I have Canon XM-2 since a week back, but not yet Vegas 4.0.

I have a question of audio.

If I use 16-bit (page 54) is it then impossible to afterwards insert other audio in my film? For instance, if I do an interview in 16-bit can I then, when editing, insert even backgrounds music to the tape?

Can somebody explain this 16-bit and 12-bit little more than in the manual?

Assuming Vegas is like FinalCut, you would use a separate program to resample all new audio (audio you didn't get on tape) and convert it to a single standard. In my case, it's an 48Khz, 16 bit AIFF file, if I remember right.

I’ve always understood bits to refer to the amount of information that’s captured with each sample. To make a digital recording of an analog sound, there is the sample rate (number of times per second that a digital snapshot of the sound is created) and the amount of information captured in that instant. That’s a real dumbed down explanation, but the best I can do. Maybe some of the more scientific people here can do a better job of it.

Hello Torsten
For the best little book on audio for digital video production see Jay Rose's "Audio Postproduction for Digital Video" (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1578201160/). It will tell you everything you need to know...and far more. After the first 3-4 chapters you'll be able to bore anyone at a dinner!

You can layer-in any number of channels of audio (or whatever Vegas allows) during your editing work. If you then print your finished product to tape you would then just mix it down.

I use 16 bit from my XM2 to Vegas. It edits using this format, runs at 48,000Hz full stereo. I do Stereo recordings and use interviews on channel 1 and/or 2. I've had no problems. Vegas4 and the XM2, IMHO, is a killer combo.

I'm happy,

Grazie

On the GL-2 unless you really want 4-track it probably is not all that useful to record 12 bit. One the XL-1 using 12 bit allows you to record on all 4-tracks simultaneously.

about the 12-bit or 16-bit sound setting in the GL1 menu - I imagine 16-bit sounding better, but what's the catch?

12 bit allows for 4 channels of recording on tape -- only useful to some, and only useful if your hardware offers a way to do it, which I don't believe yours does.

Stay with 16 bit.

GB

Ah, ok.

What kind of hardware do you mean?

The Canon XL1, for example, has an add-on device that allows you to attach four microphones at once.

GB

I assume that's pretty cool, for real-time surround sound recording purposes or something futuristic like that.

Why does the XM1/GL1 not have this add-on when it does allow for 12-bit sound recording?

All camcorders have the option to select between the two.

The manufacturers seem to believe that you might want to overdub your original recordings on the tape with narrations or sound effects. Also you might print back to tape after doing a 4 track edit in certain setups.

I see. In that case, I'll stick to 16-bit sound.

Thanks!

4-channel recording (qvailable on the XL1/2) is handy for some events. An example is to use the on camera mic for stero ambient sound, and to have wireless mics on the groom and on the officiant and/or at the podium for readers at the ceremony. This shold give clean audio for all spopken parts.

Yeah, full of questions today.

1/- How do I set this up and then Capture to NLE?

2/- What would I use this for? It appears from the User Manual that I get 2 x 2 channels of stereo? This a good thing?

TIA,

Grazie

Nope? No takers? No one understand? :-(

Grazie

Yeah, full of questions today.

1/- How do I set this up and then Capture to NLE?

2/- What would I use this for? It appears from the User Manual that I get 2 x 2 channels of stereo? This a good thing?

TIA,

Grazie

Graham,

1. I think I recall you are a Vegas user, or PPro, neither of which will capture 4-channel audio. Ed Troxel and others here have indicated they use Scenalyzer to capture 4-channel audio from DV. Setup for 12-bit I'm not certain about in the GL series, I think my XL switches and menus are different. Its got to be discussed in your manual though.

2. I've used 4-channel audio only once to prove it works on a new cam. I captured two channel stereo to 1/2 and another lav mic to channel 3/4. Since my mic wasn't stereo, it recorded the mono to both tracks.

Note: Using all four channels has the drawback of reducing the audio sample rate from 16bit to 12bit.

"I think I recall you are a Vegas user, " . . Indeed I am.

" . . neither [both NLEs] of which will capture 4-channel audio. " And for Vegas, it can't - hence the question how do I.

"Ed Troxel and others here have indicated they use Scenalyzer to capture 4-channel audio from DV. " Yes they have and they do. And if it can, how would I do it with my XM2?

"Setup for 12-bit I'm not certain about in the GL series, . . " ok . .

"Its got to be discussed in your manual though." Well kinda! In my PAL manual it appears on p54 (Audio Mode); p106 (Audio Dubbing) and p109 (Audio Mix) - and, IMHO, it is a tad opaque. Hence my question here. I'm looking for an individual/XM2 user who has successfully attempted this process with the XM2 to allow me to make use of the "extra channel/s" - if in fact they can be created at the point of filming.

And yes, I understand the 16bit to 12bit reduction in quality.

So, until I hear differently:

1/- Recognizing the porsity of responses - thank you Patrick in taking the time to do so - not a lot of people have made use of this option - if in fact it IS an option.

2/- That it would appear it is ONLY used to allow dubbing to a "vacant" 2nd Channel / Track, this having been "created" during a filming session.

Would somebody please confirm or deny this?

TIA,

Grazie

If I'm understanding everything correctly, the "extra" two audio channels you gain by using 12bit mode are only accessible as a "second take," meaning that since the GL2 only has two inputs, you have to play the tape back and dub the 3rd and 4th tracks on during a second pass through the tape. I believe the XL1 and XL2 give access to all four tracks during the original recording pass, but I'm not aware of any way to do that with the GL2.

Personally I've never seen the need for this as any additional audio that I need to overlay I can do in my NLE. Since I never use more than two audio channels (on the camera, again due to hardware limitations) I always leave my equipment set to 16bit. I'm amazed, however, that every DV camera (of any make or model) that I've picked up has always been factory set to 12bit. Also note that while the bit depth changes from 16 to 12 the sampling rate also drops from 48Khz to 32Khz.

That said, if anyone can come up with a scenario where you would use all four channels on such a camera, I'm all ears. Perhaps a commentary track on the original tapes???

Hope this helps. I have to admit I'm kinda guessing on some of this since I've never really tried it (and I'm using Premiere, so capturing would be a chore).

Thanks for getting abck to me . . Yeah, I'm not going near it too! I was interested to know if I was missing out on anything. . .AND the resounding response has been?


NO! ! !


. . Yup, I'll stay with the 16bit and the 48k sampling . . .

Grazie