Rode Videomic NTG and Canon DSLR

J

jonleerichfilm

Member
Hey everyone!

Quick and simple question... I’ve got a Rode Videomic NTG that plugs directly into my Canon 90D.

The microphone itself has a gain control nob from 0-20db along with some other great features. I’m wondering about the optimal settings between my mic and camera.

Currently I’m pulling my camera audio gain all the way down to only 1 notch or 1 level of audio (not sure what the dB is on that) and then pulling my NTG nob until it hits a level where my subject has good levels without peaking.

Is his a good way to do it? Does the camera need to be giving out any more gain?

The main reason I’m asking is because my audio sometimes leaves me unimpressed. I’ve had some distortion issues when my talent gets louder (a sort of rattling sound) but I’m watching their levels and they aren’t peaking at all. They are in a good range levels wise but there is still distortion. I wondered if it might be a settings or mic proximity thing (I have the boom as close as I can above them and out of frame so maybe 2-3 ft away).
 
That's the way that it's been done for many years in these set ups (although some people like a click or two more for comfort).

Do you have a sample of the audio distortion?

That mic is very sensitive and could be getting overloaded without clipping.

To troubleshoot (even with yourself), try a more balanced approach with more notches in the 90D and less gain on the mic.
 
NorBro said:
That's the way that it's been done for many years in these set ups (although some people like a click or two more for comfort).

Do you have a sample of the audio distortion?

That mic is very sensitive and could be getting overloaded without clipping.

To troubleshoot (even with yourself), try a more balanced approach with more notches in the 90D and less gain on the mic.
Click to expand...

Interesting! Can you tell me more about overloading? With how I’ve been doing the settings I’ve had my mic at about 11db and the canon down to 1 notch. Does that still sound like it could be overloaded? If I put my canon up to 2 notches it cranks up A TON to where I might need to pull the rode’s db down to like 3-4 or something.
 
How is the audio in the 90D? Is it like the normal Canon 50 or so clicks from 0 to the maximum? Or is it only a few clicks from 0 to maximum?
 
Without hearing it, it's tough to know - but I think that because of the overall excellent sensitivity of your microphone and your placement and how much better internal camera preamps are these days, I think you're overloading the signal but your camera is set too low to read it accurately. And one additional click definitely shouldn't affect it a TON.

I don't specialize in audio as I do in other fields so I can't explain what exactly is going on (as audio guys/gals can and should if they see it), but I think you should still try some testing as it's necessary.

If you currently have the microphone at 11, try lowering it to 5 and adjusting the camera accordingly and speaking loudly into it about a foot or two away and see if you can reproduce the results.

In every Canon camera I have used, they divide the audio control into roughly something like this:

|,,,,,|,,,,,|,,,,,|

Even if you're around that green area you should still limit much of the hiss opposed to an automatic setting which could have you as high as 80-90% of the scale.
 
One of the features RØDE advertise about the VideoMic NTG is that it's supposed to auto-sense what kind of device it is connected to, such as mobile phone or DSLR, and automatically adjust its output level to match.

However, there are two tools you need to look at on that mic that will help you properly gain stage. First, activate the -20dB pad (button controlled on the shaft of the mic). That will knock down the level that is coming into the camera. Second, set your camera's input level right in the middle (kind of arbitrary, but they don't give any kind of value markings on the scale); the rotary level control that's on the base of the mic should start all the way down. Bring the mic's level control slowly up until you have optimum recording levels.

If it turns out that you barely turn up the mic's gain and are still getting distortion in-camera (or having to pull the camera's input levels way back), then pull the camera's input level down to about 25% and set your mic gain again, starting from all the way down. And honestly, you might start there anyway simply because you want to minimize the amount of self-noise you allow through from the camera's pre-amps.

Some devices have arbitrary scale numbers (or worse, non-numeric ticks) on input and output level controls, so there is some guesswork, combined with trial and error, to get a proper gain staging. But this should get you in the right neighborhood.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top