I loves mah V1U ... except for...
 

My V1 arrived today and I've given it a good try out.

Everything is wonderful except the audio seems AWFULLY insensitive? I mean compared to my XL2 and my HC1, the V1's audio is WAY down there. And the V1's onboard mike is pathetic... when I transfer footage into Premiere you can't even hear the onboard mike's sound unless you boost it 30db or so.

Luckily, my shotgun, dynamic studio mike, and wireless mikes all work reasonably well, they're just not as hot as on the XL2 and HC1.

How can I increase audio sensitivity on the V1???

Other than that, love it, love it, love it. Beautiful images.

Sony is known for not supplying you with the best mics with their camera.
I would suggest just picking up another mic like the Rode NTG2 to swap out with the stock mic.
You will notice a dramatic difference in the sound after doing this.

Also just make sure that you don't have mic att turned on, as this will knock down your audio signal quite a bit.

Your ears aren't laying to you frequency response starts diminishing as you go under 500hz, and its not the onboard mic or HDV artifacts. It'll happen with good mic in DV mode too.


Shayne Weyker
http://weykervideo.com

It would be more accurate to say that no camcorder manufacturer provides good microphones with their camcorder without singling Sony out. They all stink, IMO.

Thanks guys and, Douglas (by the way, love your work) you're right... except that judging by all other other cameras I've owned, the V1's mike stinks a great deal more than normal. ;-)

I tried replacing it with my Audio Technica 897 shotgun but the shotgun picks up too much camera noise in the mike holder, so I shock mounted it on the shoe. Works much better than the mike that came with the V1 but still not nearly as hot as the AT is on my XL2.

In general, I am frustrated by the general lack of audio sensitivity. I've made sure that both Trim settings is 0db and put the gain on manual and maxed it to 10 and the audio input from mikes I KNOW to be nice and hot is WAY too low.

What am I doing wrong? How can I get decent audio?

Thanks,

--Ralph

Hmmm...using a Sanken CMS10, AT 897, and a couple of other mics, I get great audio from my V1. Do you have auto-gain enabled? I don't use this feature.

Thanks for the tip about the AGC.

I ran a test using the supplied mike with gain manual on 10 and sitting about three feet away, talking.

When I pull it into Premiere and normalized it, 9.6 db was added and the audio was usable.

I'm not real thrilled with the audio sensitivity yet but, leaving off the AGC and keep the gain wide open, the camera is probably usable. I had kinda hoped for more from Sony, though. (sigh)

Anyway, onward and upward. Thanks for the help!

--Ralph

OKAY!

Thanks Douglas, think I'm making progress. Dump the AGC and run the gain up all the way!

here's a quick minute audio test with the V1 for those interested:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...39086753348594

--Ralph

I had an AT4073a connected to my V1 on a shoot and it was more than strong enough at 3 feet. Yes, the stock mic is crap but I'm guessing it didn't cost $500.

Ralph,
Check your settings in windows audio panel or the audio card you are using. Also the settings in Premiere for audio in/out. You might have some levels turned down somewhere.

garyg

Thanks, I did all that... it's just that the V1 audio levels are lower than all the other cameras I have or have had.

Just have to get used to it.

--Ralph

On board mics can only really be judged on the basis of other on board mics and IMO Sony certainly falls short of it's competitors in regards to these prosumer style cameras.

Certainly nothing can compare to a good external microphone. In that arena they all fall short.

Well, for the last four days we shot a crafts fair up here in the mountains... used the V1U exclusively.... Lots of interviews.

I used my AT 897 shotgun mike and an Azden handheld.

We got great stuff but I'm telling you guys for sure -- while great in about every other area -- the audio on the V1 is SOFT.

The only time I came anywhere near clipping was when we shot one of the bands providing entertainment and they had their amps way up. I actually turned the V1 gain pot for the AT897 from 10 down to 9... just for safety, not necessity. (sigh)


If I could just drop the audio circuits from my Canon XL2 or even my HC1 into the V1, I would be a truly happy camper.

Still, we got more than enough footage for two 1-hour shows, which is what we were there to do.

And... let me make this clear ... aside from its audio, I LOVES the V1.

THERE HAS GOT TO BE A WAY TO GET THE V1 TO RESPOND NORMALLY TO GOOD MIKES?

I've tried every setting and every suggestion you guys have offered.

--Ralph

Rode make an inexpensive XLR preamp for dynamic mics, you just plug it inline. Runs off the phantom power. Just be warned it doesn't pass the phantom power through to the input so it will not work with condensor mics that need phantom power. The unit has 10dB gain which should get you out of trouble cheaply.
If that doesn't do the trick then I think a proper field mixer is the answer.

Great suggestion, Bob! I'll order one today... I can see where that would solve some problems... except, as you noted, with phantom-powered mikes.

--Ralph

Hi Ralph,

I had a similar problem when I first got my Z1. To correct the issue, I had to go into the menu and under AUDIO SET > XLR SET > INPUT1 TRIM, I changed the setting to +12dB. I then did the same for INPUT2 TRIM.

I don't know if the V1 is set up the same way (or if you've already tried this) but if it is, this may solve your problem.

Regards,
Mark

Yeah...I guess this is where Sony went wrong with the V1 design. Here is an excerpt from the manual:

"The INPUT TRIM function adjusts the input level from an external microphone. When using a highly sensitive microphone, set it to minus side. When using a less sensitive microphone or recording quiet sound, set it to the plus side"

Only... there is no plus side in the V1 menu!

Quite right, Piotr... and it's driving me bonkers. ;-)

--Ralph

Alas, Mark... it's not... 0db is as high as it goes.

--Ralph

Yep... this is on page 69 of the V1U manual, by the way.