HV20 questions re audio
 

I'm considering a purchase of the HV20 and I was curious if there is significant noise picked up by the on-board mic from the motor or when zooming? Is it louder than the HV10? Will an external mic pick it up?

Will most mics fit in the mount?

Will a mic with xlr adaptor be unbalanced or have added noise?

best,
elmer

HV20 questions re audio
 

I can hear the noise picked up by the built-in mic. The only thing I can compare to is a Panasonic PV-GS250. The HV20 is louder. However, my experience with the HV20 is limited to about 20 minutes of recording so far.

"Internal" mikes really suffer on small camcorders. If you want good audio you must use an 'external' mike.

JohnG

Yes, external mic is the way to go, but I worry even that will pick up motor noise.

For the best results get your external mic off the cam and close to your subject. The distance from a person's mouth to a mic for the best audio is measured in inches, not feet. This is true for SD, HD and whatever else comes along.

Good luck.

Dennis

Anyone have any ideas on which Beachtek adapter would work best with the HV20? http://www.beachtek.com/

Peter,

Harry at Beachtek said the following:

"We are working with Canon in the US find an appropriate adapter for this
model. It looks like our DXA-2s Compact Adapter will fit this camera the
best."

Harry is really helpful and responds to emails instantly! His email address is beachtek@bellnet.ca

Actually got two emails from Harry today (Sat.) He recommends the DXA-2s if you don't need phantom power or

"If you require phantom power, then our DXA-6 adapter would be ideal for the HV20. The DXA-FX adapter is only designed to work with the Sony FX1 or FX7 camcorders." [from Harry's email]

(I asked about an adapter with mic preamps)

HV Questions re audio
 

I'm thinking of using my Sennheiser MKE 300 mic on the HV 20. Has anyone tried this combo? Using the MKE 300 on my Sony HVR A1U produced a lot of vibration noise etc and I wonder if it's the same with HV 20?

Thanks.

I tried the MKE 300 on an HV20 and it was picking up motor noise and fast zooms.

Thanks- that's a pity. Looks like I'll have to go with a proper mount and my shotgun then : )

Hey Roger, if I was you I'd still try the MKE 300 since you have one and all, your experience might be different than mine! And if it was, you could post your experience.

Though I haven't tried it yet, this is what the Beachtech DXA-4 looks like,mounted to the HV20. See photo attached.

Hey, Chris, lookin' good!

Will that setup limit you to handheld, maybe it's the angle, but I don't see how you could put it on a tripod? Either way, I look forward to your comments, I've been enjoying your 'Sony User Tries Canon HV20' thread each step of the way!!

best,
elmer

Elmer:

The adapters that are made to bolt on to the bottom of a camera, have a have the same thread underneath that is on your camera. See the picture attached. This week sometime I plan to try the rig with my Sennheiser ME66 attached. Biggest issue I see is the potential for mic, due to length, protruding to far into picture frame...

The Rode Video Mic is always worth a look too. Compared to my Canon DM-50, it seemed to pick up less motor noise when I tested it with a GL2. It's mono, not stereo (like the DM-50).

Rode mic info can be found here:
http://www.rodemic.com/?pagename=Pro...oduct=VideoMic

Check out my photos of the HV20 with a mic mounted at the thread here:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...t=90504&page=6

It should. It has a shock mount.

Good luck.

Dennis

On it's webpage it says the Rode Video Mic has "a switchable high pass filter to reduce unwanted low frequency rumble".

Is that the frequency zone we're talking about, or another?

Would a hypercardioid mic do a better job?

best
elmer

Hey Chris,

I was hoping you were going to post your impressions of the HV20 with ME66 attached, or other mic.

best,
elmer

I just ran one short test, actually in automode. I'll see if I can post some sound track...

Mic Testing Camera v. ME66
 

As requested here are two wave files with the camera mic and the ME 66, in a room. File names explain which is which. These are waves rendered off a captured hdv time line, in Premiere Pro 2.0



http://www.makeyourfilm.net/mictestME66.wav

http://www.makeyourfilm.net/mictestcameramic.wav

Great to hear! Thanks, Chris, for posting both wav files!!

My impression was that they both were picking up motor noise.

According to my sound meter in FCP, the ME66 audio, when you weren't talking, was about -33dB, the HV20's mic about -30dB. The HV10 on-cam mic registers -36dB.

What are your impressions? Was the ME66's audio levels/noise 'pickup' different from your experience with other cameras/recorders?

Thanks again, Chris, you've been great and I appreciate it!

best,
elmer

hv20 and ext mics
 

chris-

nice job posting some audio samples.

to my tired ole ears the me66 sounded much cleaner though there clearly was some sound bouncing around in the room. can u please describe how the recording was made? hv20 on a tripod? u standing approx how many feet in front of the mic? room conditions (room was a bit bright)

would u think about passing the audio signal thru an external field pre (mixpre) so u could control the imput in ways the audiio controls of the hv20 do not allow?

i ask the above because of the hv20's very low profile, i'm thinking of using it on some talking head interviews with folks who may feel overwhelmed by a bigger rig---even one the size of the diminutive a1. if i thought i could control the sound inputs i would seriously consider using/buying the hv20 for this shoot.

any thoughts u could offer would be greatly appreciated.

again, thanks for posting.

be well

rob

Elmer and Rob:

The room was our family room, hard wood floors, 10 foot ceiling, joining to kitchen. Definitely a bright, noisy, echoing room. I was about 4 to 5 feet from camera mounted on a tripod. I was using DXA-4 (I always get this backward, so could be DX4-A) adapter from Beachtek. Dials were set a about 4 or 5 right and left, with switch set at mono, since ME66 is mono. I think I posted picuture of how it was mounted on camera earlier in this thread. The mic is has XLR cord to the adapter, but I noted the other day that it was making a bit of noise on movement.

I'm thinking I could have put camera sound into manual, and adjusted things better. I'm not sure if that would help camera sound. I have a sock on the mic I put on myself, and it is by no means technically correct. It a piece of foam with cloth over it. Use it to hoping to take some of the brightness out, but that is probably not the right thing to do...


I may try some some testing in a carpeted room to see if any difference occurs. I will post the sound clip this evening, I hope.

I do thin think this camera is workable to provide a low profile shoot like you are talking about, Rob.

This sound test has three different tests in the same smaller room, with carpeting, but 10 ft ceilings.

I describe each test, but includes Me66 on camera, camera mic only, and ME66 mounted off camera:

http://www.makeyourfilm.net/downloads/newsoundtest.wav

Chris

Excellent report! You had really good levels with your DXA-4, and the ME66 was sweet.

It was interesting the difference on my FCP's levels. The ME66, in silence, registered about -42 (-33dB, 1st test). But you still had excellent levels when you spoke.

When removed from the camera it registered the same really, maybe sliiiightly lower.

I think I heard motor noise, but it was very faint.

Surprising was that the HV20's audio, in silence, was also lower, about -36dB in silence (-30dB, 1st test). Odd.

Thanks again!

best,
elmer

Chris, others,
thanks, makes for some excellent reading & listening...
There is another test I am planning on doing (when I get my hv20, which may take some weeks still): measuring the noise the camera records when there is NO mic active (not even internal), and with automatic gain control off. So we get an idea of the quality of the in-cam analog components used before the AD conversion. Could one trick the camera into disabling the on board mic by plugging in some unattached cable?

That should work. I know it worked that way when I had my Beachtek attached in a rush out the door to a kids concert, and didn't bring ear phone, and started recording. The Beachtek was still plugged in, but no mic atached. Had a nice sillent track.

please recommend
 

looking for a external mic around $200 - $300 for HV 20. Objective, to record female opera singer with big voice accompanied with piano. Need a 'warm' mic to avoid harsh reproduction esp. at the top. mic has to be placed out of view perhaps 5' - 8' away.

What other equipment do I need to make it work. Also want to avoid post production editing other copying onto dvd's.

Thanks.