Hum withBeachtek DXA-4S « Videomaker Community Forums

nobody
Member

I recently purchased a DXA-4S and hooked it up to my TRV-33 properly. It told me that I had to run a wire from my camera's strap hook to any shiny part of the DXA. I did this with an alligator clip (although I went to the copper part, meant for grounding). Thinking that I had everything hooked up correctly I turn it on and crank it up and I have a hum, why is this? I admit the hum does not appear until it is turned up fairly loud, but never the less I donot like it. Does anyone have any good ideas to get rid of it? It isnt the mics It does it with or without them. Thank you.

Posted 8 years ago #
nobody
Member

Never heard of this problem. I also can't imagine why you need to run a wire to your camera strap! If you need to ground the adaptor (don't know why), your strap certainly isn't going to do it! Have you tried it without the wire? BeachTek is a very reliable company. I'd email or call them directly.

You mentioned that it only occurs when turned up all the way. Max volume on the adaptor is the proper starting point. Actual volume adjustment should be done with the cam. Presuming you don't have a manual adjustment feature, my guess is that your auto gain is causing the problem. From where are you hearing the hum - on a headset or on a live recording? I'd run some recording tests WITH mic(s) and see if you actually have the hum on video. Do not have the mic(s) attached to your camcorder.

Posted 8 years ago #
nobody
Member

thanks for the info on the straps. And i notice the sound through my heapphones, when I have the camera volume turned up. Turning up or down the mic volume has no effect. Is there a way to turn off AGC on a trv-33? I dont think so, but maybe I am missing something. Also, are you saying that I should keep the mic turned all the way up when in use? Thanks.

Posted 8 years ago #
alansaville
Member

Hi,
I'm taking a guess here but the hum could be comin from a nearby electrical source (a motor, appliance, various types of lighting fixtures)-which is typically a low pitched (6ohz) sound. It can be caused by using unshielded mic cables. Do you use XLR cables/inputs/outputs? If not try it, if you have a mini-plug or RCA jacks you'll have to buy some adaptors. Hope that helped.
Alan Saville

Posted 8 years ago #
nobody
Member

Well I am in a shop full of electrical appliances, but I am running XLR. Could it be the 3-inch stereo mini-plug on it that runs to my camcorder?

Posted 8 years ago #
sbrady
Member

I had to buy a beachtek for my VX2000
Beachtek told me I had to scrape off the paint on the screws from the under side of the camera where the adapter and the camera meet. I did this and my hum went down a lot but........not 100%.

maybe you need to do a similiar thing, good luck

Posted 8 years ago #
Phil Morgan
Member

Normally in any electrical connection a screw is the best you can get. Why would there be paint on the screws? Just curious as I've had no such problems.

Posted 8 years ago #
mrvideo
Member

Are you running from battery or mains? If mains, try battery and see if that helps. I have a Beachtek on a VX2000. It came with a last-minute sheet of paper included, that described where to scrape paint off-surprised me at the time, and reminded me of my long ago garage-band days. I don't have experience with your camera but keeping volumes down and using AGC are two important steps to reducing hum. As you said, you may have no choice about using AGC.

David Hurdon

Posted 8 years ago #