Where is the ALC switch on dvx100/dvc80? at DVinfo.net

Steve D. Taylor · May 19th, 2004, 11:14 AM

Stupid question, I know, but I've looked all over the camera and read the manual and can't find where I can turn the ALC on or off. The sales specs said there was a switch, but darned if I can't find it.

Thanks,

Steve.

John Britt · May 19th, 2004, 11:21 AM

S'funny, this just came up over at the "other" site's forum. I do believe it was the first I had heard about ALC in the DVC80. The manual does not mention ALC or Automatic Level Control. So I downloaded the brochure .pdf this morning and there it was, one little sentence that mentions ALC.

Double-checking the DVX100 manual this morning, I saw that it does mention ALC, including how to turn it on and off. There are no similar controls on the DVC80 that I can find.

Which has raised two important questions for me, as well: 1) What's up with ALC in the DVC80? and 2) Are the DVC80 and DVX100 as similar in audio tech and specs as everyone seems to assume (myself included)?

Barry Green · May 19th, 2004, 02:01 PM

There's no switch, there's a menu setting. I think it's under "recording setup."

Aaron Banks · May 19th, 2004, 02:01 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by John Britt : Which has raised two important questions for me, as well: 1) What's up with ALC in the DVC80? and 2) Are the DVC80 and DVX100 as similar in audio tech and specs as everyone seems to assume (myself included)? -->>>

ALC = auto/audio level control? I thought there was none in this camera.

The DVC80 is a 60i only verison of the DVX100. Everything else is the same.

John Britt · May 19th, 2004, 02:50 PM

Barry --

Steve has a DVC80. There is no such control for ALC in any menu setting that I can find, nor is it mentioned in the manual. What you said is correct for the DVX100. I'm assuming that Steve is thinking the same as I was, that the DVC80 and DVX100 have the same audio setup. It appears that perhaps they don't...

Aaron --

As I wrote in my post above (which you quoted), ALC is not mentioned in the DVC80 manual, but is mentioned in the DVC80 brochure, hence the confusion. Google "DVC80 Brochure" to find the .pdf I'm talking about.

Based on the manuals for the DVC80 and DVX100, specifically in this case the reference to ALC, there obviously is a question whether or not "Everything is the same." Go to panasonic.com and compare the DVC80 and DVX100 manuals -- at the very least there is some discrepency re: automatic level control.

Steve D. Taylor · May 19th, 2004, 03:44 PM

Hmm, this is odd. I like the way the audio sounds on what I've done so far, but I'm about to embark on a major project and I want to be sure I'm doing things right. Dialogue, boomed properly seems to be sounding good at the levels I've been using, but people say to be sure to keep the ALC on so that if an actor improves some yelling, I won't have "clipping." I want to be sure I have the ALC on (which may be built in, as I've tried to get distortion by yelling into my me66 without success). Maybe you can't turn it off...which would be odd for this camera. There is a menu setting with 3 options for auto audio, but that appears to apply only to programing the "auto" button.

Steve.

Aaron Banks · May 19th, 2004, 05:24 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by John Britt : Based on the manuals for the DVC80 and DVX100, specifically in this case the reference to ALC, there obviously is a question whether or not "Everything is the same." Go to panasonic.com and compare the DVC80 and DVX100 manuals -- at the very least there is some discrepency re: automatic level control. -->>>

Maybe we have discovered something new!?

In all the DVC80 threads I have read, nobody has ever mentioned ALC before. Hmm...

Alex Dolgin · May 19th, 2004, 08:37 PM

Funny, I researched the same subject a few weeks ago after getting the 80. I found one review comparing the 100 vs 80, were it was said that the 80 has a full time ALC (can not disable)

Aaron Banks · May 19th, 2004, 08:42 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by Alex Dolgin : Funny, I researched the same subject a few weeks ago after getting the 80. I found one review comparing the 100 vs 80, were it was said that the 80 has a full time ALC (can not disable) -->>>

If you could find the link to that review, please post it. Id like to take a look.

