Noise no matter what. at DVinfo.net

Stephen Griebel · November 1st, 2005, 05:27 PM

Hi yall. I've got a Rode NT3 (using the 9V batt) with an XLR-mini adapter cable (not mixer) going to my Panasonic-GS250 camcorder. No matter what I do when recording indoors (on boom, handholding shockmount) or how close (or even windscreen on/off), there is this overwhelming hiss/fuzz which I cannot get rid of in post. When I bought the adapter cable from equipmentemporium, they said there would be no difference in quality between the adapter plug and an xlr-pro or beachtek. Could it be that the panny's recording at +12 dB or something by default (nothing in camera options)? Plz help, this is killing my movie!

Ty Ford · November 1st, 2005, 08:41 PM

If you're trying to input a mono mic into the stereo input of the 250, you will encounter many problems. There are several cables that allow a mono mic to be connected to a stereo mini input. A standard xlr-mini adapter cable will not work. You need one that connects pin 2 of the XLR to both tip and ring of the mini TRS.

I cover this and lots of other audio info in my little book. I wrote the book especially for folks like yourself.

You can find out more at http://home.comcast.net/%7Etyreeford/AudioBootcamp.html

Regards,

Ty Ford

Francois Poitras · November 2nd, 2005, 08:10 AM

Hmmm. I did connect microphones with a mono plug into my GS400 and the worst that happened was that the sound was recorded on one channel only (which is normal). I would have thought it would work the same way with the GS250. You may want to check the cable. Can you test the mic and cable on another camcorder?

Francois Poitras · November 2nd, 2005, 08:11 AM

Hmmm. I did connect microphones with a mono plug into my GS400 and the worst that happened was that the sound was recorded on one channel only (which is normal). I would have thought it would work the same way with the GS250. You may want to check the cable. Can you test the mic and cable on another camcorder?

Francois Poitras · November 2nd, 2005, 08:11 AM

Hmmm. I did connect microphones with a mono plug into my GS400 and the worst that happened was that the sound was recorded on one channel only (which is normal). I would have thought it would work the same way with the GS250. You may want to check the cable. Can you test the mic and cable on another camcorder?

Francois Poitras · November 2nd, 2005, 08:14 AM

Sorry about the triple post...

Stephen Griebel · November 2nd, 2005, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ty Ford

A standard xlr-mini adapter cable will not work. You need one that connects pin 2 of the XLR to both tip and ring of the mini TRS.

I called the guys I bought the cable from and they said that the pin configuration is as listed above. Will try and mess with the few audio settings. Curious about the gs400, though...

Francois Poitras · November 2nd, 2005, 01:37 PM

Yep. Just to be sure, I just checked again with my AT897 and an XLR-mini (mono) cable plugged into the GS400. Works fine (no hiss or hum), but obviously one channel only.

Guy Bruner · November 2nd, 2005, 01:38 PM

Well, Francois, you had a triple post and my post was deleted. Interesting forum glitch.

Stephen,
Make sure the mini phone plug is pushed firmly into the mic jack. This is one of the most common problems with the Panasonic cams. Also, the GS250 has no way to adjust audio, it uses AGC and the NT3 is a hot mic. You will need an inline attenuator, headphone volume control, or mixer adapter to control audio level.

Stephen Griebel · November 2nd, 2005, 02:12 PM

Guy, after looking at your post, the attenuator certainly looks like it could be it. Although, I might just go ahead and grab an XLR-PRO anyway-- these little $50 line accessories add up- and, call me a skeptic (I'm a filmmaker) but I'm pretty sure that the attenuator wouldnt work when it came down to it (most posts I saw suggested one when there was mic overload from a concert). Has no one else had this problem- with the nt3...with the gs250?

Stephen Finton · November 2nd, 2005, 03:35 PM

Turn off the air conditioner.

I do it when I film a scene and it works wonders.

Let 'em sweat.

You can turn it back on at break.

Guy Bruner · November 2nd, 2005, 03:36 PM

Sure it will work. And, if you are in a hurry, an inline headphone volume control from Radio Shack will work, too, for about $5. I've got one that I used when I tested the NT3, NTG-2 and RODE Videomic with the DV953, GS400, GS250, GS150 and GS120. The GS120 is basically the GS150/250 from a year ago. Of course, your best, most professional solution is to get an XLR mixer adapter.

