Audio AGC at DVinfo.net

Dan Tolbertson · September 5th, 2003, 11:05 PM

As a newbie PD-50 user I am curious on how many PD-150 owners set the Audio AGC to "on" or do you use the manual mode? everything about this camera is awsome so far except the audio. It is very faint in playback even on 48k and the manual level bumped up about three quarters. Does putting it to 48k help to increase pickup or just quality?

At what db level in the manual mode do I want to aim for?

I read all the posts but didn't imagine that the audio pickup is so weak that it's pretty much useless unless you are seriously close to the mic

I have read alot of posts about the ME-66 but right now that is out of my price range having just purchased the camera a few days ago. Any other reasonably priced mics out there that do a better job than what came with my camera?

Mike Rehmus · September 6th, 2003, 12:08 PM

The camera has quite good capability with regard to levels. Sounds like you are using the on-board microphone on-board. Try to get the microphone closer to the sound source. Even the supplied microphone does OK when you do.

I've found the best compromise microphone to be the unit that is supplied with the Sony DSR-300. Although I can mount a long shotgun on the camera, that does cause problems because of its length and sensitivity to overload.

The ME66 will work OK and give you more volume compared to the supplied microphone for the same near-camera location. That is not how the 66 (or any microphone) was designed to be used but it will work.

I keep one channel on auto and one channel at about 30-40% in manual. That way I rarely lose audio due to over ranging of the ADC and I also get the mouse whispers.

While the 150 audio isn't perfectly quiet, it is more than adequate for most audio for video needs. Most of the hiss people hear is coming from the headphone amp. Don't worry about it. Do a test and listen to the audio after it is transferred to your editing computer. Or if you editing computer audio is also noisy, listen to the audio in a direct dump to a headphone amp or power amp, listening to the audio with a good set of isolating headphones.

I think you will be pleased at the results.

Dan Tolbertson · September 6th, 2003, 01:36 PM

<<<-- I keep one channel on auto and one channel at about 30-40% in manual. That way I rarely lose audio due to over ranging of the ADC and I also get the mouse whispers -->>>

I assume you are using 2 mics or am I missing something? Am I correct that the only adjustment that matters would be settings to Mic 1 unless I added a second mic which would then be Mic 2

Dan Tolbertson · September 6th, 2003, 02:20 PM

Wow I feel really dumb. I am really green on the PD-150 so I guess I will coast on that excuse for a few more weeks.

After reading your post Mike, I decided to switch my setting to Ch.1/Ch.2 instead of just Ch 1.

Wow, what a difference that made - ha.
The next question is does that mean it is actually recording in stereo when you use the supplied mic and set it to Ch.1/Ch.2.
Just wondering because I am pretty sure I have read that the stock mic on these are mono.

Mike Rehmus · September 6th, 2003, 02:56 PM

The stock microphone is indeed mono. The 1/2 switch simply routes the signal to both channels. That way you can guard against low and high signal levels.

Most TV sound is truly monophonic anyway. Stereo and 5.1/6.1 sound fields are almost always artificially constructed in the sound design studio.

Unless dialog is truly off-screen, it is almost always monophonic and coming from the center speaker in a 5.1/6.1 setup.

5.1/6.1 is truly built for sound effects, not dialog. Dialog almost always comes in directly from front and center except as noted.

September 5th, 2003, 11:05 PM	#1
Dan Tolbertson Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Menifee, CA Posts: 126	Audio AGC As a newbie PD-50 user I am curious on how many PD-150 owners set the Audio AGC to "on" or do you use the manual mode? everything about this camera is awsome so far except the audio. It is very faint in playback even on 48k and the manual level bumped up about three quarters. Does putting it to 48k help to increase pickup or just quality? At what db level in the manual mode do I want to aim for? I read all the posts but didn't imagine that the audio pickup is so weak that it's pretty much useless unless you are seriously close to the mic I have read alot of posts about the ME-66 but right now that is out of my price range having just purchased the camera a few days ago. Any other reasonably priced mics out there that do a better job than what came with my camera?

September 6th, 2003, 12:08 PM	#2
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	The camera has quite good capability with regard to levels. Sounds like you are using the on-board microphone on-board. Try to get the microphone closer to the sound source. Even the supplied microphone does OK when you do. I've found the best compromise microphone to be the unit that is supplied with the Sony DSR-300. Although I can mount a long shotgun on the camera, that does cause problems because of its length and sensitivity to overload. The ME66 will work OK and give you more volume compared to the supplied microphone for the same near-camera location. That is not how the 66 (or any microphone) was designed to be used but it will work. I keep one channel on auto and one channel at about 30-40% in manual. That way I rarely lose audio due to over ranging of the ADC and I also get the mouse whispers. While the 150 audio isn't perfectly quiet, it is more than adequate for most audio for video needs. Most of the hiss people hear is coming from the headphone amp. Don't worry about it. Do a test and listen to the audio after it is transferred to your editing computer. Or if you editing computer audio is also noisy, listen to the audio in a direct dump to a headphone amp or power amp, listening to the audio with a good set of isolating headphones. I think you will be pleased at the results. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

September 6th, 2003, 02:56 PM	#5
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	The stock microphone is indeed mono. The 1/2 switch simply routes the signal to both channels. That way you can guard against low and high signal levels. Most TV sound is truly monophonic anyway. Stereo and 5.1/6.1 sound fields are almost always artificially constructed in the sound design studio. Unless dialog is truly off-screen, it is almost always monophonic and coming from the center speaker in a 5.1/6.1 setup. 5.1/6.1 is truly built for sound effects, not dialog. Dialog almost always comes in directly from front and center except as noted. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

September 6th, 2003, 01:36 PM	#3
Dan Tolbertson Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Menifee, CA Posts: 126	<<<-- I keep one channel on auto and one channel at about 30-40% in manual. That way I rarely lose audio due to over ranging of the ADC and I also get the mouse whispers -->>> I assume you are using 2 mics or am I missing something? Am I correct that the only adjustment that matters would be settings to Mic 1 unless I added a second mic which would then be Mic 2

September 6th, 2003, 02:20 PM	#4
Dan Tolbertson Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Menifee, CA Posts: 126	Wow I feel really dumb. I am really green on the PD-150 so I guess I will coast on that excuse for a few more weeks. After reading your post Mike, I decided to switch my setting to Ch.1/Ch.2 instead of just Ch 1. Wow, what a difference that made - ha. The next question is does that mean it is actually recording in stereo when you use the supplied mic and set it to Ch.1/Ch.2. Just wondering because I am pretty sure I have read that the stock mic on these are mono.