• Audio

  Which audio is better: with the audio attenuator on or off?

  Posted by Noam Osband on January 23, 2015 at 9:57 pm

  I’m using a Rode NTG-3 with my Canon-XA 10. It’s a hot mic and I’ve had clipping issues in the past. I usually use the attenuator. I’m curious if this is always the best move.

  Here is audio from the same interview. Some of it with the attenuator on and some of it with it off. Which is better? Is the attenuator on good enough? It’s a weaker signal….but it doesn’t ever clip.

  Attenuator on: 8441_withaudioattenuatron.aif.zip

  Attenuator off: 8442_audioattenuatoroff.aif.zip

  Thoughts?

  Richard Crowley replied 11 years, 7 months ago 2 Members · 1 Reply
• 1 Reply

• 

  Richard Crowley

  January 24, 2015 at 5:37 am

  Without even listening to the samples, clipping is ALWAYS to be avoided. Attenuating is only ONE method of avoiding clipping.

  Of course, if you attenuate, then you must deal with the lower audio levels, which move you closer to the OTHER side of the road, where faint sounds can run into the “mud” (noise floor).

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