. Opening, and removing the built in mics, IS NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED, and will void your warranty!
ozduc
Well-known member
Great work! Is the plan to replace the onboard mics with a couple of xlr inputs? You could almost just cut a couple of holes right in the end of the front grill and put a couple of female jacks right there. Of course these would only be mic level inputs unless you added some type of switch and the necessary resisitors or whatever little thingamajiggy is required to make it line level.
ullanta
Veteran
So you're feeding it a line level signal? Can you recall how much gain you're adding to the Oktava (from the tube pre and the dvx gains)? Is the output of your tube pre balanced or unbalanced?
Any chance you have a dynamic or battery-powered mic that outputs a mic-level signal to test directly?
Sorry for all the questions - and thanks for chopping up your HVX to check this out!
Any chance you have a dynamic or battery-powered mic that outputs a mic-level signal to test directly?
Sorry for all the questions - and thanks for chopping up your HVX to check this out!
Last edited:
vidled
DVXuser Sponsor
ullanta said:
Had to throttle it back some; although HVX was at medium setting (12 o'clock).
This was basically just a "does it work?" test. It does.
HVX is all back together again, although all 4 int. mics are now disconnected and the HVX has 8 wires sticking out the side now, ready for hooking up to something else....probably some sort of mixer/phantom power/XLR connections...
Unfortunately the final set-up will have to wait until after some shooting we need to do with the cam.
ullanta
Veteran
Great!
My main question is of course how bad the noise floor is with the DVX gain at minimum and a good preamp doing the work... and of course what's going on with the two mics per channel. I'm trying to imagine what kind of matrix would do anything useful with that placement...
Anyway, we'll be waiting! Thanks!
My main question is of course how bad the noise floor is with the DVX gain at minimum and a good preamp doing the work... and of course what's going on with the two mics per channel. I'm trying to imagine what kind of matrix would do anything useful with that placement...
Anyway, we'll be waiting! Thanks!