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Gear / Technical Help => Microphones & Setup => Topic started by: ace5gt on July 08, 2013, 06:21:50 PM

Title: Distorted audio with mics plugged into camcorder
Post by: ace5gt on July 08, 2013, 06:21:50 PM
I wasn't sure if this topic is best here or in the video section...

I videotaped my first show recently with the following setup:

CA CAF mics > Sony CX580v camcorder with the audio set to "Low Level".

When I got home I was disappointed to find out there was quite a bit of low end distortion on the audio.  What do I need to fix this?
Title: Re: Distorted audio with mics plugged into camcorder
Post by: F.O.Bean on July 08, 2013, 06:34:32 PM
I wasn't sure if this topic is best here or in the video section...

I videotaped my first show recently with the following setup:

CA CAF mics > Sony CX580v camcorder with the audio set to "Low Level".

When I got home I was disappointed to find out there was quite a bit of low end distortion on the audio.  What do I need to fix this?

The mics need to be properly powered via a battery box or preamp
Title: Re: Distorted audio with mics plugged into camcorder
Post by: yltfan on July 08, 2013, 06:41:23 PM
I'm no expert here, but perhaps you'd be better off with a self powered, small stereo mic, like the AT 822.
Title: Re: Distorted audio with mics plugged into camcorder
Post by: ace5gt on July 08, 2013, 08:08:25 PM
I wasn't sure if this topic is best here or in the video section...

I videotaped my first show recently with the following setup:

CA CAF mics > Sony CX580v camcorder with the audio set to "Low Level".

When I got home I was disappointed to find out there was quite a bit of low end distortion on the audio.  What do I need to fix this?

The mics need to be properly powered via a battery box or preamp

Is there an affordable battery box you recommend?  Small size is a must as well...Crotching a camcorder is difficult enough! :-\
Title: Re: Distorted audio with mics plugged into camcorder
Post by: F.O.Bean on July 08, 2013, 08:12:39 PM
I wasn't sure if this topic is best here or in the video section...

I videotaped my first show recently with the following setup:

CA CAF mics > Sony CX580v camcorder with the audio set to "Low Level".

When I got home I was disappointed to find out there was quite a bit of low end distortion on the audio.  What do I need to fix this?

The mics need to be properly powered via a battery box or preamp

Is there an affordable battery box you recommend?  Small size is a must as well...Crotching a camcorder is difficult enough! :-\

Church audio battery boxes are like $25 this month I think. Check the retail section!
Title: Re: Distorted audio with mics plugged into camcorder
Post by: Church-Audio on July 09, 2013, 02:43:23 AM
I wasn't sure if this topic is best here or in the video section...

I videotaped my first show recently with the following setup:

CA CAF mics > Sony CX580v camcorder with the audio set to "Low Level".

When I got home I was disappointed to find out there was quite a bit of low end distortion on the audio.  What do I need to fix this?

The mics need to be properly powered via a battery box or preamp

Is there an affordable battery box you recommend?  Small size is a must as well...Crotching a camcorder is difficult enough! :-\

You actually need to attenuate the hell out of the signal before it gets to a camera mic input. Using my CA-9000 preamp set to 0 db and using the output level control you can attenuate the signal of the mics. A battery box "might" help if this is strictly a low power situation where my mics are not getting enough power to properly operate. Like Bean has mentioned. I would be willing to sell you a battery box if it does not work send it back and get my 9000 preamp I designed it exactly for this type of recording. The preamp does the job of the battery box and attenuate the signal at the same time. One thing for sure is the power from the camera referred to as plug in power is not sufficient to power my mics properly. You can use the dedicated single point camera mics as has been suggested, they will give you varying results from quite good to really bad. And with them the more you spend the better sound you get.
Title: Re: Distorted audio with mics plugged into camcorder
Post by: F.O.Bean on July 09, 2013, 01:54:30 PM
I wasn't sure if this topic is best here or in the video section...

I videotaped my first show recently with the following setup:

CA CAF mics > Sony CX580v camcorder with the audio set to "Low Level".

When I got home I was disappointed to find out there was quite a bit of low end distortion on the audio.  What do I need to fix this?

