audio capability of the HDV cams at DVinfo.net

Larry Secrest · September 13th, 2007, 07:56 AM

I'm thinking about using a HVR-V1 or a XG-A1 to produce a movie. I do NOT want to bother about recording sound separately.
I'm starting to wonder if those cams are barely adequate to record sound for a film. For interviews and wedding or even news type stuff, I have no doubt they're more than adequate. I'm starting to wonder if they are for narrative.
I've shot many times with a DVX100B and I must say they audio was super. Is it going to be super with one of those two HDV cams?

Ty Ford · September 13th, 2007, 03:40 PM

HDV audio is MP3 at 384 kbps stereo; about 1/5 as good as CD audio.

Regards,

Ty Ford

Seth Bloombaum · September 13th, 2007, 03:59 PM

1/5th as good just going by the datarate number, but MP3 uses a compression that mostly throws away data that's less important. Mostly.

So, HDV audio with MP3 compression doesn't sound like 1/5 the quality of CD, it sounds pretty good for dialog. Is pretty good good enough?

DV, OTOH, doesn't compress audio, it lays it down at roughly the same quality as CD.

It'd be real good for you to listen to the difference before committing to a workflow. It's your a**, or money, or time, or reputation.

September 13th, 2007, 07:56 AM	#1
Larry Secrest Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 404	audio capability of the HDV cams I'm thinking about using a HVR-V1 or a XG-A1 to produce a movie. I do NOT want to bother about recording sound separately. I'm starting to wonder if those cams are barely adequate to record sound for a film. For interviews and wedding or even news type stuff, I have no doubt they're more than adequate. I'm starting to wonder if they are for narrative. I've shot many times with a DVX100B and I must say they audio was super. Is it going to be super with one of those two HDV cams?

September 13th, 2007, 03:40 PM	#2
Ty Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD USA Posts: 2,337	HDV audio is MP3 at 384 kbps stereo; about 1/5 as good as CD audio. Regards, Ty Ford __________________ Ty Ford's Audio Bootcamp Field Guide Ty Ford's Audio Video Blog

September 13th, 2007, 03:59 PM	#3
Seth Bloombaum Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,420	1/5th as good just going by the datarate number, but MP3 uses a compression that mostly throws away data that's less important. Mostly. So, HDV audio with MP3 compression doesn't sound like 1/5 the quality of CD, it sounds pretty good for dialog. Is pretty good good enough? DV, OTOH, doesn't compress audio, it lays it down at roughly the same quality as CD. It'd be real good for you to listen to the difference before committing to a workflow. It's your a**, or money, or time, or reputation.