• Audio

  two lavaliers are muffled on playback

  Posted by Tom Edwards on August 8, 2013 at 4:11 pm

  folks,
  i have two lavaliers
  an audia technica atr3350 (wired)
  and an azden wr pro (wireless).

  i’ve had and used both for several years w/o issue but blew an interview with a buzz in the wired mic last week.

  re-shooting the interview today and am testing the mics right now.

  changed the battery in the AT wired lav and tested audio — on playback, it’s extremely muffled.

  so… i connected the azden — and got the same muffled result.

  changed the batteries in the azden — same muffled result.

  connected both to a different camera — same muffled result.

  tried a third camera — same results.

  (btw, the sound in my headset while recording is muffled as well, especially when compared to the onboard and shotgun mics.)

  the onboard mic works fine — as does my shotgun (which is what i’ll use today).

  checked all the settings on the cams — two are canons hfs30’s — the third is an old canon dv.

  any ideas what would cause the lavs to suddenly have muffled audio playback?
  i’m baffled.

  Tom Edwards replied 12 years, 9 months ago 3 Members · 4 Replies
• 4 Replies

• 

  Ty Ford

  August 9, 2013 at 12:13 am

  Hello Tom and welcome to the Cow Audio Forum.

  I guess this means you’ll start listening to your production all-the-time from now on….right? 🙂

  Well, either both mics went south or maybe your hearing brain just woke up and started realizing how dull you lavs really sound.

  Makeup or other small particles of dust or other stuff, if they enter the headgrille of a lav can contaminate it and make it dull sounding.

  Does that resonate?

  Regards,

  Ty Ford
  Cow Audio Forum Leader

  Want better production audio?: Ty Ford’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide
  Ty Ford Blog: Ty Ford’s Blog
• 

  Richard Crowley

  August 9, 2013 at 4:11 pm

  Can we assume that you are plugging these mics DIRECTLY into the camera? No mixer, recorder, even XLR cable???

  It seems like an EXTREME coincidence that two very different mics suddenly exhibit the SAME symptom!
• 

  Tom Edwards

  August 17, 2013 at 6:38 pm

  both are plugged directly into the camera (1/8″ connection).
  it’s very strange as i’ve used both many many times with no issues whatsoever.
• 

  Tom Edwards

  August 17, 2013 at 6:42 pm

  my ears are still good (but my eyes, yeesh!!!).
  anyway, the muffled sound is as if i’m putting my hand directly over my mouth — really muffled.

  i’m using a rode shotgun in the meantime. i prefer the lavs as i can easily boost audio in post.
  the rode works well — but i have to place it on a boom (not the end of the world).

  really a very strange occurrence — i’m going to clean them out as soon as i post.

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