Built-in mic seems loose?

Robert Wide · August 8th, 2008, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Palomaki

There are several threads on this subject.

Expect the tip of the mic to move up/down by about 1/8" from center position. Where the mic attaches to the handle you can expect the joint to open/close some what as well as the tip pivots. However, a gap that you can see through into the handle/mic internals and wiring would not be normal.

So I send my A1 back to Canon since the internal wiring could be seen (1-2 mm), they checked the whole camera and found that all functions, including the mic movement, were within the range of the specs. Even though the wiring was visible. The mic is working well so I decided to leave it this way and covered the 'joint' with black isolation tape to prevent damage by rain / dust etc. Still able to move the mic but it feels a little bit tighter now, imo more comfortable. No effect on the sound.

RW

Lew Stamp · November 13th, 2008, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Palomaki

If the construction is similar to the GL series, it does not come appart readily. There is a good bit of disassembly required to take off the built-in mic.

My Mic really does wobble up,down, left and right. It is more than, it can flex as in shock mount, it is loose. Can you tell me how to secure it.?
Lew

Tripp Woelfel · November 13th, 2008, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lew Stamp

My Mic really does wobble up,down, left and right. It is more than, it can flex as in shock mount, it is loose. Can you tell me how to secure it.?
Lew

If it doesn't actually audibly rattle, it's probably not loose. It should move quite a bit.

Lew Stamp · November 15th, 2008, 10:21 AM

You can actually see a very slight gap between the rubber shock mount at the handle. I just moved up from a GL2 to a used XHa1 and am a little nervous about my new baby. Canon's manual is a little sparse, any suggestions on where to find a user friendly practical how too?
Lew

Chris Hurd · November 15th, 2008, 10:29 AM

Once again -- the mic is supposed to be loose -- it should flex up and down, and it should rotate a bit clockwise and counter-clockwise. That's intentional, by design. We don't offer a "how-to" on how to change this, because we firmly believe the old axiom "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." If you're still not sure, then the *only* recourse we recommend here is to send it in to a Canon factory service center. Again... it's supposed to be loose; it's supposed to wobble and flex. Hope this helps,

Tom Roper · November 16th, 2008, 12:50 PM

The loose microphone on my XH-A1 has given me something no other camera has, my own stickie at DVinfo! (I'm honored...Thanks Chris...Lol)

Nick Amabile · December 21st, 2008, 05:34 PM

While I agree with the minimal movement for shock absorption, the play on the mic I have is beyond that. It's actually got a slight downward slope and a noticeable/sizable gap where it meets the handle. It will somewhat flop back and forth if I turn the camera upside down and then right side up. Enough to actually MAKE A NOISE while recording. Totally counter productive to the supposed shock absorption it's intended for.

John Bergquist · March 3rd, 2009, 09:01 PM

So after reading 7 pages of this discussion I was pretty surprised no on had actually just troubleshot the loose mic. While shooting in China we noticed the mic starting to droop more and more until one day it stopped working. Before any of you start in with "why are you treating the camera like that" I will tell you my crew is very careful with equipment. Shooting on location like that has its wear. Anyway we simply removed the two screws on the base arm below the start stop button, the two screws under the eye piece (which allows access to the control ribbon plug in the back. Then remove two screw under the control ribbon plug are removed allowing the whole handle to be removed. Once you have the handle off there a several screw mounted underneath the handle. Remove those and the handle assembly comes apart. The Mic wires are simple ribbon that slide into a slot plug. The shock absorber is assembled using two plastic plates held in place behind the handle casing. Unless these plates break apart the mic WILL NOT FALL OFF. We replugged in the the ribbons and everything was back to normal. To say the least we have a few wraps of gaffers tape wrapped around the base of the mic now to ensure the play does not lend to loose mic ribbons again. I hope this helps.

Chris Hurd · March 11th, 2009, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Bergquist

So after reading 7 pages of this discussion I was pretty surprised no on had actually just troubleshot the loose mic.

That's because it's purposefully designed to be that way for a good reason... in other words, it doesn't need troubleshooting. It's *supposed* to be loose! I thought this thread bore that out.

Mike Janke · May 2nd, 2009, 09:14 AM

The A1's built in mic design is actually very good. As others have said, it is built "loose" as a shock absorber, so it doesn't pick up every little sound.

If you attach a shotgun mic in the holder, be ware, it will pick up most of your movements. I would love to be able to record XLR on one channel and the built in mic on the other (mono), however the A1 doesn't seem to allow that, which can be a draw back when you are recording a mono line out, and you want BG from your camera mic. But if you use the shot gun mic XLR in one channel, you can still record a line in on the other channel.

Chris Hurd · May 2nd, 2009, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Janke

I would love to be able to record XLR on one channel and the built in mic on the other (mono), however the A1 doesn't seem to allow that...

The newer versions of these cameras, the XH A1S and XH G1S, can do this.

Mike Janke · May 6th, 2009, 08:20 AM

Really eh? Well that makes me feel much worse! Oh well...

Chris Hurd · May 6th, 2009, 09:34 AM

The intention wasn't to make you feel bad, but to let you know what the new "S" models are
capable of doing. You could always sell off your older A1 and put that money toward an A1S.

