I've discovered that the FX1's audio will saturate and clip when recording a loud noise, particularly loud low frequency noises. I discovered this from several shoots during thunderstorms. Loud thunder will clip and sound unnatural. My VX2100 and TRV900 have no problem with loud noise and the thunder nat audio has always sounded great. I normally shoot storms with 2 or 3 cameras, so I can just use the sound from the other cameras on the HD track. But it would be nice to be able to use the nat sound from the FX1.

Just wondered if this was due to a correctable factory setting on the FX1 or if it just has a different mic that can't handle loud sound.

Do you have the audio levels set manually or do you leave it on automatic? I tape lots of bands and I've found that when I leave it on auto, it tends to clip a bit. Try it on manual. I'm not sure if a concert is as loud as thunder but the music definitely sounds fine when it's set correctly.

are you saying the stock mic on fx1 sounds fine when manually set...or are you accounting for using a different mic altogether such as the xlr input types?

Check out my post on Crying Nut.

I had it set on manual at around 5 on the notch. I don't remember it going into the red too often but most of my sound was bad.

I tried Sony's Sound Forge 8 and I was able to fix most of the problems I had but...

I need to remember to carry headphones with me if I'll be recording loud concerts.

And have the level meters displayed on screen. Leaving the dial at 5 means nothing I'm afraid.

I do use the meters. I just wasn't paying attention to it I guess. When I was checking the meters it wasn't going into the reds.

Crying Nut happens to be one of the groups I like, so I guess my attention to details was distracted.