DVC30 sound problems

[Derek Grimes]

I just got a DVC30 recently. I can not get good audio from the on board mic. I have tried manually adjusting the mic, but even with it all the way up, the sound is barely audible if you are more than 5 feet away from the camera. This is my first prosumer camera. I have dv953s and have never had a problem like this with them. Is this the norm for these cams? Thanks

[Don Cole]

Sad to say, that seems to be true about the dvc 30's onboard mike. I've tried practically everything, and wonder if Panasonic has ever reported on what to do about this problem.

[Dan Davis]

Derek:

There must be a problem with the with the camera mic or the settings you are using.

The times I have not used my XLR set-up I have captured full volume sound.

[Don Cole]

Dan - What settings are you using to improve the on board mike? Don

[Dan Davis]

Don -

Nothing special:

48K (16bit)

Wind cut: Off

Manual

I record as close to zero dB as I can get and prefer to have it in the +dB
(red) more than below zero.

The mics are so omni-directional that I almost always use my Sennheiser
shotgun. There are times (recently at a County Fair) when ambient sound
from all directions was a plus and the on-board mics did a fairly good job
of capturing the audio mood.

Is the problem for you a matter of volume or sound quality?

[Don Cole]

Dan - Fact is, I'm new to all of this (having purchased my DVC30 just a few weeks ago). I think I used the term "on board mic" incorrectly. What I was referring to is what happens when you just use the mic which came with the camera (ie, without a shotgun mic). Many thanks. Don

[Dan Davis]

Yes Don, I am refering to the "on-board" mics (stereo) when I wrote about capturing audio at the Fair.

When you want to shoot audio using manual settings:

1. Push and hold the MENU button for a couple of seconds - the
Audio Level Setup page will display in the view finder or LCD if
you have it open.

2. Using the shuttle wheel highlight the: MIC*A _IN MODE >AUTO
When you highlight it, it changes to MIC*A_IN MODE >AUTO MANUAL

3. Press in on the wheel to move the ">" over to MANUAL

4. Rotate the shuttle wheel to highlight MIC*A_IN LEVEL

5. Press in on the wheel to put a > in front of the (-) symbol

6. Rotate the shuttle wheel until the CH1 and CH2 are flashing at/above the
-10 level ... just a little RED is good.

RECORD WITH THIS SETTING

PLAYBACK SETTING

When you playback using the AV cable connected to the AV IN/OUT and
into a TV, you need to make one more adjustment before playback.

1. Press and hold the MENU button to display the AUDIO LEVEL SETUP
screen.

2. Rotate (if necessary) the shuttle wheel to highlight MONITOR LEVEL

3. Press in on the wheel to place a > in front of the (-) symbol

4. Rotate wheel several turns to move the vertical line ALL the way to (+).

5. Adjust the volume on the TV set to proper playback level.

Hope this helps - Dan

[Don Cole]

Dan - Many thanks! Don

[Alex Gee]

Originally Posted by Dan Davis

PLAYBACK SETTING

When you playback using the AV cable connected to the AV IN/OUT and
into a TV, you need to make one more adjustment before playback.

1. Press and hold the MENU button to display the AUDIO LEVEL SETUP
screen.

2. Rotate (if necessary) the shuttle wheel to highlight MONITOR LEVEL

3. Press in on the wheel to place a > in front of the (-) symbol

4. Rotate wheel several turns to move the vertical line ALL the way to (+).

5. Adjust the volume on the TV set to proper playback level.

Hope this helps - Dan

This applies only to the camera's inbuilt speaker and headphone level and will not affect output to tv/monitor

[Dan Davis]

Alex is right!

The monitor adjustment I suggested does NOT affect output to the AV cable.

....and it won't reduce brain gas either! What was I thinking????

Thanks Alex

Dan