Built-in mic seems loose?

Steven Taylor · July 25th, 2007, 07:58 AM

Yeah, like I said I expected it to wiggle, but mine feels like it has a few mm of completely free movement between the hard surface of the mic and the plastic baffle inside. Which renders the shock absorbtion less than useless.

Chris Hurd · July 25th, 2007, 08:16 AM

No way I know of to adjust it on your own... sounds like a trip to Canon factory service, sorry.

Alan Craig · July 25th, 2007, 12:15 PM

The first A1 I bought I sent back thinking it was faulty because of the mic I have since been told that it was made like that to try and dampen the handling effect so it is apparently not a fault but a deliberate design.
Hope this helps.

Don Palomaki · July 25th, 2007, 02:23 PM

The design is similar to that used on the GL1 and GL2, evolved out of the design used on the original Canon A1 (a Hi8 camcorders) from long ago, and no doubt similar to that used on other camcorders and by other makers. Works well for most users, but it ain't sailor proof as we used to say.

Perhaps more appropriate to say that you don't like the design for your intended use of the camcorder rather than that it is a terrible bit of design. Many folks no doubt find it to be a perfectly acceptable bit of design with in the context of its purpose, and better than many alternatives.

Michael Scherr · July 30th, 2007, 12:41 PM

It seems as if I packed my to tight for travelling. Coming home i recognized a unfirm microphone. It doesn't seem to be brocken but it is loose. There is a gap of about 0.5 mm at the rubber piece between the microphone body an the hand grip. Did anyone suffer the same damage and fixed it on his own? Is this an Achilles' heel of this wonderful piece of technique?

Michael

edit:
Sorry, there are already threads about it, it's an Achilles' heel, I'm a newbee and my post should be moved in the "Mic Loose?" thread ;-)

Kevin Amundson · July 30th, 2007, 06:16 PM

Your mic is supposed to be loose. It's a shock mount feature to reduce tape drive and camera operator noise. Please don't glue it back together as some people have done. That is the worst thing you can do. Just leave it be.

Nathan Quattrini · August 2nd, 2007, 06:58 PM

How much should it move down to up to be normal? My friend just picked it up out of my bag by the mic and its got me pretty scared. Why aren`t people more careful??? It moves down to up about 1/8th inch at the tip. Can someone else measure theirs to ease my mind?

Kevin Amundson · August 2nd, 2007, 07:43 PM

When the mic is in it's normal position on my camera it is 1.28 in(32.7 mm) above the lens hood. This measurement is from the flat of the lens hood directly under the end of the mic to the flat black band on the bottom of the mic. when I lift the mic up with my finger it is 1.45 in(36.9 mm) above the lens hood. With these measurements we can see that the mic fluctuates 0.17 in(4.2 mm) or just over 1/8th of an inch.

NOTE: All these measurements were taken will a digital caliper.

Sean Hill · August 2nd, 2007, 08:02 PM

Yeah my A1 is only a month old and the was loose right out the box. I was curious about this too. I'm glad I'm not the only one. Hmmmmm...

Michael Buonopane · September 26th, 2007, 08:44 PM

Just got my A1. Silly question to anyone who knows the answer. My internal mic wiggles a little. It seems a little loose. Not firmly attached to camera body. Is this normal?

Jay Legere · September 26th, 2007, 09:27 PM

100% normal...for the A-1.

Sould be viewed as a good thing. Reduces picking up camera noises during operation.

Jay

Michael Buonopane · September 27th, 2007, 05:01 AM

Thanks for the reply. That makes total sense. So glad I dont have to return it.
Canon confirmed that this is normal and part of the design...even for the G1

Jason Toth · December 19th, 2007, 01:30 PM

Yes I know the mic should have some play cuz its on a rubber shock mount. BUT mine is drooping downwards, it doesn't just wiggle when I press on it - it's loose, like I can see the internal wires that connect the thing.

Anyone know how its mounted and a quick fix w/o Canons help? Doesn't look like anything except the wires are attaching the mic to the camera - weird!

Thanks, Jason

Jason Toth · December 19th, 2007, 01:48 PM

PLEASE don't say its supposed to be loose, some of us are having issues other than some play cuz its on a rubber shock mount.

Mine is drooping downwards, it doesn't just wiggle when I press on it - it's loose, like I can see the internal wires that connect the thing - a good 1/4 inch gap!

Anyone know how its mounted and a quick fix w/o Canons help? Doesn't look like anything except the wires are attaching the mic to the camera - weird!

Thanks, Jason

Rene Brunken · December 19th, 2007, 03:50 PM

I solved the "problem" by wrapping a elastic rubber band in the slice between the mike and the housing. In this way it is still possibe to move the mike but it has no chance to rattle.
After this modification I have recorded some very loud noise ( pop concert ) and the ratling that I had before was gone. Now I have to solve the influence of the loud noise on the image. It seems that the image stabilisation is moving on the sound which is visible in the recording.
I hope my explanation is clear.