Stephen Griebel · November 4th, 2005, 07:06 PM

The inline control definitely did it, Guy. Thanks to all and good luck on your own (mis)adventures

November 1st, 2005, 05:27 PM	#1
Stephen Griebel New Boot Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Fredericksburg, Va Posts: 6	Noise no matter what. Hi yall. I've got a Rode NT3 (using the 9V batt) with an XLR-mini adapter cable (not mixer) going to my Panasonic-GS250 camcorder. No matter what I do when recording indoors (on boom, handholding shockmount) or how close (or even windscreen on/off), there is this overwhelming hiss/fuzz which I cannot get rid of in post. When I bought the adapter cable from equipmentemporium, they said there would be no difference in quality between the adapter plug and an xlr-pro or beachtek. Could it be that the panny's recording at +12 dB or something by default (nothing in camera options)? Plz help, this is killing my movie!

November 1st, 2005, 08:41 PM	#2
Ty Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD USA Posts: 2,337	If you're trying to input a mono mic into the stereo input of the 250, you will encounter many problems. There are several cables that allow a mono mic to be connected to a stereo mini input. A standard xlr-mini adapter cable will not work. You need one that connects pin 2 of the XLR to both tip and ring of the mini TRS. I cover this and lots of other audio info in my little book. I wrote the book especially for folks like yourself. You can find out more at http://home.comcast.net/%7Etyreeford/AudioBootcamp.html Regards, Ty Ford __________________ Ty Ford's Audio Bootcamp Field Guide Ty Ford's Audio Video Blog

November 2nd, 2005, 08:10 AM	#3
Francois Poitras Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Québec (Canada) Posts: 133	Hmmm. I did connect microphones with a mono plug into my GS400 and the worst that happened was that the sound was recorded on one channel only (which is normal). I would have thought it would work the same way with the GS250. You may want to check the cable. Can you test the mic and cable on another camcorder? __________________ François

November 2nd, 2005, 08:11 AM	#4
Francois Poitras Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Québec (Canada) Posts: 133	Hmmm. I did connect microphones with a mono plug into my GS400 and the worst that happened was that the sound was recorded on one channel only (which is normal). I would have thought it would work the same way with the GS250. You may want to check the cable. Can you test the mic and cable on another camcorder? __________________ François

November 2nd, 2005, 08:11 AM	#5
Francois Poitras Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Québec (Canada) Posts: 133	Hmmm. I did connect microphones with a mono plug into my GS400 and the worst that happened was that the sound was recorded on one channel only (which is normal). I would have thought it would work the same way with the GS250. You may want to check the cable. Can you test the mic and cable on another camcorder? __________________ François

November 2nd, 2005, 08:14 AM	#6
Francois Poitras Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Québec (Canada) Posts: 133	Sorry about the triple post... __________________ François

November 2nd, 2005, 01:37 PM	#8
Francois Poitras Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Québec (Canada) Posts: 133	Yep. Just to be sure, I just checked again with my AT897 and an XLR-mini (mono) cable plugged into the GS400. Works fine (no hiss or hum), but obviously one channel only. __________________ François

November 2nd, 2005, 01:38 PM	#9
Guy Bruner Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Ashford, AL Posts: 937	Well, Francois, you had a triple post and my post was deleted. Interesting forum glitch. Stephen, Make sure the mini phone plug is pushed firmly into the mic jack. This is one of the most common problems with the Panasonic cams. Also, the GS250 has no way to adjust audio, it uses AGC and the NT3 is a hot mic. You will need an inline attenuator, headphone volume control, or mixer adapter to control audio level.

November 2nd, 2005, 02:12 PM	#10
Stephen Griebel New Boot Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Fredericksburg, Va Posts: 6	Guy, after looking at your post, the attenuator certainly looks like it could be it. Although, I might just go ahead and grab an XLR-PRO anyway-- these little $50 line accessories add up- and, call me a skeptic (I'm a filmmaker) but I'm pretty sure that the attenuator wouldnt work when it came down to it (most posts I saw suggested one when there was mic overload from a concert). Has no one else had this problem- with the nt3...with the gs250?

November 2nd, 2005, 03:35 PM	#11
Stephen Finton Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 344	Turn off the air conditioner. I do it when I film a scene and it works wonders. Let 'em sweat. You can turn it back on at break.

November 2nd, 2005, 03:36 PM	#12
Guy Bruner Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Ashford, AL Posts: 937	Sure it will work. And, if you are in a hurry, an inline headphone volume control from Radio Shack will work, too, for about $5. I've got one that I used when I tested the NT3, NTG-2 and RODE Videomic with the DV953, GS400, GS250, GS150 and GS120. The GS120 is basically the GS150/250 from a year ago. Of course, your best, most professional solution is to get an XLR mixer adapter.

November 4th, 2005, 07:06 PM	#13
Stephen Griebel New Boot Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Fredericksburg, Va Posts: 6	The inline control definitely did it, Guy. Thanks to all and good luck on your own (mis)adventures