Alex Dolgin · May 19th, 2004, 09:44 PM

Aaron, I spent this past hour trying to locate it. It was a review by Mitch Ives of www.insightproductions.com (in Arizona)
I just can not remember where it was posted. He is a very knowledgeble guy, the review was substantial. It was in a table format, with each camera having its features noted. May be you can try to Google it, or email him directly, and if you find it, post it here...

Matt Gettemeier · May 20th, 2004, 03:19 PM

Just in case anyone reading may not know the difference... the ALC in the DVX is essentially a limiter... it is NOT AGC which adjusts the GAIN in most other DV cameras.

What this means in practical terms is that you won't have hiss during silence and you don't need to do the old... "3...2...1... Today in our local news...." which used to be done to set the AGC for the speaking environment.

CLICK HERE and read on page 4 of the Panny brochure, under the heading "Large Audio Dials and Flexible Input Selection", and you'll see it describes the same feature that's selectable on the DVX.

With a DVX push "menu" then move down to selection 5. Recording Setup... click that and the third option down is ALC on/off...

So the DVC80 doesn't have that?

Steve D. Taylor · May 20th, 2004, 03:53 PM

Matt,

I'm sitting w/my dvc80 and when I bring up the menu as you describe, instead of the 3rd option being ALC on/off, it is Mic Gain1 (followed by Mic Gain2). The Recording Setup screen goes Rec Speed, Audio Rec, Mic Gain1, Mic Gain2, TCG, First Rec TC, TC Preset, UB Mode, and UB Preset. No ALC option.

Steve.

Matt Gettemeier · May 20th, 2004, 09:02 PM

Bummer... well thanks for enlightening me. I guess the 80 isn't identical to the 100 (minus 24p and 30p)... If you click the link I posted it seems as though it woulda' been the same. Sorry for the mistake.

May 19th, 2004, 11:14 AM	#1
Steve D. Taylor Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Washington Posts: 44	Where is the ALC switch on dvx100/dvc80? Stupid question, I know, but I've looked all over the camera and read the manual and can't find where I can turn the ALC on or off. The sales specs said there was a switch, but darned if I can't find it. Thanks, Steve.

May 19th, 2004, 08:37 PM	#8
Alex Dolgin Contributor Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Lexington, Ma Posts: 286	Funny, I researched the same subject a few weeks ago after getting the 80. I found one review comparing the 100 vs 80, were it was said that the 80 has a full time ALC (can not disable) __________________ Alex Dolgin Dolgin Engineering Camera DC Power accessories, Fast 4 position Battery Charger http://www.dolgin.net

May 19th, 2004, 09:44 PM	#10
Alex Dolgin Contributor Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Lexington, Ma Posts: 286	Aaron, I spent this past hour trying to locate it. It was a review by Mitch Ives of www.insightproductions.com (in Arizona) I just can not remember where it was posted. He is a very knowledgeble guy, the review was substantial. It was in a table format, with each camera having its features noted. May be you can try to Google it, or email him directly, and if you find it, post it here... __________________ Alex Dolgin Dolgin Engineering Camera DC Power accessories, Fast 4 position Battery Charger http://www.dolgin.net

May 19th, 2004, 11:21 AM	#2
John Britt Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 621	S'funny, this just came up over at the "other" site's forum. I do believe it was the first I had heard about ALC in the DVC80. The manual does not mention ALC or Automatic Level Control. So I downloaded the brochure .pdf this morning and there it was, one little sentence that mentions ALC. Double-checking the DVX100 manual this morning, I saw that it does mention ALC, including how to turn it on and off. There are no similar controls on the DVC80 that I can find. Which has raised two important questions for me, as well: 1) What's up with ALC in the DVC80? and 2) Are the DVC80 and DVX100 as similar in audio tech and specs as everyone seems to assume (myself included)?

May 19th, 2004, 02:01 PM	#3
Barry Green Barry Wan Kenobi Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,863	There's no switch, there's a menu setting. I think it's under "recording setup."

May 19th, 2004, 02:01 PM	#4
Aaron Banks New Boot Join Date: May 2004 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 19	<<<-- Originally posted by John Britt : Which has raised two important questions for me, as well: 1) What's up with ALC in the DVC80? and 2) Are the DVC80 and DVX100 as similar in audio tech and specs as everyone seems to assume (myself included)? -->>> ALC = auto/audio level control? I thought there was none in this camera. The DVC80 is a 60i only verison of the DVX100. Everything else is the same.