The mics need to be properly powered via a battery box or preamp

Is there an affordable battery box you recommend?  Small size is a must as well...Crotching a camcorder is difficult enough! :-\

You actually need to attenuate the hell out of the signal before it gets to a camera mic input. Using my CA-9000 preamp set to 0 db and using the output level control you can attenuate the signal of the mics. A battery box "might" help if this is strictly a low power situation where my mics are not getting enough power to properly operate. Like Bean has mentioned. I would be willing to sell you a battery box if it does not work send it back and get my 9000 preamp I designed it exactly for this type of recording. The preamp does the job of the battery box and attenuate the signal at the same time. One thing for sure is the power from the camera referred to as plug in power is not sufficient to power my mics properly. You can use the dedicated single point camera mics as has been suggested, they will give you varying results from quite good to really bad. And with them the more you spend the better sound you get.

Exactly. I would go with a Church Audio battery box/preamp and it should help. I also think the CA mics sound better than those single point and shoot mics. The single points are a fixed XY config, and I have always hated the XY config for concert recording. just doesn't have enough space to them. They CAN sound good, but I still prefer CA mics ;)
Title: Re: Distorted audio with mics plugged into camcorder
Post by: SparkE! on July 10, 2013, 03:05:22 PM
I wasn't sure if this topic is best here or in the video section...

I videotaped my first show recently with the following setup:

CA CAF mics > Sony CX580v camcorder with the audio set to "Low Level".

When I got home I was disappointed to find out there was quite a bit of low end distortion on the audio.  What do I need to fix this?

The mics need to be properly powered via a battery box or preamp

Is there an affordable battery box you recommend?  Small size is a must as well...Crotching a camcorder is difficult enough! :-\

You actually need to attenuate the hell out of the signal before it gets to a camera mic input. Using my CA-9000 preamp set to 0 db and using the output level control you can attenuate the signal of the mics. A battery box "might" help if this is strictly a low power situation where my mics are not getting enough power to properly operate. Like Bean has mentioned. I would be willing to sell you a battery box if it does not work send it back and get my 9000 preamp I designed it exactly for this type of recording. The preamp does the job of the battery box and attenuate the signal at the same time. One thing for sure is the power from the camera referred to as plug in power is not sufficient to power my mics properly. You can use the dedicated single point camera mics as has been suggested, they will give you varying results from quite good to really bad. And with them the more you spend the better sound you get.

Exactly. I would go with a Church Audio battery box/preamp and it should help. I also think the CA mics sound better than those single point and shoot mics. The single points are a fixed XY config, and I have always hated the XY config for concert recording. just doesn't have enough space to them. They CAN sound good, but I still prefer CA mics ;)
It's been my experience that you need about 28 dB of attenuation to drop the signal from line level to mic level (assuming that you are starting with a line level signal).  When I'm sending audio to a video camera, I'm also running an audio recording device too.  I usually use a preamp to get the mic signal to line level.  Then I use a cable to split the signal into line level and mic level paths. Essentially, it's a Y cable with 28 dB of attenuation in the signal path that goes to the video camera and no attenuation in the signal path that goes to the audio recording device.
Title: Re: Distorted audio with mics plugged into camcorder
Post by: willndmb on July 15, 2013, 10:15:55 PM
I use a -20db cable into my camcorder with good results
Mics > lb > camcorder or mics > lb > m10 > camcorder
Title: Re: Distorted audio with mics plugged into camcorder
Post by: shownomarcy on July 22, 2013, 10:37:19 AM
I always synch my audio rec post to my videos, but once I tried this too:
AT853 > BB > Edirol R-09HR (lin in) > Edirol R-09HR (jack output) > Canon Legria (jack audio input)
used a simple 3,5 jack-jack cable.

I had the audio source in itself and also had already under my video. Result was good.
Title: Re: Distorted audio with mics plugged into camcorder
Post by: fobstl on July 22, 2013, 10:55:42 AM
As others have said, you need an attenuator cable if you use your current rig or go with Chris' solution. I use this cable with good results:
http://microphonemadness.com/products/mmatatcab.htm (http://microphonemadness.com/products/mmatatcab.htm)
Title: Re: Distorted audio with mics plugged into camcorder
Post by: Church-Audio on July 22, 2013, 11:01:02 AM
As others have said, you need an attenuator cable if you use your current rig or go with Chris' solution. I use this cable with good results:
http://microphonemadness.com/products/mmatatcab.htm (http://microphonemadness.com/products/mmatatcab.htm)
remember that any attenuation cable MUST be placed after a battery box. If not you will be attenuating more than sound but voltage going to your mics that will actually increase distortion.