EX1 audio clicks

[David Smith]

[Denis O’Keefe] “Hi Craig, I tell them too – along with “ten hours is portal to portal”, “even if we did eat yesterday, we still need a meal break today”, “a bathroom break isn’t really optional”, etc etc etc. “

Brilliant, Denis! Oh, and that meal break, it’s ON the clock.

[Bill Kimzey]

Yes, clicking is definitely there. Some updates from my previous post on this topic.

With 2 rented cameras, the problem was present on both, even when no audio was recorded, that is, mic off.

The clicks are absolutely visible in waveforms.

Recording in other modes (can’t say definitively all other modes, but all other modes we tried) did NOT give this problem. In other words 1080i seemed just fine. This may explain why not many are noticing it – I don’t know how many are shooting in this mode.

Since 720 p60 HQ was what we wanted to shoot, we had to use double system sound to get a clean recording.

Also, since the clicking either appears or disappears at the 4GB boundaries, unless doing long form recording, it may or may not be present. You may have to record longer than 13 minutes to get it. In tests, I recorded for 30 minutes at a time so as to have 2 boundaries.

The firmware on the cameras, was, I believe, an earlier version, so I can’t say if this is a persistent problem on later editions.

I’m also curious if the problem remains in the EX3, so if anyone has that info, I’d be happy to hear that this is fixed.

[Don Greening]

Bill,

Thanks for taking the time to post your findings. I’d like to forward your info on to the tech guy I know at Sony Canada, as he is looking for clues and user reports regarding this issue. Your info may help to narrow things down a bit.

– Don

[Bill Kimzey]

This is a repost, since the first time I posted this, it disappeared (after appearing briefly).

Sounds good.

One other thing of possible significance – we can’t hear the clicks in the Clip Browser, but only after it has been turned into a QT file.

So, we are inclined to think that the recorded audio may be fine, but the conversion creates the problem. In other words, the camera may not have a problem, but the software might be the culprit.

By the by, we did not do any testing in the PC world, so I don’t know if this problem exists only on the Mac side of things or not.

Thanks, and if you hear anything about a solution from the Sony guy we’d like to know it, as we are interested in the EX3s.

Thanks.

[Don Greening]

[Bill Kimzey] “Thanks, and if you hear anything about a solution from the Sony guy we’d like to know it, as we are interested in the EX3s. “

I haven’t heard anything from the Sony repair place yet but I’ll keep you in the loop.

– Don

[Roger Akers]

I did not read this whole sub-thread but I do know the problem. There is a bug in the clip browser software (that apparantly can be avoided by using version 1.01) with 720/60p. I went to a shoot in San Jose and shot a whole weeks worth of interviews and had the clicking problem. Other modes do not seem to be effected such as 1080i or 1080p. My solution was to download Cineform Neo and convert all the unwrapped mpeg files in the BPAV folder. I have since purchased NEO as it does an incredible job and producing uncompressed quality video at small file sizes.

Anyway, try to steer clear of shooting 720/60p if you need the audio.

[Chad Johnson]

It’s 6 months since the last post on this thread.

Can anybody say if the EX1’s firmware update has fixed this clicking sound problem? I plan on buying this camera, and the uncompressed audio is a major reason I am spending the extra money for it. I don’t want to make the purchase, then get into a black hole of waiting for Sony to address the issue.

What’s the status boys?

Thanks

Chad

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