May 19th, 2004, 02:50 PM	#5
John Britt Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 621	Barry -- Steve has a DVC80. There is no such control for ALC in any menu setting that I can find, nor is it mentioned in the manual. What you said is correct for the DVX100. I'm assuming that Steve is thinking the same as I was, that the DVC80 and DVX100 have the same audio setup. It appears that perhaps they don't... Aaron -- As I wrote in my post above (which you quoted), ALC is not mentioned in the DVC80 manual, but is mentioned in the DVC80 brochure, hence the confusion. Google "DVC80 Brochure" to find the .pdf I'm talking about. Based on the manuals for the DVC80 and DVX100, specifically in this case the reference to ALC, there obviously is a question whether or not "Everything is the same." Go to panasonic.com and compare the DVC80 and DVX100 manuals -- at the very least there is some discrepency re: automatic level control.

May 19th, 2004, 03:44 PM	#6
Steve D. Taylor Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Washington Posts: 44	Hmm, this is odd. I like the way the audio sounds on what I've done so far, but I'm about to embark on a major project and I want to be sure I'm doing things right. Dialogue, boomed properly seems to be sounding good at the levels I've been using, but people say to be sure to keep the ALC on so that if an actor improves some yelling, I won't have "clipping." I want to be sure I have the ALC on (which may be built in, as I've tried to get distortion by yelling into my me66 without success). Maybe you can't turn it off...which would be odd for this camera. There is a menu setting with 3 options for auto audio, but that appears to apply only to programing the "auto" button. Steve.

May 19th, 2004, 05:24 PM	#7
Aaron Banks New Boot Join Date: May 2004 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 19	<<<-- Originally posted by John Britt : Based on the manuals for the DVC80 and DVX100, specifically in this case the reference to ALC, there obviously is a question whether or not "Everything is the same." Go to panasonic.com and compare the DVC80 and DVX100 manuals -- at the very least there is some discrepency re: automatic level control. -->>> Maybe we have discovered something new!? In all the DVC80 threads I have read, nobody has ever mentioned ALC before. Hmm...

May 19th, 2004, 08:42 PM	#9
Aaron Banks New Boot Join Date: May 2004 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 19	<<<-- Originally posted by Alex Dolgin : Funny, I researched the same subject a few weeks ago after getting the 80. I found one review comparing the 100 vs 80, were it was said that the 80 has a full time ALC (can not disable) -->>> If you could find the link to that review, please post it. Id like to take a look.

May 20th, 2004, 03:19 PM	#11
Matt Gettemeier Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: St. Louis, Missouri Posts: 936	Just in case anyone reading may not know the difference... the ALC in the DVX is essentially a limiter... it is NOT AGC which adjusts the GAIN in most other DV cameras. What this means in practical terms is that you won't have hiss during silence and you don't need to do the old... "3...2...1... Today in our local news...." which used to be done to set the AGC for the speaking environment. CLICK HERE and read on page 4 of the Panny brochure, under the heading "Large Audio Dials and Flexible Input Selection", and you'll see it describes the same feature that's selectable on the DVX. With a DVX push "menu" then move down to selection 5. Recording Setup... click that and the third option down is ALC on/off... So the DVC80 doesn't have that?

May 20th, 2004, 03:53 PM	#12
Steve D. Taylor Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Washington Posts: 44	Matt, I'm sitting w/my dvc80 and when I bring up the menu as you describe, instead of the 3rd option being ALC on/off, it is Mic Gain1 (followed by Mic Gain2). The Recording Setup screen goes Rec Speed, Audio Rec, Mic Gain1, Mic Gain2, TCG, First Rec TC, TC Preset, UB Mode, and UB Preset. No ALC option. Steve.

May 20th, 2004, 09:02 PM	#13
Matt Gettemeier Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: St. Louis, Missouri Posts: 936	Bummer... well thanks for enlightening me. I guess the 80 isn't identical to the 100 (minus 24p and 30p)... If you click the link I posted it seems as though it woulda' been the same. Sorry for the mistake.