EX1R bad audio hum whenever EVF is switched on at DVinfo.net

Mal Williams · December 10th, 2011, 02:41 AM

Hi folks- my EX1R has developed an audio fault that is somehow connected to the EVF.
Whenever the EVF is switched on, either by selecting it to be on all the time, or by closing the LCD panel a very bad audio buzz starts up- mainly on audio channel 1 but also fainter on channel 2.

I have no idea how to even start fixing this problem so hopefully someone out there will be able to help.

Thanks in advance

Mal

Luc De Wandel · December 10th, 2011, 05:46 AM

Sounds like electromechanic interference. Is there an image stabiliser on the EX1? These things make some noise too. If it really is the viewfinder, it will probably have to be fixed by Sony, I'm afraid. Unless one of these big ferrite cores would help?

Les Wilson · December 10th, 2011, 06:40 AM

I wonder if it's actually the LCD that's the problem. I hear a hum (more like a whine) whenever my LCD is flipped to face the talent. It happens exactly when the image flips. Your problem could be when the LCD switched off. Mine's been that way since it was brand new.

Luc De Wandel · December 10th, 2011, 06:43 AM

I think Mal was referring to the EVF, the viewfinder, not the flip-out LCD monitor.

Les Wilson · December 10th, 2011, 08:25 AM

That's my point. Is it when the EVF turns on or when the LCD turns off? It's the same moment. In my case, the noise occurs when the LCD is flipped to a certain position. In his it could be when the LCD is slid into the handle. It's all a related mechanical/electrical system.

Dave Sperling · December 10th, 2011, 09:46 AM

I think we're pretty much in agreement that the camera should go to Sony for repairs, with your current workaround being to keep the EVF off.

Mal Williams · December 10th, 2011, 11:01 AM

Thanks guys. I've had problems before with flex cables on other Sony cameras so this might be a similar problem.
I'll take it apart & have a look. Does anyone have a link to the service manual for the EX1R please?

Thanks in advance

Mal

Mal Williams · December 11th, 2011, 11:53 PM

Hi guys - ok I took the top off the camera's handle to poke around & have a look.

I had thought that my problem may be caused by a faulty flex cable connecting the LCD to the camera as these small cables get twisted around all the time & have failed me in several cameras before.

I've discovered that if I disconnect the EVF by unplugging its connecting cable from the pcb in the handle then the audio buzz problem goes away - no matter how the LCD is positioned. Plug the EVF back in a hey presto the problem is back.

So it appears the problem lies with the EVF. Curiously the EVF appears to work perfectly - if you weren't listening to the audio you'd never know anything was wrong.

So for now I have disconnected the EVF until I can come up with a solution. I don't really want to purchase a new EVF only to find out that the problem was somewhere else so Im a bit stuck.

I'm in the middle of a big job using the camera every day so I'll only take the camera into Sony as a last resort.

Thanks in advance,

Mal

Matt Davis · December 14th, 2011, 05:46 PM

If you're hearing what I'm hearing, I took mine into a shop last year. For laughs, we tried other brand new EX1Rs in the show room, plus two others in for minor repairs.

They all did it.

Jack Zhang · January 11th, 2012, 12:17 AM

I can confirm this on my EX1R too. For me, it's ONLY through the headphone port. I tested it by turning up my trim on my XLRs and increasing my volume knobs to raise the noise floor to where it's actually audible. I then recorded a few seconds turning the EVF on and off and the hum was not present on the recording with the noise floor turned up. It would be blaring if you can hear it above the raised noise floor.

Go into Media mode, it will do the same thing through headphones even when there is no audio feed from the audio block.

Jack Zhang · April 13th, 2012, 10:33 PM

Update:

That observation was with no XLR plugged in. Once a microphone has been plugged in for both ports, the hum is present when the EVF is on.

I guess if you need an EVF, you need to get a Hoodman if you want clean audio.

Allan Black · April 13th, 2012, 11:56 PM

Try listening for it with your cams powered by AC not battery.

A similar earthing problem occurred with the Pansonic GS400 circa 2004. Can't remember what we did about it tho.

Cheers.

Jack Zhang · April 14th, 2012, 05:17 AM

No, this still happens using the BC-U1's DC out.

To give everyone the idea: It sounds like a power-line transformer when it's listened to through headphones and the XLR inputs. It's due to the new LCoS viewfinder.

John Peterson · April 14th, 2012, 06:05 AM

When you opened it, do the cables have interference traps (ferrite cores) on them? Maybe they slid down out of the way or maybe you could add them yourself if it isn't under the warranty.

John

December 10th, 2011, 02:41 AM	#1
Mal Williams New Boot Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Auckland, NZ Posts: 16	EX1R bad audio hum whenever EVF is switched on Hi folks- my EX1R has developed an audio fault that is somehow connected to the EVF. Whenever the EVF is switched on, either by selecting it to be on all the time, or by closing the LCD panel a very bad audio buzz starts up- mainly on audio channel 1 but also fainter on channel 2. I have no idea how to even start fixing this problem so hopefully someone out there will be able to help. Thanks in advance Mal

December 10th, 2011, 05:46 AM	#2
Luc De Wandel Major Player Join Date: May 2008 Location: Knokke-Heist, Belgium Posts: 963	Re: EX1R bad audio hum whenever EVF is switched on Sounds like electromechanic interference. Is there an image stabiliser on the EX1? These things make some noise too. If it really is the viewfinder, it will probably have to be fixed by Sony, I'm afraid. Unless one of these big ferrite cores would help?

December 10th, 2011, 06:40 AM	#3
Les Wilson Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 3,014	Re: EX1R bad audio hum whenever EVF is switched on I wonder if it's actually the LCD that's the problem. I hear a hum (more like a whine) whenever my LCD is flipped to face the talent. It happens exactly when the image flips. Your problem could be when the LCD switched off. Mine's been that way since it was brand new.

December 10th, 2011, 06:43 AM	#4
Luc De Wandel Major Player Join Date: May 2008 Location: Knokke-Heist, Belgium Posts: 963	Re: EX1R bad audio hum whenever EVF is switched on I think Mal was referring to the EVF, the viewfinder, not the flip-out LCD monitor.

December 10th, 2011, 08:25 AM	#5
Les Wilson Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Boca Raton, FL Posts: 3,014	Re: EX1R bad audio hum whenever EVF is switched on That's my point. Is it when the EVF turns on or when the LCD turns off? It's the same moment. In my case, the noise occurs when the LCD is flipped to a certain position. In his it could be when the LCD is slid into the handle. It's all a related mechanical/electrical system.

December 10th, 2011, 09:46 AM	#6
Dave Sperling Major Player Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Tinton Falls, NJ Posts: 780	Re: EX1R bad audio hum whenever EVF is switched on I think we're pretty much in agreement that the camera should go to Sony for repairs, with your current workaround being to keep the EVF off.

December 10th, 2011, 11:01 AM	#7
Mal Williams New Boot Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Auckland, NZ Posts: 16	Re: EX1R bad audio hum whenever EVF is switched on Thanks guys. I've had problems before with flex cables on other Sony cameras so this might be a similar problem. I'll take it apart & have a look. Does anyone have a link to the service manual for the EX1R please? Thanks in advance Mal

December 11th, 2011, 11:53 PM	#8
Mal Williams New Boot Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Auckland, NZ Posts: 16	Re: EX1R bad audio hum whenever EVF is switched on Hi guys - ok I took the top off the camera's handle to poke around & have a look. I had thought that my problem may be caused by a faulty flex cable connecting the LCD to the camera as these small cables get twisted around all the time & have failed me in several cameras before. I've discovered that if I disconnect the EVF by unplugging its connecting cable from the pcb in the handle then the audio buzz problem goes away - no matter how the LCD is positioned. Plug the EVF back in a hey presto the problem is back. So it appears the problem lies with the EVF. Curiously the EVF appears to work perfectly - if you weren't listening to the audio you'd never know anything was wrong. So for now I have disconnected the EVF until I can come up with a solution. I don't really want to purchase a new EVF only to find out that the problem was somewhere else so Im a bit stuck. I'm in the middle of a big job using the camera every day so I'll only take the camera into Sony as a last resort. Thanks in advance, Mal

December 14th, 2011, 05:46 PM	#9
Matt Davis Trustee Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Berkshire, UK Posts: 1,562	Re: EX1R bad audio hum whenever EVF is switched on If you're hearing what I'm hearing, I took mine into a shop last year. For laughs, we tried other brand new EX1Rs in the show room, plus two others in for minor repairs. They all did it. __________________ Director/Editor - MDMA Ltd: Write, Shoot, Edit, Publish - mattdavis.pro EX1 x2, C100 --> FCPX & PPro6

January 11th, 2012, 12:17 AM	#10
Jack Zhang Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada Posts: 3,053	Re: EX1R bad audio hum whenever EVF is switched on I can confirm this on my EX1R too. For me, it's ONLY through the headphone port. I tested it by turning up my trim on my XLRs and increasing my volume knobs to raise the noise floor to where it's actually audible. I then recorded a few seconds turning the EVF on and off and the hum was not present on the recording with the noise floor turned up. It would be blaring if you can hear it above the raised noise floor. Go into Media mode, it will do the same thing through headphones even when there is no audio feed from the audio block.

April 13th, 2012, 10:33 PM	#11
Jack Zhang Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada Posts: 3,053	Re: EX1R bad audio hum whenever EVF is switched on Update: That observation was with no XLR plugged in. Once a microphone has been plugged in for both ports, the hum is present when the EVF is on. I guess if you need an EVF, you need to get a Hoodman if you want clean audio.

April 13th, 2012, 11:56 PM	#12
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,887	Re: EX1R bad audio hum whenever EVF is switched on Try listening for it with your cams powered by AC not battery. A similar earthing problem occurred with the Pansonic GS400 circa 2004. Can't remember what we did about it tho. Cheers. __________________ Drink more tap water. On admission at Sydney hospitals more than 5% of day patients are de-hydrated.

April 14th, 2012, 05:17 AM	#13
Jack Zhang Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada Posts: 3,053	Re: EX1R bad audio hum whenever EVF is switched on No, this still happens using the BC-U1's DC out. To give everyone the idea: It sounds like a power-line transformer when it's listened to through headphones and the XLR inputs. It's due to the new LCoS viewfinder. Last edited by Jack Zhang; April 14th, 2012 at 08:15 AM.

April 14th, 2012, 06:05 AM	#14
John Peterson Major Player Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Monroe, NY Posts: 703	Re: EX1R bad audio hum whenever EVF is switched on When you opened it, do the cables have interference traps (ferrite cores) on them? Maybe they slid down out of the way or maybe you could add them yourself if it isn't under the warranty. John