Help with sound on new PD170 at DVinfo.net

Kenrick Cleveland · October 27th, 2004, 12:13 AM

Hi,

I just received my new PD170 yesterday. Wow am I ever impressed.

One thing I can't figure out - when I play back a brief clip I shot, I can't hear anything. It might be no sound recorded or it might be that I'm not doing something right to hear it in play back mode.

I'm using regular DV tapes and have adjusted the camera to use those instead of DVCAM.

The mic that came with the camera is plugged into Input 1.

The settings for the mic are set as follows:

Input 1:
Record channel select: Ch 1
Input Level: Mic
+48V: off

Input 2:
Input level: Line (since I have nothing plugged into input 2 this shouldn't matter, right?)
+48V: Off

To record the video, I turned on the power switch to Camera and pressed the record start/stop button.

I can't wait to get this figured out.

Kenrick

Mark A. Foley · October 27th, 2004, 05:14 AM

You should have the phantom voltage (48v) switched to "on" if your using the suppled mic.....

Kenrick Cleveland · October 27th, 2004, 01:42 PM

I've tried that too, and I still hear nothing on playback.

Any other ideas?

Allen Brodsky · October 27th, 2004, 02:56 PM

Is the volume turned up on the 170's speaker (use the little buttons on the flip-out screen)?
Did you tape with the 48v switch set to on?
Were you physically close with the camera to what you taped and was the noise loud? It's possible the sound just wasn't loud enough for the on-cam mic to pick it up.
Doublecheck that you don't have the mic plugged into input 2 by mistake, and that the connection is firm.
Hope this helps.

Kenrick Cleveland · October 27th, 2004, 03:07 PM

Hi Allen,

Ok, looks like the switch was not fully on for the 48V setting.

I tried it again talking from behind the camera and it was not very loud. Trying it from in front of the camera sounded relatively normal.

Is there a better mic you or anyone out there would recommend?

Mike Rehmus · October 28th, 2004, 12:54 AM

It is not a great microphone but like many units preferred for camera use, it is a directional microphone so it should be louder for sounds in front of the microphone and much fainter for those in back.

There are much better microphones and you should expect to pay up to $400 for great products. Much more for really excellent products.

Kenrick Cleveland · October 28th, 2004, 03:02 AM

Thanks - could you point me to some good examples of what you are referring to?

John Cline · October 28th, 2004, 07:35 AM

For general audio recording, I really like the Audio Technica AT-825 stereo microphone for use with the PD-150/170.

http://www.audiotechnica.com/prodpro...les/AT825.html

John

Mike Rehmus · October 28th, 2004, 09:31 AM

I prefer the Shure SM81 for general use. I also use an AT835B shotgun but I like the 81 better for most situations.

I tend to buy middle-of-the-road microphones but one each for every purpose. So I have a reasonable collection of microphones, none world-beaters but more than good enough for commercial video work.

John Cline · October 28th, 2004, 07:41 PM

As mono mics go, the Shure SM-81 is a most excellent choice. I suggested the AT-825 because it's stereo, but if you need mono, the two elements are very well matched and you can just mix the two channels and it doesn't get wierd due to phase shift. Of course, like you said, it is good to have a variety of mics for different purposes.

John

October 27th, 2004, 12:13 AM	#1
Kenrick Cleveland New Boot Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Washington, USA Posts: 8	Help with sound on new PD170 Hi, I just received my new PD170 yesterday. Wow am I ever impressed. One thing I can't figure out - when I play back a brief clip I shot, I can't hear anything. It might be no sound recorded or it might be that I'm not doing something right to hear it in play back mode. I'm using regular DV tapes and have adjusted the camera to use those instead of DVCAM. The mic that came with the camera is plugged into Input 1. The settings for the mic are set as follows: Input 1: Record channel select: Ch 1 Input Level: Mic +48V: off Input 2: Input level: Line (since I have nothing plugged into input 2 this shouldn't matter, right?) +48V: Off To record the video, I turned on the power switch to Camera and pressed the record start/stop button. I can't wait to get this figured out. Kenrick

October 28th, 2004, 12:54 AM	#6
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	It is not a great microphone but like many units preferred for camera use, it is a directional microphone so it should be louder for sounds in front of the microphone and much fainter for those in back. There are much better microphones and you should expect to pay up to $400 for great products. Much more for really excellent products. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

October 28th, 2004, 09:31 AM	#9
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	I prefer the Shure SM81 for general use. I also use an AT835B shotgun but I like the 81 better for most situations. I tend to buy middle-of-the-road microphones but one each for every purpose. So I have a reasonable collection of microphones, none world-beaters but more than good enough for commercial video work. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

October 27th, 2004, 05:14 AM	#2
Mark A. Foley Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Bonaire, Ga. Posts: 356	You should have the phantom voltage (48v) switched to "on" if your using the suppled mic.....

October 27th, 2004, 01:42 PM	#3
Kenrick Cleveland New Boot Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Washington, USA Posts: 8	I've tried that too, and I still hear nothing on playback. Any other ideas?

October 27th, 2004, 02:56 PM	#4
Allen Brodsky Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Eatontown, NJ Posts: 118	Is the volume turned up on the 170's speaker (use the little buttons on the flip-out screen)? Did you tape with the 48v switch set to on? Were you physically close with the camera to what you taped and was the noise loud? It's possible the sound just wasn't loud enough for the on-cam mic to pick it up. Doublecheck that you don't have the mic plugged into input 2 by mistake, and that the connection is firm. Hope this helps.

October 27th, 2004, 03:07 PM	#5
Kenrick Cleveland New Boot Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Washington, USA Posts: 8	Hi Allen, Ok, looks like the switch was not fully on for the 48V setting. I tried it again talking from behind the camera and it was not very loud. Trying it from in front of the camera sounded relatively normal. Is there a better mic you or anyone out there would recommend?

October 28th, 2004, 03:02 AM	#7
Kenrick Cleveland New Boot Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Washington, USA Posts: 8	Thanks - could you point me to some good examples of what you are referring to?

October 28th, 2004, 07:35 AM	#8
John Cline Major Player Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico USA Posts: 333	For general audio recording, I really like the Audio Technica AT-825 stereo microphone for use with the PD-150/170. http://www.audiotechnica.com/prodpro...les/AT825.html John

October 28th, 2004, 07:41 PM	#10
John Cline Major Player Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico USA Posts: 333	As mono mics go, the Shure SM-81 is a most excellent choice. I suggested the AT-825 because it's stereo, but if you need mono, the two elements are very well matched and you can just mix the two channels and it doesn't get wierd due to phase shift. Of course, like you said, it is good to have a variety of mics for different purposes. John