Sony PD150 Audio

Derek Beck · May 10th, 2003, 03:20 PM

are we in agreement that newer pd150s don't have the hiss problem? (since i'm very nearly going to buy one of these in the next month or so, and audio is a BIG deal to me.)

Frank Granovski · May 10th, 2003, 04:29 PM

Read this too:

http://www.global-dvc.org/html/PD150.asp

Mike Rehmus · May 10th, 2003, 10:14 PM

Depends on exactly what you mean by good audio, Derek. Most DV and DVCam recorders installed in cameras are fed from not-so-hot preamps (as compared to the good stand-alone preamps you would use in a recording studio). So if you want totally silent background and perfect recordings, use an external sound system.

If, however, you want good audio recording of speech, reasonable music recording, the 150 will do it for you. I've yet to have problems with audio on mine and I use it for voice-over recording with studio microphones and recording the sound of a 50 caliber rifle firing. Does pretty good in both applications.

Harry Settle · May 11th, 2003, 08:35 PM

This may seem silly, but, I've run into this myself with my VX2K's, make sure that you don't have the headphone volume cranked up too far. Headphone volume is adjusted with the volume controls on the lcd panel. Every once in a while, I find my volume cranked to the max, for some reason. Then I spend an hour trying to figure out why I have the "hiss" again, until I remember to check.

Robyn Haste · June 6th, 2003, 06:26 PM

Is there a cheap and effective solution to the size difference problem between the me66 and the PD150 mic mounting bracket?

So far I've just been putting some paper tape around the mic to make it 'bigger' and fit more snugly in the bracket.

But this doesn't seem like a reliable/professional answer.

I'd love to hear what others have done.

Thanks .
RH

Brian Pink · June 6th, 2003, 07:20 PM

i put a bunch of small rubber bands around it, and then a layer of gaffer tape over that. works great for me, and, frankly, if you look at a good mic shock-mount, its basically big rubber bands across a circle. =)

Adi Head · June 7th, 2003, 04:29 PM

i don't have the me66 yet, but plan on purchasing one soon. isn't there a problem with using the original pd150 mic mount with the me66 in the sense that it holds the me66 too close to the camera?

results: camera noise on tape, mic in frame when using wide angle adaptor.

curious to know if i'm wrong about this, because the sony CAC-12 mount costs around $175 at b&h!!

Brian Pink · June 7th, 2003, 05:08 PM

i don't get much camera noise, but if you have a WA on, you see the windscreen when zoomed all the way out ( with the Lightwave screen ) Take the screen off and you don't see it. If the shot is so quiet and controlled that camera noise is an issue, you probably shouldn't be using an on-camera mic, imo. That said, the mic has pretty good side/rear rejection, so its really not that noticeable.

Mike Rehmus · June 7th, 2003, 05:43 PM

Several companies make mounts that solve the close-in long microphone problem.

Sony's CAC-12 for $180 will do it. With this, the largest wind silencers will not show with the wide angle adapter.

Light Wave Systems mini-mount will do it. Think it is around $150.

Mike Murray · June 19th, 2003, 06:54 PM

Just pull the small rubber mount off of your stock mic. That works perfect and its free.

Neil Fisher · June 20th, 2003, 05:01 PM

<----but if you have a WA on, you see the windscreen when zoomed all the way out ---->

I have the Canon x.7 WA lens and am getting a ME66 within the next couple of days. Will I have to mount the mic further back. If so does it make the camera difficult to handle.

Rick Spilman · June 20th, 2003, 07:38 PM

Maybe I am missing something but it sounds like you are doing it the hard way.

I just mount the ME66 in the camera shoe with a Senn MZQ6 Mount and plug it into the second xlr plug. Often as not I record with both mikes. If I am using a wireless mike on the other channel I just take off the onboard mike.

Jeff Natalie · June 23rd, 2003, 06:12 AM

I built a homemade mike support for my azden (which doesn't fit in the factory bracket either. The nice thing about it is that it gives me some realestate on the PD150 to mount the Senn Evo reciever.

Donny Miele · June 23rd, 2003, 01:47 PM

Thanks for the link to the Lightwave minimount product.

Quick question regarding the Sony CAC-12 mount. I couldn't tell from the pictures of it how it mounts to the camera body. I would like to use one with my VX2000. Anyone know if it's possible?

Mike Rehmus · June 23rd, 2003, 02:20 PM

I removed the original microphone mount on my PD150 and the CAC-12 bolted right in.

You need a flat surface with two screw holes that line up for the mount. I wouldn't hesitate to drill two new holes in the mount if it were necessary.

