HV30 microphone no sound

[mellyx]

Hello. I've got a HV30 and I recently bought a basic generic microphone (yoga EM-288) to plug into the mic socket. It has the correct battery and is switched on.
However on the camera's LCD there is a message saying the audio is switched off. When I disconnect the mic the message goes and the internal mic takes over and when I play back the film there is no sound using the external microphone.
The microphone itself seems to be alright as it can record through when connected as an input into the PC.

I've also tried connecting a mono speach mic to the camera but the same thing happens. There is a message saying the sound is off and when I playback there is no audio

Have I done something wrong or do you think the camera has a fault?

[previdman]

Have to set the combination headphone out/microphone in jack to "mic in" using the menu, I believe.

... or just read the manual.

[mellyx]

Have to set the combination headphone out/microphone in jack to "mic in" using the menu, I believe.

Thanks for the reply but I don't understand.
As far as I can tell the HV30 has only one jack socket for the microphone and it has no other uses.
The headphone socket is beneath it and is shared by AV out. It is this jack that needs to be toggled in the menu.
There is nowhere in the manual or onscreen menu that mentions that the mic socket is used for anything else.

So, again, either I've made an obvious mistake or the camera has a fault.
Can anyone shed any light please? Thanks.

[previdman]

Oops, my bad. Guess I'm the one who should read the manual! Thanks for respectfully ignoring my obvious (and growing) senility.

[darkprints]

What is the error message on the LCD?

[mellyx]

What is the error message on the LCD?

In the bottom left corner there is the word 'off/' and a pic of a little microphone the rest of the screen is normal and you can use the camera.
When the tape is played back there is no sound.
It does this with 3 different mics with a standard jack plug.

[darkprints]

In the bottom left corner there is the word 'off/' and a pic of a little microphone the rest of the screen is normal and you can use the camera.
When the tape is played back there is no sound.
It does this with 3 different mics with a standard jack plug.

That's not an error message - it means the wind screen is turned off. See pg. 39 in the manual.

Are you sure your mics are self powered? The HV20/30 does not provide plug-in power at the mic input jack.

[mellyx]

Ah this sheds new light onto the situation. I just thought it meant the mic wasn't operating and this was confirmed when I played it back with no apparent sound.

The mic that I bought is self powered and is a basic Yoga EM-288. When I played back the video it had recorded but extremely quietly.

So maybe the camera is alright and this is either a defective or rubbish microphone.
How could I tell I wonder?

[darkprints]

Turn on the audio level indicator and visually monitor the sound levels. Compare the levels of the built-in and the external mics.

Also make sure the mic attenuator is off.

[mellyx]

The attenuator is switched off.
The recording level with the external mic is considerably less than with the internal. It only registers if you tap or talk directly into the mic.

Do you think it's the mic that is at fault?

[mbwkrause]

Not neccessarily, some mics just have a lower output level than others. The output level of my Rode NTG-2 is also lower than the internal mic. But that´s what a pre-amp is for. How far did you bump up the audio gain in the camera?

[mellyx]

It might be the battery. The mic takes a 1.5v lithium and the one I've got in has only 1v.
Maybe this is why it's so quiet.

[hv20paul]

Have had the HV20 for over 12 months and it has performed perfectly. Someone has used the camera and when I got it back it will not playback audio from the internal speaker anymore. The camera is recording audio fine and I can monitor the audio from the headphone socket, but the internal speaker no longer works. When you press the joystick during playback to try to increase the volume, it does not budge from the OFF position, i.e. the icon shows a speaker with OFF next to it. Please help, this is very annoying, what got pressed to make this happen and how can I get my audio back.

[Krane]

Have had the HV20 for over 12 months and it has performed perfectly. Someone has used the camera and when I got it back it will not playback audio from the internal speaker anymore. The camera is recording audio fine and I can monitor the audio from the headphone socket, but the internal speaker no longer works. When you press the joystick during playback to try to increase the volume, it does not budge from the OFF position, i.e. the icon shows a speaker with OFF next to it. Please help, this is very annoying, what got pressed to make this happen and how can I get my audio back.

