I use a line input from the house board, and record mono on both channels. On my Z1 I set channel 1 for auto level and channel 2 for manual. This has saved my bacon a couple times when something unexpected happens....

As I mentioned initially, it was definitely not a levels problem. I did fix the problem by using a different mic (Neumann TLM103). My on-camera mic still did the overload sounding thing, though levels were very low. I guess some mics just don't handle some frequencies well.

Thanks for all the help!

KW

I'd still like to hear more description of the sound - the "rattle"...

Not for 17 channels, man! Just gotta set 'em RIGHT. Luckily operas have a full orchestra dress or two to figure "right" out...

The rattle I described is really more like a sound of overmodulation. When I hear it in headphones, I expect to look down and see the meters pegged, but they're not even close. So, I guess it's a distortion, but only at a certain frequency, rather than volume-based.

Make sense?

Kevin

Sopranos
 

I'm late answering this, but yes, it makes sense. Operatic sopranos can put out way more energy at certain frequencies than a recordist who's used to dialogue (or even pop singers) would expect.

I've had the same problem. I don't know what's being overloaded, but my guess is it's either the mic or the A/D convertor.

I work with opera singers on original projects (short screen musicals), and it's almost impossible to get film recordists to take the problem seriously until it happens to them--by which time it's too late.