Gl1 audio clipping at DVinfo.net

Bill Grant · November 4th, 2005, 10:15 AM

Hey All,
I have an issue with the audio on the gl1 being "overloaded" for lack of a better term. Monitoring is nearly impossible in either a loud reception or club setting, and when I get the tapes home, the bass overloads the audio and clips. I also have a Pana GS-120 that doesn't do it. I was wondering if you guys set the Mic Att. setting on every loud shoot, or is this a problem with everyone? thanks in advance.

Bill
www.grantphotovideo.com

James Bridges · November 4th, 2005, 10:31 AM

Hey Bill, I used to own a GL 1. Was a pretty good camera. Everytime I shot a reception I would always set the MIC Att. I learned this the hard way. Looks like you have too. There may be some other solutions to this. On the other hand, if you are not using the on camera mic, I suggest investing in a small portable mixer of some sort. This way you can control all levels from peaking out. GOOD LUCK!

Marco Leavitt · November 5th, 2005, 12:31 AM

Always set the attenuator to on with that camera. James is right, a mixer with a limiter will help quite a bit. You have to experiment with the settings. It's counter intuitive, but give it a fairly hot signal with a pretty aggressive setting on the limiter.

Graham Bernard · November 5th, 2005, 01:48 AM

MIC ATT on all the time .. there has to be a really REALLY good reason for me to switch it off. I had the "experience" once and that taught me the lesson .. I now also have a 60 quid Behringer 10 channel mixer - it's got high, mid and low range attenuation . .works for me ..

Don Palomaki · November 5th, 2005, 05:40 AM

MIC ATT set to ON is standard practice for recording in loud venues. Believe that it even suggests this in the user manual.

Ran some tests a couple years ago.

With MIC ATT "OFF" you will see AGC effects kick in at around 93 dB sound pressure level, and can expect waveform distortion to set in around 110 dB SPL

Setting MIC ATT "ON" gets you about 14 extra dB sound pressure level head room with the internal mic, and 20 dB more with an external mic.

David Ennis · November 5th, 2005, 06:20 AM

Not that Don needs my agreement, but I did similar testing and got similar results on my GL2. A strong signal can overload the input to the cam's preamp, and compensating with gain controls further down the audio chain can't fix it. MIC ATT protects the input.

November 4th, 2005, 10:15 AM	#1
Bill Grant Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Columbia,SC Posts: 806	Gl1 audio clipping Hey All, I have an issue with the audio on the gl1 being "overloaded" for lack of a better term. Monitoring is nearly impossible in either a loud reception or club setting, and when I get the tapes home, the bass overloads the audio and clips. I also have a Pana GS-120 that doesn't do it. I was wondering if you guys set the Mic Att. setting on every loud shoot, or is this a problem with everyone? thanks in advance. Bill www.grantphotovideo.com

November 4th, 2005, 10:31 AM	#2
James Bridges Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Posts: 113	Hey Bill, I used to own a GL 1. Was a pretty good camera. Everytime I shot a reception I would always set the MIC Att. I learned this the hard way. Looks like you have too. There may be some other solutions to this. On the other hand, if you are not using the on camera mic, I suggest investing in a small portable mixer of some sort. This way you can control all levels from peaking out. GOOD LUCK! __________________ James out------ Check out the Southern Winds Film Festival. Call for entries is now open! http://www.southernwindsfilmfestival.com http://www.phigmentphilms.com

November 5th, 2005, 05:40 AM	#5
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,487	MIC ATT set to ON is standard practice for recording in loud venues. Believe that it even suggests this in the user manual. Ran some tests a couple years ago. With MIC ATT "OFF" you will see AGC effects kick in at around 93 dB sound pressure level, and can expect waveform distortion to set in around 110 dB SPL Setting MIC ATT "ON" gets you about 14 extra dB sound pressure level head room with the internal mic, and 20 dB more with an external mic. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

November 5th, 2005, 06:20 AM	#6
David Ennis Fred Retread Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hartford, CT Posts: 1,227	Not that Don needs my agreement, but I did similar testing and got similar results on my GL2. A strong signal can overload the input to the cam's preamp, and compensating with gain controls further down the audio chain can't fix it. MIC ATT protects the input. __________________ "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence..." - Calvin Coolidge "My brain is wired to want to know how other things are wired." - Me

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November 5th, 2005, 12:31 AM	#3
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	Always set the attenuator to on with that camera. James is right, a mixer with a limiter will help quite a bit. You have to experiment with the settings. It's counter intuitive, but give it a fairly hot signal with a pretty aggressive setting on the limiter.

November 5th, 2005, 01:48 AM	#4
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	MIC ATT on all the time .. there has to be a really REALLY good reason for me to switch it off. I had the "experience" once and that taught me the lesson .. I now also have a 60 quid Behringer 10 channel mixer - it's got high, mid and low range attenuation . .works for me ..