Gr.
Rene

July 25th, 2007, 08:16 AM	#62
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	No way I know of to adjust it on your own... sounds like a trip to Canon factory service, sorry. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

July 25th, 2007, 02:23 PM	#64
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,489	The design is similar to that used on the GL1 and GL2, evolved out of the design used on the original Canon A1 (a Hi8 camcorders) from long ago, and no doubt similar to that used on other camcorders and by other makers. Works well for most users, but it ain't sailor proof as we used to say. Perhaps more appropriate to say that you don't like the design for your intended use of the camcorder rather than that it is a terrible bit of design. Many folks no doubt find it to be a perfectly acceptable bit of design with in the context of its purpose, and better than many alternatives. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

July 30th, 2007, 12:41 PM	#65
Michael Scherr Tourist Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Munich, Germany Posts: 2	Loose microphone at my A1 It seems as if I packed my to tight for travelling. Coming home i recognized a unfirm microphone. It doesn't seem to be brocken but it is loose. There is a gap of about 0.5 mm at the rubber piece between the microphone body an the hand grip. Did anyone suffer the same damage and fixed it on his own? Is this an Achilles' heel of this wonderful piece of technique? Michael edit: Sorry, there are already threads about it, it's an Achilles' heel, I'm a newbee and my post should be moved in the "Mic Loose?" thread ;-)

July 30th, 2007, 06:16 PM	#66
Kevin Amundson Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: New Prague, MN Posts: 112	Your mic is supposed to be loose. It's a shock mount feature to reduce tape drive and camera operator noise. Please don't glue it back together as some people have done. That is the worst thing you can do. Just leave it be. __________________ Kevin \| www.kraentertainment.com A picture is worth 1,000 words \| A 2 hour film at 24fps is worth 172,800,000 words

August 2nd, 2007, 06:58 PM	#67
Nathan Quattrini Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Warwick, Rhode Island Posts: 740	How much should it move down to up to be normal? My friend just picked it up out of my bag by the mic and its got me pretty scared. Why aren`t people more careful??? It moves down to up about 1/8th inch at the tip. Can someone else measure theirs to ease my mind? __________________ Cinematography Site

July 25th, 2007, 07:58 AM	#61
Steven Taylor Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: London, UK Posts: 44	Yeah, like I said I expected it to wiggle, but mine feels like it has a few mm of completely free movement between the hard surface of the mic and the plastic baffle inside. Which renders the shock absorbtion less than useless.

July 25th, 2007, 12:15 PM	#63
Alan Craig Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Warrington England Posts: 143	The first A1 I bought I sent back thinking it was faulty because of the mic I have since been told that it was made like that to try and dampen the handling effect so it is apparently not a fault but a deliberate design. Hope this helps.

August 2nd, 2007, 07:43 PM	#68
Kevin Amundson Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: New Prague, MN Posts: 112	When the mic is in it's normal position on my camera it is 1.28 in(32.7 mm) above the lens hood. This measurement is from the flat of the lens hood directly under the end of the mic to the flat black band on the bottom of the mic. when I lift the mic up with my finger it is 1.45 in(36.9 mm) above the lens hood. With these measurements we can see that the mic fluctuates 0.17 in(4.2 mm) or just over 1/8th of an inch. NOTE: All these measurements were taken will a digital caliper. __________________ Kevin \| www.kraentertainment.com A picture is worth 1,000 words \| A 2 hour film at 24fps is worth 172,800,000 words

August 2nd, 2007, 08:02 PM	#69
Sean Hill New Boot Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 21	Yeah my A1 is only a month old and the was loose right out the box. I was curious about this too. I'm glad I'm not the only one. Hmmmmm... __________________ Sean Hill www.sean-hill.net

September 26th, 2007, 08:44 PM	#70
Michael Buonopane New Boot Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Central, CT Posts: 22	Xh A1 Loose mic issue Just got my A1. Silly question to anyone who knows the answer. My internal mic wiggles a little. It seems a little loose. Not firmly attached to camera body. Is this normal?

September 26th, 2007, 09:27 PM	#71
Jay Legere Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Iqaluit Nunavut, Canada Posts: 98	100% normal...for the A-1. Sould be viewed as a good thing. Reduces picking up camera noises during operation. Jay

September 27th, 2007, 05:01 AM	#72
Michael Buonopane New Boot Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Central, CT Posts: 22	mic issue Thanks for the reply. That makes total sense. So glad I dont have to return it. Canon confirmed that this is normal and part of the design...even for the G1

December 19th, 2007, 01:30 PM	#73
Jason Toth Tourist Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Vancouver BC Canada Posts: 2	Having same issue - any fixes besides sending back Yes I know the mic should have some play cuz its on a rubber shock mount. BUT mine is drooping downwards, it doesn't just wiggle when I press on it - it's loose, like I can see the internal wires that connect the thing. Anyone know how its mounted and a quick fix w/o Canons help? Doesn't look like anything except the wires are attaching the mic to the camera - weird! Thanks, Jason

December 19th, 2007, 01:48 PM	#74
Jason Toth Tourist Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Vancouver BC Canada Posts: 2	Any fix for a loose mic? PLEASE don't say its supposed to be loose, some of us are having issues other than some play cuz its on a rubber shock mount. Mine is drooping downwards, it doesn't just wiggle when I press on it - it's loose, like I can see the internal wires that connect the thing - a good 1/4 inch gap! Anyone know how its mounted and a quick fix w/o Canons help? Doesn't look like anything except the wires are attaching the mic to the camera - weird! Thanks, Jason Last edited by Jason Toth; December 20th, 2007 at 01:49 AM.

December 19th, 2007, 03:50 PM	#75
Rene Brunken New Boot Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Venlo, NL Posts: 12	Lose mike on A1 I solved the "problem" by wrapping a elastic rubber band in the slice between the mike and the housing. In this way it is still possibe to move the mike but it has no chance to rattle. After this modification I have recorded some very loud noise ( pop concert ) and the ratling that I had before was gone. Now I have to solve the influence of the loud noise on the image. It seems that the image stabilisation is moving on the sound which is visible in the recording. I hope my explanation is clear. Gr. Rene