Repairing Lav Mic Distortion

[Bouncing Account needs new email address]

[gees] “Everything sounded sweet during the recording, however after I IMPORTED my footage into FCP HD, when a clip is played the audio gives off a crackling distort when the subjects speak.”

Sorry, but if its distorted after import is most-likely distorted on the tape.

PLAY the tape and LISTEN, then post back.

[gees] “Is there a filter in FCP HD that I can use to get rid of that form of distortion.”

Sorry, no. Distortion and reverb, once recorded are virtually impossible to correct at the edit stage.

There is some high-end audio software that does have some distortion reducing functions, but you’d probably need to find a local recording studio to do this for you. Even then, it won’t be perfect.

You absolutely MUST fully monitor any audio you intend to USE with GOOD monitor headphones throughout any video shoot.

The audio inputs on the Sony PD150, PD170, VX2000, and VX2100 actually work better in the AUTO-LEVEL mode (not manual).
I don’t know how you connected the Lav to the camcorder (since the camcorder only has a mini-plug external mic input.

You said “Line” input?
Please explain exactly how you set the camera and how you connected the mic.

At any rate, audio is a very subtile and complex art. You should take this “opportunity” to learn what not to do in the future.

Please post back with as much DETAILED info as you can.

SIDE NOTE:

[gees] “”A mind is a terrible ting to waste, especially in from of a PC””

I think you’ve got a lot of misspelled words here.

Are you trying to say this…

“A mind is a terrible thing to waste, especially in front of a PC”

[Tony]

“A mind is a terrible ting to waste, especially in from of a PC””

Damn that horrible spell checker in Microsoft word windows XP version.

Tony

Tony Salgado

[Gcode9]

Well your suggestions are very appreciative. However, the lav mic set (transmitter and receiver) is used for a specific reason when used for video recording. so why would the mic’s transmitter or receiver not comply with the camera. that’s what they’re made for: on-camera audio capture. therefore, the vx-2100 has a line-input for this specific use. granted that i should probably upgrade my earphones.
yeah, there was apparently a typ-o within my ending statement. guess there’s always room for an edit. thanks.

[Gcode9]

yeah thanks tony. none of us committed a typing sin before?
your words are motivating.

forgive me father!

[Bouncing Account needs new email address]

[gees] “the lav mic set (transmitter and receiver) is used for a specific reason when used for video recording. so why would the mic’s transmitter or receiver not comply with the camera. that’s what they’re made for: on-camera audio capture.”

Wow. Now THAT’S a broad statement!
(And I think that may be the “source” of your distortion problem.)

There simply is NOT a “kind” of microphone “used for video recording”.

There are many kinds of mics.
Most all of them can be used in video recording, and/or audio recording, and/or public address, and/or inter-communication.

And there are also many different ways connect and set-up levels from a given mic into a camcorder.

I don’t know of any external mics that don’t need some kind of “adjustment” or set-up and testing procedure prior to use.

I asked some questions in my last post.

If you’ll be specific with connections and model numbers, we can be of more help.

I’ll ask again.

EXACTLY how did you hook the mic into the camcorder?

What settings did you make on the camcorder to compensate for the level coming from the mic?

[Kelly]

In your initial posting, you did not mention that you were using a wireless set-up. This adds a whole new level of possible reasons things might have gone wrong. Perhaps some of the distortion comes from wireless interference. In any case, they are right: once it’s there, it’s very hard to fix in post. Headphones are mandatory (but now that you’ve learnt that lesson, you won’t forget it, right?).

I don’t know if this was just a typo, but you mentioned “line”. I can’t think of too many wireless receivers that have a line level output to the camera. Did you perhaps set the camera to Line and wide open, and then crank up the Mic output of the wireless super high? This might account for things (doubtful, but all I can think of right now).

TV is called a medium, because it is neither rare, nor well done (He..he…)

[Kerry Brown]

Many wireless systems have mic-line output. If the reciever was set to line out and went into a mic level input
on the camera that is the cause of the distortion.
Must be mic-mic or line to line. Then also headphone monitoring is a must.

KB

[Kerry Brown]

It apears that the VX2100 only has a mic level input so unless an adapter was used to convert line to mic level this
would cause the distortion if line level was used as the output on the wireless reciever.

KB