Low audio level on XLR with PDX10

[Syd Low Mel]

When I use the external Mic and XLR, with the XLR level set to Auto, the level seem very low when played back on the camera. Even with the volume level at Max, I can barely hear the recorded sounds. Is this normal?

Should I leave it on this apparent low level, and I will adjust in post processing or should I set XLR on manual, and crank the level to the Max?

I have XLR set on ch1.2, Mic, no low pass, and the Mic is plugged into ch 1.

Any help appreciated.

[Alan Herr]

You know I have wondered the exact same thing and I am no audio expert so I will defer to anyone else. Do you have it set to 48khz on the XLR?

Al

[Syd Low Mel]

I have it on 32K, but I just checked the audio level via headphones - plugged into the cam - and it's much louder than the camera's speaker.

I wonder why that is? So it sounds like auto is fine - but you need to review it with headphones...

[Patrick Grealy]

If and when you are recording something that is audio critical, Good idea to switch on the 'audio level' monitoring in the viewfinder. if the aufio level is usually about half way up the slider, and the peaking at about 80-90% of the full distance, then your audio will be fine.

(this is advisable if you don't relaly want to wear headphones the whole time)

Using the auto (audio) gain in the menu is usually fine but if and when you are starting to get into serious audio recording (e.g. filming an orchestra) You would neet to use more serious tools.

Regards
P

[Alan Herr]

Thanks Patrick. "Sounds" like I have been getting the right audio out of the PDX.
I have found the audio meters indispensable.
Al

[Michael Kronmal]

I just got mine yesterday and the volume seems way low. When playing back on my PC in comparison the a recording on a TRV38, there is a big difference. I've cranked up the gain manually, but it still seems low. I've used both the shotgun and the onboard stereo mikes.

[Syd Low Mel]

<<<-- Originally posted by Michael Kronmal : ... I've used both the shotgun and the onboard stereo mikes. -->>>
FWIW, make sure the XLR adapter is properly seated - it takes an unusual amount of force to insert it fully. I actually rang the shop and told them my XLR and shotgun was broken before I realised by mistake!

[Shawn Mielke]

Welcome to the world of manual controls. Enjoy! :-)

[David Korb]

Boyd Ostroff pointed me to this page earlier today and perhaps you should take a look at it
http://www.urbanfox.tv/workbooks/sonypd150/index.htm

it will refresh your memory and i learned 2 very important tricks today ...click on the part nine about sound levels...enjoy

[Michael Kronmal]

I utilized headphones and the levels seem great! Zero background noise and clear audio. That link had some really nice info on it and should be required reading. Maybe someone can do a version that is PDX10 specific.

Thanks!

[Boyd Ostroff]

Awhile ago I did some A/B comparisons of audio from my VX-2000 and PDX-10 with both set to auto and fed from our house sound board. The VX-2000 used a Beachtek box while the PDX-10 used the usual XLR block.

The first thing I noticed was that the VX-2000 levels were much higher than the PDX-10. However the the PDX-10 sounded better and the lower levels did not really pose any problem. When I edit our performance tapes from te PDX-10 I routinely boost the audio anywhere from 3 to 6 dB in FCP, and it still sounds clean with no hiss or unwanted noise. I assumed that auto mode on the VX-2000 was recording at a higher level and compressing the audio more to get around some of the known problems on that camera.

[Raul Dudnic]

Hi everybody - new on the forum, new user of pdx 10.

I have a lot of questions/problems pdx10 related. Here is my audio one. I know quite a bit about audio, but I'm knew to video shooting.

I recorded a choir and an orchestra using the pdx's shotgun mic. Set it on auto, input 1, ch1+ch2, 48v on. At that point I was under the impression that the AUTO function would do its job without other adjustments. Here's what happened: the level in the headphones was good, a liitle low, no distortions, the levels on the display were good, no clipping at all. When I played the footage on a player I was totally disapointed: very high volume, no bass, huge distortions (again audio was recorded on AUTO mode).

My conclusions were: monitoring with headphones is inaccurate - what you hear while recording is different from the actual recorded sound. AUTO mode responds poorly to sudden volume increase, seems like compression kicks in with delay.

Next day I used MANUAL audio and I noticed that there was no distortion any more, but the background hiss noise was present. I guess, because I didn't trust the headphones monitoring any more, I manually set up the volume too low.

I appreciate any feedback and advice,


Raul

[Raul Dudnic]

here is something useful that I found regarding headphones use on PD 150 and, I gusee, PDX10:

"Evaluation of Audio Signal to Noise should not be performed using earphone / headphone output. The earphone / headphone amplifier circuit has been equalized to emphasize high frequencies and is intended to be of "monitoring" quality. Furthermore, the earphone / headphone audio may not accurately represent record level audio since the earphone / headphone level can be varied using the volume +/- buttons near the LCD screen. Audio Signal to Noise evaluation should more properly be performed by playing back recorded tapes on a studio VTR." (Please note this Sony warning is about the VX2000 which is reputed to have the same problem as the PD150).

See www.sel.sony.com/SEL/service/dcrvx2000.shtml for the full text.

Cheers,

Raul

[Shawn Mielke]

My conclusions:

Get to know both sound and picture of cam on a variety of playback devices, and prepare to adjust accordingly.

Don't expect a cheap shotgun mic, or any shotgun mic for that matter, to accurately capture an orchestra.

[David Korb]

Well i just recorded a choir and used visual aids on the view finder to determine volume level...and yes according to the viewfinder i was clipping a bit...first thing i changed on my pdx10 was audio to manual...i still made a mistake though...had the dern low cut turned on inside!!! wish i had room temprature iq
Its ok if someone tells me im wrong..however i find the clipping is only a very slight compression on todays audio playback equipment...which sounds much better than weak audio...CRANK IT UP !!!