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audio: shotgun OK but wireless lav NOT
Hi
At the start of a shoot yesterday I had to switch to my shotgun mic because my wireless lav would not pick up. All I heard over the headphones was a constant hum/buzz with no pick-up from the mic. This registered on the view finder’s audio levels.
I thought it might be because I was near a large tower in a parking lot. However, when I plugged my shotgun mic into the same input on the camera, it worked fine. Now hum, just clean sound.
Back at the office, I tried my other wireless lav mic and got the same hum/buzz with no audio pick up as with the first lav mic.
If the shotgun works, wouldn’t the signal be the same for the lav?
What should I check.
Much thanks in advance.
Erik
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6 Replies
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I might start w/the cable. Did you use the same XLR cable for all three audio sources?
Do you need to adjust line/mic level when switching from the shotgun to the wireless?
Tim
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Thanks Tim
No, it’s not that I don’t think. The hum/buzz registers about four to five bars on the audio monitor. And the XLR inputs are different for each of the lav mics so it’s not that either. Very vexing and something that I need to fix ASAP.
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[gingles] “No, it’s not that I don’t think. The hum/buzz registers about four to five bars on the audio monitor. And the XLR inputs are different for each of the lav mics so it’s not that either. Very vexing and something that I need to fix ASAP.”
OK, what were trying to do is ID the common denominator between your two wireless systems. Are you using the same mic cable for both systems? Are they different wireless systems, or just hardwired lav mics? How are the XLR inputs “different”? A hum/buzz could be indicative of a poor ground wire connection w/in your mic cable, or w/in the cable between the micropohone and the transmitter.
I’m not sure the issue is with your camera, I mean, what does it care if the signal is from a wireless or a shotgun (which you said works fine).
Good Luck, and let us know if you fix this and how.
Tim
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That’s what I don’t get. The XLR does work fine with the shotgun so it doesnt’ make sense that the wireless lavs wouldn’t work.
I am using different XLR connector cables for each lav. That is, one system is a Samson, and the other is a Sony. And both produce the buzz the same way, and the same amount.
It’s odd that both wireless lavs would go on the fritz on the same day, the same way, when nothing was changed on either of them.
If anyone has any suggestions or things to look at, am open.
Thanks.
Erik.
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Switch off the 48v phantom when using the wireless mikes. Some of them do not react well to phantom power running through the line.
Mitch
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Make sure switches for audio inputs are set to mic not line in on the front of the camera.
Change out the batteries in the wireless units.
LS
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