The definitive answer on manual adio on HMC150

B

Bounce

Member
I'm confused.



How manual is the audio on the HMC150?

Does it have a limiter?

Is the gain fully manual?

Are there any auto audio features?

What do you do when you are run and gun? e.g One channel low and the other higher? (just in case one peaks too much)



I cannot seem to find definitive answers on these questions.

Thanks
 
It is entirely manual, there is no automatic level control. You control the audio through the potentiometers, plus selecting to put in the audio limiter. You also have a -10dB pad you can switch in on each channel. The limiter applies to both channels.

And yes, one lower and the other higher is S.O.P.
 
I've never heard of running one channel softer than the other (I am fairly new to this) - a great idea. I'm curious, is there an elegant way to transition between the two audio tracks in post?

Is there an audio equivalent of HDR or 32-bit floating points where both files could be combined into one 'super' file that, in your NLE, you can elegantly pan the volume on? Or do you have to make an awkward switch between the tracks any time it gets too loud (it seems that would sound noticeable and be difficult to cover up perfectly)
 
I just fade in one channel and then fade out the other (In Vegas)... makes for balanced transitions... I usually record my live events this way, the audience cheer is a killer.
 
Bounce said:
I'm confused.



How manual is the audio on the HMC150?

Does it have a limiter?

Is the gain fully manual?

Are there any auto audio features?

What do you do when you are run and gun? e.g One channel low and the other higher? (just in case one peaks too much)



I cannot seem to find definitive answers on these questions.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Bounce:

Like the other posters said, the audio is fully manual.

However, the HMC-150 audio seems more flexible to me than other prosumer cameras using manual. If you are using the on-board mics (hopefully not) the mid levels position with ALC on usually works out well. You will need to use the equalizer in post to roll off the low/wind noise and use a volume envelope or normalize to raise volume when low.

When using a good XLR mic, you have to monitor and ride the levels IMO. The HMC-150 seems pretty quiet to me, so I always err on the side of lower levels and correct them in post.

I have tested the HMCs ALC by turning it on and off at various levels and I can't tell that it makes much difference. Maybe it limits clipping at very high levels, but I just couldn't tell. Since I don't know for sure how it works, I leave it off.
 
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