HV20 questions at DVinfo.net

Elmer Lang · April 6th, 2007, 03:58 PM

I have 24 hours to decide whether to keep an HV20. I was only able to look it over and record 2 minutes before rushing off to work. I can't download a manual here or open the package containing the manual when I get home.

Could someone give me a link to the manual so when I get home, I can check. In case of problems (Life itself), I have a few questions concerning audio.

A friend lent me a small SONY mic with 1/8" plugin that fit nicely into the shoe. I'll try it tonight.

Should generally any plugin mic work? Must it be stereo or mono?

I assume when using I must switch from internal to external mic, right? How?

Do I need to turn off phantom power, and mics without phantom power do work fine in the shoe, right?

With headphones on, I found the motor louder than the HV10, and I could hear the zoom motor on fast zooms, not on slow zooms. An external mic shouldn't pick those sounds up, right?

It also seemed the instant AF was not so instant after a fast zoom, it took a moment and then focused, there was also a little beep each time I did.

Otherwise, I'm liking this camera, would just like to get squared away audio-wise.

best,
elmer

Ken Ross · April 6th, 2007, 04:13 PM

Here's the link Wes:

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/co...&modelid=14869

I'm a bit confused about that 'beep' you hear. I've never heard that and I'm not sure what setting the cam is in that's causing it.

Elmer Lang · April 6th, 2007, 04:23 PM

Surprise, I was able to download the manual here! I'm shocked. Thanks, Ken.

Unfortunately, I'm also troubled because the manual seems to indicate I just plug in a mic and use it. I didn't see anything in the menu for switching from internal to external. I taped 2 minutes with the SONY mic (phantomless, but connected to the shoe), and if anything the noise was louder.

Could I be doing something wrong?

thanks,
elmer

Elmer Lang · April 6th, 2007, 05:00 PM

I believe I've now read enough of the manual so that my only concern is that, apparently, you just plugin a mic, without switching to external. Having captured 2 minutes with a little SONY mic, listening to it the noise seemed worse than without an external mic.

Chris Hurd · April 6th, 2007, 05:32 PM

That is correct. The act of plugging in an external mic will automatically switch off the internal mic.

Elmer Lang · April 6th, 2007, 06:32 PM

HV10 footage, when quiet, hits about -36db.

HV20 w/o external mic, -30 decibels. HV20 w/ mic, -24db.

We're talking louder and louder.

I wonder what issues could be affecting the HV20 w/ mic: balanced, unbalanced; stereo or mono; the shoe itself? Hmm.

johnny baffled

Ken Ross · April 7th, 2007, 06:49 AM

Elmer, I'm not sure which Sony mike you're using, but if it's the little DS-70P, that unit is a dog! I bought one for a high quality digital recorder I bought for voiceovers, and I couldn't believe how bad it was. It has a terrible S/N ratio and made my onboard voice recorder mike sound like a $1,000 mike.

Elmer Lang · April 7th, 2007, 11:44 AM

Well, it's an ECM-MSD1, but it's a dog from the same litter!

I also tried my old Sennheiser MKE300. It was a little quieter but picked up the zoom with remarkable fidelity. ;) It's the best mic I have that's not xlr.

This is supposed to be my guerrilla/tourist cam and I'm not looking for incredible audio, just audio sans motor whistle and zoom grunge. Comparatively, the HV10 is way quieter. If it only had a mic input!

best,
elmer

Ken Ross · April 7th, 2007, 12:35 PM

Elmer, one thing to keep in mind, in the quiet of a room you will pick up varying degrees of motor noise with any of these small cams. But (and it's a BIG but), these noises are essentially inaudible when out in the 'real world'. Just a thought.

Steve Szudzik · April 7th, 2007, 04:03 PM

That pretty much seems to be the case with my HV20. I've got the DM-50 mic for it and outdoors, I don't seem to pickup anything other than what I'd expect (no apparent motor noise or zoom noise). Indoors, I will occasionally hear the zoom a little but that's about it. I put the DM-50 on the instant I pulled the camera from it's box and haven't tried the built in mic at all.

Steve

Fergus Anderson · April 8th, 2007, 04:01 AM

Steve what sort of battery times are you getting when using the mic? I am interested to know if it has much of a drain on power?

Cheers

Steve Szudzik · April 8th, 2007, 09:45 AM

I haven't yet shot long enough to drain my battery completely. I picked up the larger BP-2L14 when I got the camera and so far that's the only one that I have used.

The longest sequency that I shot was a 15 minute clip of my kids playing in the sprinklers. After that shot, I played the footage back for capturing. The battery meter was still reading at least 75% charge though.

Steve

Elmer Lang · April 8th, 2007, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Szudzik

That pretty much seems to be the case with my HV20. I've got the DM-50 mic for it and outdoors, I don't seem to pickup anything other than what I'd expect (no apparent motor noise or zoom noise). Indoors, I will occasionally hear the zoom a little but that's about it. I put the DM-50 on the instant I pulled the camera from it's box and haven't tried the built in mic at all.

Steve

Thanks, Steve for the info.

I'm interested in a mic. Do you know how that DM-50 compares to the RodeVideo mic?

best,
elmer

Steve Szudzik · April 8th, 2007, 03:20 PM

I couldn't answer for the comparison. I'm still very green when it comes to much of this. The only equipment I've got is the HV20, DM-50 and my first video cam (Sony TRV37).

Steve

Dale Baglo · April 8th, 2007, 10:18 PM

I compared the Rode to the DM50 on my GL2 and the Rode was quieter (less motor noise) due to I think the fact that the DM-50 is hardmounted to the camera and therefore more susceptible to vibration transmission. The Rode sounded quite good, actually. It's mono though, not stereo (if ambience is important to you.)

