Topic: DJI Osmo Pocket 3 camera has 32 bit float audio - wow, times are changing!

[Ozpeter]

But does it have the multiple preamps required to do the job properly??

That's the kicker. Unless it is a auto ranging multi-ADC setup such as those employed Stagetec, Sound Devices, Zoom, etc. then recording in 32-bit float format has no real benefits.

Yes, very true.  But someone has pointed out to me that when the creation of this wave file is enabled in the new option, the file gets created whether or not an external mic is connected.  I can see a benefit in that - the audio in video files is AAC and therefore (as I understand it) data compressed like an mp3.  When the video is edited, I imagine the audio content is decoded and re-encoded with some potential loss.  Having a wave file of the audio means that it could be used only in the final edit, and the AAC version would not then need to be used at all.  Now if they are going to implement 32 bit float on the internal mic system as rumoured, they would need to have that wave file anyway, so possibly this new wave file option is a precursor to having internal 32 bit float.  Does it have hardware to do the job properly?  I don't know.  But it could just about be argued that as there is no level control for internal audio even now, but doubtless some kind of AGC or compression is being used instead, having it not limited in that way when the audio is written to the wave file might make it worth having 32 bit float as the format ready for editing in a 32 bit float environment later?  Dunno...

[Ozpeter]

I have now used the new four channel feature to make a short test video combining the stereo mics of the camera recorded into a wave file on its card, and a binaural mic recorded onto the video file.  When editing, this enables me to crossfade from the binaural mics to the internal mics to avoid the odd sound of my own speech recorded onto mics in my ears.

My hearing is pretty shot these days but the result seems very acceptable.  Most of the ambient sound is low level and distant but it comes across well.

https://youtu.be/x51TtPutp0M

[guitard]

I have now used the new four channel feature to make a short test video combining the stereo mics of the camera recorded into a wave file on its card, and a binaural mic recorded onto the video file.  When editing, this enables me to crossfade from the binaural mics to the internal mics to avoid the odd sound of my own speech recorded onto mics in my ears.

My hearing is pretty shot these days but the result seems very acceptable.  Most of the ambient sound is low level and distant but it comes across well.

https://youtu.be/x51TtPutp0M

Very informative video - thanks.