Audio help. at DVinfo.net

Joe Bowey · August 21st, 2007, 02:29 PM

I just purchased my first wired lav mic AT899 and when I did some test shots I had a lot of noise. i had non professional talent that didn't talk loud but the audio level didn't move. My settings were -20db audio level and -50db mic level. I also had my shotgun mic on.
I am really trying to improve my audio but find it difficult to see on the audio meter. if I crank up the volume, i et a lot of noise. I use senn hd280 headphones.

Tim Dashwood · August 21st, 2007, 02:41 PM

Was your input for the lav set to mic level or line level? If it is line level then you will get a very weak signal from the mic. Also, I don't think you would ever need to use +48V with a lav.

Did you try -60dB pad? Could the battery in the lav be dead?

Joe Bowey · August 21st, 2007, 04:22 PM

It was set to mic+48 no battery installed in lav. You thinkng switchng to 12db would be better? I hate the indicator level in monitor and wish I coluld hook it up to something better to view.
I will be running a another test tommorrow. My talent has a very soft voice which increasing the volume just adds noise.
I also just recieved Jay Rose book producing great sound for video and looking to get the best sound from this camera.
Thanks for the quick reply

Jim Boda · August 21st, 2007, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Bowey

It was set to mic+48 no battery installed in lav. You thinkng switchng to 12db would be better? ...

You need to install the battery in the lav power supply and turn off phantom power.

In a better scenario, you would go through a mixer w/ good limiters and send line level at -12 to the camera.

Steve Oakley · August 21st, 2007, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Boda

You need to install the battery in the lav power supply and turn off phantom power.

In a better scenario, you would go through a mixer w/ good limiters and send line level at -12 to the camera.

**some** ( ok very few) lavs will take power via phantom. it depends on their power module. usually this requires a ambient emuel, or equavilant 3rd party module. factory ones tend to be internal battery only. I've got one that goes XLR->TA5 so I can use my lectro wired lavs on hardwire. super handy, but not cheap at $120 for 1. note that if you have phantom power on, and its not used by the mic, it will make the input noiser. I have a sony shotgun that will run from internal battery or phantom power, it doesn't care.

and as the other poster said, the best way is a external mixer, or premap and feed line level into the camera. Sound Devices makes a single and stereo preamp you could camera mount... but not cheap...and as always, you get what you pay for.

Tim Dashwood · August 21st, 2007, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Bowey

You thinkng switchng to 12db would be better?

The reference level setting (-20dB or -12dB) only does two things: it's moves the little dot on the audio meters to indicate either -20 or -12, and it sets the level of the internal tone generator to either -20 or -12. It has absolutely no effect on the sound other than providing you a meter and tone reference for your headroom preference.

Joe Bowey · August 23rd, 2007, 03:48 PM

We'll I layed back the video in the camera and the sound was great. Also no noise in headphones. I think when I captured the video using a consumer camera that it did not capture the sound correctly.
How come there is more noise in headphones while shooting but not in playback? I use senn hd250 headphones.

August 21st, 2007, 02:29 PM	#1
Joe Bowey Major Player Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 217	Audio help. I just purchased my first wired lav mic AT899 and when I did some test shots I had a lot of noise. i had non professional talent that didn't talk loud but the audio level didn't move. My settings were -20db audio level and -50db mic level. I also had my shotgun mic on. I am really trying to improve my audio but find it difficult to see on the audio meter. if I crank up the volume, i et a lot of noise. I use senn hd280 headphones.

August 21st, 2007, 02:41 PM	#2
Tim Dashwood Wrangler Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Posts: 3,637	Was your input for the lav set to mic level or line level? If it is line level then you will get a very weak signal from the mic. Also, I don't think you would ever need to use +48V with a lav. Did you try -60dB pad? Could the battery in the lav be dead? __________________ Tim Dashwood

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August 21st, 2007, 04:22 PM	#3
Joe Bowey Major Player Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 217	It was set to mic+48 no battery installed in lav. You thinkng switchng to 12db would be better? I hate the indicator level in monitor and wish I coluld hook it up to something better to view. I will be running a another test tommorrow. My talent has a very soft voice which increasing the volume just adds noise. I also just recieved Jay Rose book producing great sound for video and looking to get the best sound from this camera. Thanks for the quick reply

August 23rd, 2007, 03:48 PM	#7
Joe Bowey Major Player Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 217	We'll I layed back the video in the camera and the sound was great. Also no noise in headphones. I think when I captured the video using a consumer camera that it did not capture the sound correctly. How come there is more noise in headphones while shooting but not in playback? I use senn hd250 headphones.