J.J. Kim · May 8th, 2009, 09:07 PM

how about shotgun mic holder on A1s, Chris?
It seems very loose, too.
I get the built in mic part. That's really good to have.
I checked the screws and they were all tight.
I searched the forum, but there weren't any thread about loose shotgun mic holder.
Thank you for all your help, Chris!

JJ

Chris Soucy · May 8th, 2009, 09:42 PM

If it's loose (the mic holder, that is) and the screws are done up tight, somethings broken.

However, you could simply be seeing the normal flex of the holder clamp assembly. It is quite flexible, by design. If it didn't flex, with a good whack it would have to break.

If it's flex, forget it. If it's loose, it's back to Canon.

CS

November 15th, 2008, 10:21 AM	#94
Lew Stamp New Boot Join Date: May 2006 Location: Akron, Ohio, USA Posts: 10	still odd though You can actually see a very slight gap between the rubber shock mount at the handle. I just moved up from a GL2 to a used XHa1 and am a little nervous about my new baby. Canon's manual is a little sparse, any suggestions on where to find a user friendly practical how too? Lew

November 15th, 2008, 10:29 AM	#95
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Once again -- the mic is supposed to be loose -- it should flex up and down, and it should rotate a bit clockwise and counter-clockwise. That's intentional, by design. We don't offer a "how-to" on how to change this, because we firmly believe the old axiom "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." If you're still not sure, then the only recourse we recommend here is to send it in to a Canon factory service center. Again... it's supposed to be loose; it's supposed to wobble and flex. Hope this helps, __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

March 3rd, 2009, 09:01 PM	#98
John Bergquist Tourist Join Date: May 2008 Location: Corvallis, Oregon Posts: 1	Loose Mic So after reading 7 pages of this discussion I was pretty surprised no on had actually just troubleshot the loose mic. While shooting in China we noticed the mic starting to droop more and more until one day it stopped working. Before any of you start in with "why are you treating the camera like that" I will tell you my crew is very careful with equipment. Shooting on location like that has its wear. Anyway we simply removed the two screws on the base arm below the start stop button, the two screws under the eye piece (which allows access to the control ribbon plug in the back. Then remove two screw under the control ribbon plug are removed allowing the whole handle to be removed. Once you have the handle off there a several screw mounted underneath the handle. Remove those and the handle assembly comes apart. The Mic wires are simple ribbon that slide into a slot plug. The shock absorber is assembled using two plastic plates held in place behind the handle casing. Unless these plates break apart the mic WILL NOT FALL OFF. We replugged in the the ribbons and everything was back to normal. To say the least we have a few wraps of gaffers tape wrapped around the base of the mic now to ensure the play does not lend to loose mic ribbons again. I hope this helps.

May 2nd, 2009, 09:14 AM	#100
Mike Janke New Boot Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Waterloo Ontario Posts: 12	Using a shotgun mic The A1's built in mic design is actually very good. As others have said, it is built "loose" as a shock absorber, so it doesn't pick up every little sound. If you attach a shotgun mic in the holder, be ware, it will pick up most of your movements. I would love to be able to record XLR on one channel and the built in mic on the other (mono), however the A1 doesn't seem to allow that, which can be a draw back when you are recording a mono line out, and you want BG from your camera mic. But if you use the shot gun mic XLR in one channel, you can still record a line in on the other channel.

May 6th, 2009, 08:20 AM	#102
Mike Janke New Boot Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Waterloo Ontario Posts: 12	that just makes it worse Really eh? Well that makes me feel much worse! Oh well...

November 16th, 2008, 12:50 PM	#96
Tom Roper Trustee Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 1,891	The loose microphone on my XH-A1 has given me something no other camera has, my own stickie at DVinfo! (I'm honored...Thanks Chris...Lol)

December 21st, 2008, 05:34 PM	#97
Nick Amabile Tourist Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Montville, NJ Posts: 1	While I agree with the minimal movement for shock absorption, the play on the mic I have is beyond that. It's actually got a slight downward slope and a noticeable/sizable gap where it meets the handle. It will somewhat flop back and forth if I turn the camera upside down and then right side up. Enough to actually MAKE A NOISE while recording. Totally counter productive to the supposed shock absorption it's intended for.

May 6th, 2009, 09:34 AM	#103
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	The intention wasn't to make you feel bad, but to let you know what the new "S" models are capable of doing. You could always sell off your older A1 and put that money toward an A1S. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

May 8th, 2009, 09:07 PM	#104
J.J. Kim Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Wheeling, IL Posts: 270	how about shotgun mic holder on A1s, Chris? It seems very loose, too. I get the built in mic part. That's really good to have. I checked the screws and they were all tight. I searched the forum, but there weren't any thread about loose shotgun mic holder. Thank you for all your help, Chris! JJ

May 8th, 2009, 09:42 PM	#105
Chris Soucy Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairfield, Dunedin, New Zealand Posts: 3,691 Images: 18	Hi J.J............... If it's loose (the mic holder, that is) and the screws are done up tight, somethings broken. However, you could simply be seeing the normal flex of the holder clamp assembly. It is quite flexible, by design. If it didn't flex, with a good whack it would have to break. If it's flex, forget it. If it's loose, it's back to Canon. CS