Need quick advice on mic

1. compusolver
   Member

   
   I bought an Azden 500 wireless set, used, on eBay and it came with a SONY ECM-44 lapel mic.
   
   It acts like it has some sort of automatic gain, causing spiking at the start of speech after a pause. No amount of adjustments (moving mic further away, turning down mic gain, etc.) eliminated the problem, although I can nearly get it right in Audition.
   
   Also, it doesn't seem quite as clear as my Azden (cheaper) mics, throughout the clips.
   
   I haven't run into a mic problem like this before and will be stuck having to keep it and give seller good feedback, unless I can get some info to document that this is something that can go wrong with mics.
   
   Anyone out there ever seen a mic problem like this? (Or could it somehow be a videographer problem?)
   
   

   Posted 6 years ago #

2. phillips719
   Member

   
   Do you have an alternate frequency you can change to? if so, are the results the same?
   
   is this sound pattern only with the sony mic?
   
   does it go away if you use an alternate mic in the same transmitter?
   
   are there any high voltage lines close by? a private or broadcast radio operator putting out high wattage?
   
   I've played with some wireless sytems, even before I got into video work, I'm no expert at all, but I may be able to help you narrow down the source of this problem (although I've never encountered the problem you describe). I seem to remember having paperwork on some Azden setups, I need to dig around and see if I can find them, however I don't recall what models they covered, I'll keep you posted though

   Posted 6 years ago #

3. compusolver
   Member

   
   I haven't put them into Audition yet, but I redid the test using an Azden mc and 10BT instead of the 41BT/Sony combo and the audio sounded better with the Azden mic / 10BT combo and there wasn't that obvious clipping of sound at the begining of sentences.
   
   Both tests were done on the same frequency, saying the same lines and with the same camera/receiver. The 41BT was actually turned down a little lower than the 10BT, but it still had the same problems.
   
   I'm starting to get the feeling that the seller knew there was a problem. He's already giving me stuff like "..there is no way to prove this ECM-44 is the actual mic I sent with your package.." And claiming that I should have purchased insurance. (But insurance won't pay unless package is damaged or lost).
   
   The only good used camera deal I ever got off of ebay was one where I made a deal that I could drive down and check the unit out when I paid & pick it up. I've got a Canon A1 that is DOA, an L2 that's only good for audio, a FlowPod that never arrived and now a bad Sony mic.
   
   Maybe I'll learn my lesson some day.
   
   Thanks for your help!

   Posted 6 years ago #

4. phillips719
   Member

   
   That Sony ecm-44 mic is an excellent unit assuming it has no defect. I found my paperwork, I don't have anything on the 500 series, well actually less info overall on wireless as I remembered. But you can download the pdf manual from azden. go to http://www.azdencorp.com/pdf/500seriesinstructions.pdfif you havn't done it already.

   Posted 6 years ago #

5. phillips719
   Member

   
   what happened to all the honest people? almost like you have to dig through piles of scams to find someone trustworthy, and anymore even they will turn on you if they get a chance to profit from it.

   Posted 6 years ago #

6. alohrey
   Member

   
   I know what you mean about buying video equipment from ebay, or just about any electronics for that matter. Good luck with the mic issue, never heard of anything like that.
   
   Later
   ~Adam

   Posted 6 years ago #

7. phillips719
   Member

   
   I have to say I'm completely stumped, must be the lack of engineering knowledge I posess.
   
   I went to a friend who has a similiar setup Azden 511DRH ac powered unit not an on camera, and the 51BT and he also has the Sony ecm44 mic. I unsucessfully attempted to recreate that pattern you got with those spikes like that, I screwed around with everything and only got 2 results, it either worked or it didn't work. Even with the gains all out of whack I didn't get spikes like that, just bad audio in the red and feedback when we had external speakers on. I wish I could help you, but I'm gonna have to tap out on this one.

   Posted 6 years ago #

8. compusolver
   Member

   
   Thanks a million, for all the feedback!
   
   I haven't done another Audition check, but my ears tell me that I've found the problem - Since B&H lately is holding all orders two or three days before shipping :x I hadn't received my XLR cable yet so was using my 100 receiver with the 41BT transmitter. Using the 41BT with the 500UDR does not produce the problem.
   
   I don't know what gives. I mean, it either transmits and receives or it doesn't, right? I thought you could interchange a 41BT with a 10BT, but not in this case.
   
   When that cable arrives (B & H, I thought it was 3 day shipping - not 30 day shipping!!!) I'll get to connect to a cam and do another Audition check and better tests, but for now it appears to be incompatibility between Azden's 41BT and their 100 receiver.

   Posted 6 years ago #

9. SFChuck
   Member

   
   Look for a switch on the receiver labeled AGC (automatic gain control). If it is in the ON position, turn it off and try the setup again.
   
   AGC circuits will try to boost a low signal and the transient time of the limiter may produce the front end spike you've observed.

   Posted 6 years ago #

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