May 10th, 2003, 03:20 PM	#46
Derek Beck Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 50	are we in agreement that newer pd150s don't have the hiss problem? (since i'm very nearly going to buy one of these in the next month or so, and audio is a BIG deal to me.) __________________ Derek Beck

May 10th, 2003, 10:14 PM	#48
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	Depends on exactly what you mean by good audio, Derek. Most DV and DVCam recorders installed in cameras are fed from not-so-hot preamps (as compared to the good stand-alone preamps you would use in a recording studio). So if you want totally silent background and perfect recordings, use an external sound system. If, however, you want good audio recording of speech, reasonable music recording, the 150 will do it for you. I've yet to have problems with audio on mine and I use it for voice-over recording with studio microphones and recording the sound of a 50 caliber rifle firing. Does pretty good in both applications. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

May 11th, 2003, 08:35 PM	#49
Harry Settle Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bemidji, MN Posts: 276	This may seem silly, but, I've run into this myself with my VX2K's, make sure that you don't have the headphone volume cranked up too far. Headphone volume is adjusted with the volume controls on the lcd panel. Every once in a while, I find my volume cranked to the max, for some reason. Then I spend an hour trying to figure out why I have the "hiss" again, until I remember to check. __________________ "DOH"!!!

June 6th, 2003, 06:26 PM	#50
Robyn Haste Tourist Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 3	Me66 mic Mounting on PD150 Is there a cheap and effective solution to the size difference problem between the me66 and the PD150 mic mounting bracket? So far I've just been putting some paper tape around the mic to make it 'bigger' and fit more snugly in the bracket. But this doesn't seem like a reliable/professional answer. I'd love to hear what others have done. Thanks . RH

June 6th, 2003, 07:20 PM	#51
Brian Pink Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 94	i put a bunch of small rubber bands around it, and then a layer of gaffer tape over that. works great for me, and, frankly, if you look at a good mic shock-mount, its basically big rubber bands across a circle. =) __________________ This is the way the world ends.

May 10th, 2003, 04:29 PM	#47
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	Read this too: http://www.global-dvc.org/html/PD150.asp

June 7th, 2003, 04:29 PM	#52
Adi Head Major Player Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 642	i don't have the me66 yet, but plan on purchasing one soon. isn't there a problem with using the original pd150 mic mount with the me66 in the sense that it holds the me66 too close to the camera? results: camera noise on tape, mic in frame when using wide angle adaptor. curious to know if i'm wrong about this, because the sony CAC-12 mount costs around $175 at b&h!!

June 7th, 2003, 05:08 PM	#53
Brian Pink Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 94	i don't get much camera noise, but if you have a WA on, you see the windscreen when zoomed all the way out ( with the Lightwave screen ) Take the screen off and you don't see it. If the shot is so quiet and controlled that camera noise is an issue, you probably shouldn't be using an on-camera mic, imo. That said, the mic has pretty good side/rear rejection, so its really not that noticeable. __________________ This is the way the world ends.

June 7th, 2003, 05:43 PM	#54
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	Several companies make mounts that solve the close-in long microphone problem. Sony's CAC-12 for $180 will do it. With this, the largest wind silencers will not show with the wide angle adapter. Light Wave Systems mini-mount will do it. Think it is around $150. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

June 19th, 2003, 06:54 PM	#55
Mike Murray New Boot Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Kennedale, TX Posts: 13	Just pull the small rubber mount off of your stock mic. That works perfect and its free. __________________ - Mike M. Sony DSR-PD150

June 20th, 2003, 05:01 PM	#56
Neil Fisher Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Saskatoon SK Canada Posts: 136	<----but if you have a WA on, you see the windscreen when zoomed all the way out ----> I have the Canon x.7 WA lens and am getting a ME66 within the next couple of days. Will I have to mount the mic further back. If so does it make the camera difficult to handle. __________________ neilfisher.com

June 20th, 2003, 07:38 PM	#57
Rick Spilman Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Jersey City, NJ Posts: 366	Maybe I am missing something but it sounds like you are doing it the hard way. I just mount the ME66 in the camera shoe with a Senn MZQ6 Mount and plug it into the second xlr plug. Often as not I record with both mikes. If I am using a wireless mike on the other channel I just take off the onboard mike.

June 23rd, 2003, 06:12 AM	#58
Jeff Natalie Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Erie PA Posts: 29	I built a homemade mike support for my azden (which doesn't fit in the factory bracket either. The nice thing about it is that it gives me some realestate on the PD150 to mount the Senn Evo reciever.

June 23rd, 2003, 01:47 PM	#59
Donny Miele Tourist Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San Francisco Posts: 3	Thanks for the link to the Lightwave minimount product. Quick question regarding the Sony CAC-12 mount. I couldn't tell from the pictures of it how it mounts to the camera body. I would like to use one with my VX2000. Anyone know if it's possible?

June 23rd, 2003, 02:20 PM	#60
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	I removed the original microphone mount on my PD150 and the CAC-12 bolted right in. You need a flat surface with two screw holes that line up for the mount. I wouldn't hesitate to drill two new holes in the mount if it were necessary. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!