When the icon shows off you need to move the joystick to the right to turn on and increase the volume.

[hv20paul]

Thanks Krane, I have tried that but it has no effect. I have confirmed that the joystick is functioning as I can move it to the right and select menu items etc in other menus. What could be wrong do you think?

[super_claret]

I have the same mic and the same problems. When recording anything, even with the mic volume turned up to maximum manually on my HV20, I get little or no sound. I'm worried now that if I go and buy a Rode Video Mic to improve my sound, I will have the same problems.

Does anyone have any recommendations for mics at £120 maximum budget?

BTW, what's a pre-amp? Is it part of the external mic or built in to the camera?

Cheers

[badhairdude]

I have the same mic and the same problems. When recording anything, even with the mic volume turned up to maximum manually on my HV20, I get little or no sound. I'm worried now that if I go and buy a Rode Video Mic to improve my sound, I will have the same problems.

Does anyone have any recommendations for mics at £120 maximum budget?

BTW, what's a pre-amp? Is it part of the external mic or built in to the camera?

Cheers

Pre-amp are devices made by juicedlink, beachtek. They allow XLR microphones to run long cables so you can boom your microphone and get better sound. These run around $300. If you just want an onboard camera, you should get the dm50 or rode video mic, (both of these around $150). If you want to take a step up, you should get the rode ntg-2 or at897(which have xlr inputs), buy an xlr to 3.5mm adapter ($10-15), and your set. You can choose later on if you want to upgrade to a juicelink/beachtek(so you can boom) and not have to buy new mics.

[HueyNRolf]

Pre-amp are devices made by juicedlink, beachtek. They allow XLR microphones to run long cables so you can boom your microphone and get better sound. These run around $300. If you just want an onboard camera, you should get the dm50 or rode video mic, (both of these around $150). If you want to take a step up, you should get the rode ntg-2 or at897(which have xlr inputs), buy an xlr to 3.5mm adapter ($10-15), and your set. You can choose later on if you want to upgrade to a juicelink/beachtek(so you can boom) and not have to buy new mics.

Why not go for the Azden SGM-1X? It's around the same price as the RVM and has a balanced output.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...otgun_Mic.html

[Bif]

Mellyx,

If your internal mics give you adequate levels, the Rode StereoVideoMic or Rode Video Mic should also give adequate level. As should pretty much most quality mics.

The one you have is something I have never heard of, I suspected it is the cause and one other poster has the same problem with the same brand so that pretty much cinches it.

Both Rodes mentioned above are powered by a common 9v battery that gives fairly long life. I have both mics and they work well. My son has an inexpensive Azden stereo mic and has no problem with audio level on his HV30.

I suggest you get a fairly decent set of compact headphones that will fit in your bag and get in the habit of monitoring audio at least during the setup for a shot or project (best to monitor as continuously as you can) and that will help keep you in line.

But a good mic will help a lot. The Azden or Audio Technica aren't bad as inexpensive mics to get you by until you can make yourself afford something better.

[HueyNRolf]

Mellyx,

If your internal mics give you adequate levels, the Rode StereoVideoMic or Rode Video Mic should also give adequate level. As should pretty much most quality mics.

The one you have is something I have never heard of, I suspected it is the cause and one other poster has the same problem with the same brand so that pretty much cinches it.

Both Rodes mentioned above are powered by a common 9v battery that gives fairly long life. I have both mics and they work well. My son has an inexpensive Azden stereo mic and has no problem with audio level on his HV30.

I suggest you get a fairly decent set of compact headphones that will fit in your bag and get in the habit of monitoring audio at least during the setup for a shot or project (best to monitor as continuously as you can) and that will help keep you in line.

But a good mic will help a lot. The Azden or Audio Technica aren't bad as inexpensive mics to get you by until you can make yourself afford something better.

Why not go for the Azden SGM-1X? It's around the same price as the RVM and has a balanced output.