April 6th, 2007, 03:58 PM	#1
Elmer Lang Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: NY, NY Posts: 319	HV20 questions I have 24 hours to decide whether to keep an HV20. I was only able to look it over and record 2 minutes before rushing off to work. I can't download a manual here or open the package containing the manual when I get home. Could someone give me a link to the manual so when I get home, I can check. In case of problems (Life itself), I have a few questions concerning audio. A friend lent me a small SONY mic with 1/8" plugin that fit nicely into the shoe. I'll try it tonight. Should generally any plugin mic work? Must it be stereo or mono? I assume when using I must switch from internal to external mic, right? How? Do I need to turn off phantom power, and mics without phantom power do work fine in the shoe, right? With headphones on, I found the motor louder than the HV10, and I could hear the zoom motor on fast zooms, not on slow zooms. An external mic shouldn't pick those sounds up, right? It also seemed the instant AF was not so instant after a fast zoom, it took a moment and then focused, there was also a little beep each time I did. Otherwise, I'm liking this camera, would just like to get squared away audio-wise. best, elmer

April 6th, 2007, 05:32 PM	#5
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	That is correct. The act of plugging in an external mic will automatically switch off the internal mic. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

April 8th, 2007, 04:01 AM	#11
Fergus Anderson Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: London, UK Posts: 321	Steve what sort of battery times are you getting when using the mic? I am interested to know if it has much of a drain on power? Cheers Last edited by Fergus Anderson; April 8th, 2007 at 10:09 AM.

April 6th, 2007, 04:13 PM	#2
Ken Ross Trustee Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: New York Posts: 1,945	Here's the link Wes: http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/co...&modelid=14869 I'm a bit confused about that 'beep' you hear. I've never heard that and I'm not sure what setting the cam is in that's causing it.

April 6th, 2007, 04:23 PM	#3
Elmer Lang Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: NY, NY Posts: 319	Surprise, I was able to download the manual here! I'm shocked. Thanks, Ken. Unfortunately, I'm also troubled because the manual seems to indicate I just plug in a mic and use it. I didn't see anything in the menu for switching from internal to external. I taped 2 minutes with the SONY mic (phantomless, but connected to the shoe), and if anything the noise was louder. Could I be doing something wrong? thanks, elmer

April 6th, 2007, 05:00 PM	#4
Elmer Lang Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: NY, NY Posts: 319	I believe I've now read enough of the manual so that my only concern is that, apparently, you just plugin a mic, without switching to external. Having captured 2 minutes with a little SONY mic, listening to it the noise seemed worse than without an external mic.

April 6th, 2007, 06:32 PM	#6
Elmer Lang Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: NY, NY Posts: 319	HV10 footage, when quiet, hits about -36db. HV20 w/o external mic, -30 decibels. HV20 w/ mic, -24db. We're talking louder and louder. I wonder what issues could be affecting the HV20 w/ mic: balanced, unbalanced; stereo or mono; the shoe itself? Hmm. johnny baffled

April 7th, 2007, 06:49 AM	#7
Ken Ross Trustee Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: New York Posts: 1,945	Elmer, I'm not sure which Sony mike you're using, but if it's the little DS-70P, that unit is a dog! I bought one for a high quality digital recorder I bought for voiceovers, and I couldn't believe how bad it was. It has a terrible S/N ratio and made my onboard voice recorder mike sound like a $1,000 mike.

April 7th, 2007, 11:44 AM	#8
Elmer Lang Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: NY, NY Posts: 319	Well, it's an ECM-MSD1, but it's a dog from the same litter! I also tried my old Sennheiser MKE300. It was a little quieter but picked up the zoom with remarkable fidelity. ;) It's the best mic I have that's not xlr. This is supposed to be my guerrilla/tourist cam and I'm not looking for incredible audio, just audio sans motor whistle and zoom grunge. Comparatively, the HV10 is way quieter. If it only had a mic input! best, elmer

April 7th, 2007, 12:35 PM	#9
Ken Ross Trustee Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: New York Posts: 1,945	Elmer, one thing to keep in mind, in the quiet of a room you will pick up varying degrees of motor noise with any of these small cams. But (and it's a BIG but), these noises are essentially inaudible when out in the 'real world'. Just a thought.

April 7th, 2007, 04:03 PM	#10
Steve Szudzik Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sammamish, WA Posts: 103	That pretty much seems to be the case with my HV20. I've got the DM-50 mic for it and outdoors, I don't seem to pickup anything other than what I'd expect (no apparent motor noise or zoom noise). Indoors, I will occasionally hear the zoom a little but that's about it. I put the DM-50 on the instant I pulled the camera from it's box and haven't tried the built in mic at all. Steve

April 8th, 2007, 09:45 AM	#12
Steve Szudzik Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sammamish, WA Posts: 103	I haven't yet shot long enough to drain my battery completely. I picked up the larger BP-2L14 when I got the camera and so far that's the only one that I have used. The longest sequency that I shot was a 15 minute clip of my kids playing in the sprinklers. After that shot, I played the footage back for capturing. The battery meter was still reading at least 75% charge though. Steve

April 8th, 2007, 03:20 PM	#14
Steve Szudzik Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sammamish, WA Posts: 103	I couldn't answer for the comparison. I'm still very green when it comes to much of this. The only equipment I've got is the HV20, DM-50 and my first video cam (Sony TRV37). Steve

April 8th, 2007, 10:18 PM	#15
Dale Baglo Regular Crew Join Date: May 2006 Location: Victoria, BC Posts: 64	I compared the Rode to the DM50 on my GL2 and the Rode was quieter (less motor noise) due to I think the fact that the DM-50 is hardmounted to the camera and therefore more susceptible to vibration transmission. The Rode sounded quite good, actually. It's mono though, not stereo (if ambience is important to you.)