HDR-HC7 weird audio issue

1. Matt561
   Member

   

   I recorded a firework show last year and after watching it I noticed sometimes the low frequency "booms" all of a sudden get cut and the audio sounds really dull and bassless, then about 5 to 10 sec later the low frequencys come back and it sounds normal again. Anyone know if this is somthing sonys just do, or is there anyway to turn whatever is making it do that off?

   Heres a clip so you can hear what its doing. You can hear it cut the bass on the first two explosions, then the next explosions the audio returns to normal.

    

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   Posted 3 years ago #

2. Matt561
   Member

   

   Hmm, i cant figure anything out with this, I wonder if an external mic may fix the problem?

   Posted 3 years ago #

3. Johnboy
   Member

   

   it sounds like the audio processing is clamping down on the input from the explosion and it's taking time for it to recover.... 

   Posted 3 years ago #

4. Matt561
   Member

   

   Any solutions for it doing that? Do you know if it would still clamp down the input from an external mic? Maybe I need to get a completely seperate recording unit and sync it with the video in editing, Thats a pain in the rear just for me to record a firework show though, so I will probably just deal with it if i can't fix the problem. Anyone know if this is what all cameras do, or just sony?

   Thanks.

   Matt

   Posted 3 years ago #

5. chrisColorado
   Member

   

   Yeesh! I would be terrified of ruining my poor innocent mic if I was recording a fireworks show! I think Johnboy is right.

   I would cover up my mic so it doesn't blow out or something. You'd cover up too, if you were hiking across Alaska in January. Fireworks booms for your poor camera mic are like that. What you want is a very rugged pop screen. Those are humongous pops! Cover it up with the picnic blanket or something.

   It's good your base even came back! Don't think about buying more mics only to subject them to such an ordeal! 

   OK, maybe I'm exaggerating a little. But think about it! There's a reason why little kids cover their ears when they first go to a fireworks show. It's only [slightly deaf] teens and adults that like them.

   Posted 3 years ago #

6. Johnboy
   Member

   

   i don't know if your cam has the ability to control the audio levels, but I would manually set the audio low so that I am not hitting the limiters.  I have a VX-2100, and I don't really have that issue, I recorded the "Wishes" firework show at Disney World and didn't have that problem come up.

   John

   Posted 3 years ago #

7. Matt561
   Member

   

   Thanks for the input guys. I'll look and see if I can find a setting for the audio, I dont remember one being in there but ill look at it again.

   Chris: Where can I find a pop screen and do they make any that will work with an on board mic? also will the pop screen stop it from having that audio issue or does it just protect the mic only?

   Matt

   Posted 3 years ago #

8. Matt561
   Member

   

   Ok, I found a "Mic level" setting in it, it has "auto" and "manual" Im assuming since it was on auto it was turning the volume down right when a really big boom would hit since it felt the volume was too high at that point, then between booms as the audio was low again it would raise it back up. Im not sure if thats what it was doing though, because it didnt really sound like the volume just got lower, it sounded like it was cutting the low frequency out. I'v got the mic level set at 50% right now, not sure if its going to fix the problem though. Any input?

   Posted 3 years ago #

9. Matt561
   Member

   

   Well just bought a RODE video mic, I'll run my camcorder settings on maual and set the RODE to -10db like everyone recommends and see what happens.

   PS, Waiting for ChrisColorado to get violent for me using the RODE mic at a fireworks show :)

   Posted 3 years ago #

10. louie
    Member

    

    it sounds like the audio processing is clamping down on the input from the explosion and it's taking time for it to recover.... 

     

    Posted 3 years ago #

11. louie
    Member

    

     sounds right to me.  My canon hv30 does the same thing in manual--except it will cut out completely for a second or two.

    Posted 3 years ago #

12. Matt561
    Member

    

    I appreciate the help guys. The Rode mic and maual mic settings did fix the problem. For anyone interested in hearing How the Rode mic does with fireworks heres the video I took right after getting it. Make sure to click "Watch In High quality" for the best sound and picture quality.

     

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    Posted 3 years ago #

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