HV20 audio issues

[elmerlang]

I just got the HV20 and the audio from captured video with external mic , is noiser than the internal. (I'm using FCP5.1.4.) The mic's a little SONY a friend lent me.

I'm wondering if balanced/unbalanced, stereo/mono are issues?

I'm a bit baffled.

best,
elmer

[Mal]

Well, exactly WHAT mic did you use; Sony has some pretty crappy ones...

[alanz]

I connected my HV20 to a small Behringer sound mixer board when recording a high school play, and using the microphone attenuation setting on the HV20 eliminated all noise.

Was your external mic powered? If so, try the mic attenuation on the camera and see if that works out better.

[elmerlang]

Hello, and thanks for posting.

@ Mal

I tried the Sony ECM-MSD1 and the Sennheiser MKE 300. They're the only eighth-inch mics I got.

The Senn recorded motor noise and fast zooms louder than the Sony. The motor noise is squeally high, very tough to listen to. The HV10 is quieter.


@ ALanz

The attenuator just volumes down everything.

best,
elmer

[Mal]

I tried the Sony ECM-MSD1 and the Sennheiser MKE 300. <> The Senn recorded motor noise and fast zooms louder than the Sony. The motor noise is squeally high, very tough to listen to.

Okay, well, I am not really surprised about the Senn MKE300; that has a lobar pickup pattern, meaning it will also record sounds directly BEHIND the mic also (most shotguns do, although normally more so in the lower frequencies).
A hypercardioid mic might be more suitable, and/or extending the mic an inch or so further up from the cam might help also.

[elmerlang]

Excellent advice, Sir Mal, it's nice to have an explanation!

What do they call the thing-a-ma-bob that raises the mic up an inch or two?

Any suggestions on a hypercardioid mic? Maybe a shock mount might help, too.

Thanks again,
elmer

[Mal]

Question: What do they call the thing-a-ma-bob that raises the mic up an inch or two?
=
Answer: Maybe a shock mount might help, too.

That's one solution; you answered your own question! :hv20-smilie77:

A shockmount might be important to isolate the handling noise, and gain a couple of inches.

Also, I am going to experiment with a type of ORTF mic system. I may build my own, but I found it would already be available through soundprofessionals:
http://www.soundprofessionals.com/mas_assets/full/ISI-GPSM-PRO.jpg
Basically, a powered directional twin-mic system, that could be directed forward for good pick-up in front of the cam, or be directed at 110° and 17cm apart for true ORTF.
The SoundProfessional (http://www.soundprofessionals.com/cgi-bin/gold/item/ISI-GPSM-PRO) solution is available in quite a few configurations, either cardiood or hypercardioid is recommended. The problem is, ORTF would be better with Cardioid but I think the overall usability might be better with hypers. They offer separate elements to solve that issue.
It would attach to the HV20 with a Flash Shoe Adapter like this one from B&H:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/items/53726.jpg
All decked out, it comes in at about between $310 and $410 depending on options; not really low-cost anymore, but I think this might be pretty cool.

[tom chang]

I just got the HV20 and the audio from captured video with external mic , is noiser than the internal. (I'm using FCP5.1.4.) The mic's a little SONY a friend lent me.

I'm wondering if balanced/unbalanced, stereo/mono are issues?

I'm a bit baffled.

best,
elmer

Hi guys, I am a newbie with alot to learn as far as the video is concnerned...
BUT the Microphone and Audio problems are not unique to HV20.
Did you know that most professional studios re- record the originial
raw audio, with actors and background noise in a sound studio ??

The back ground noise and sound capture in the field is almost impossible
to achieve if you want a cinema type of a sound.

[agwah]

a blind test

http://dvestore.com/theatre/mics.html#

interesting mic stuff

http://homepage.mac.com/tyreeford/.Public/Video/Ty%20Ford%20Mic%20Tutorial%20VIdeo.mp4

[Dodgy Nick]

a blind test

http://dvestore.com/theatre/mics.html#

interesting mic stuff

http://homepage.mac.com/tyreeford/.Public/Video/Ty%20Ford%20Mic%20Tutorial%20VIdeo.mp4

I really enjoyed that blind test, fascinating stuff. Wish I could afford to get the SENNHEISER MKH-416 now!

The Ty Ford Tutorial is indispensable for anyone getting into DV audio.
Thanks for sharing. :hv20-smilie77: