Vic Noseworthy
Forum Replies Created
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Wow, Craig! I think I’ve fallen in love with the HPX-170… and I didn’t even know it existed! And, it’s in my price range! Great advice! I do appreciate your taking the time to provide additional advice on the wedding video industry. I will certainly be investigating this camera.
Cheers, man! And, thanks, again!
Vic -
Thanks Craig. Okay, then, I will ask in a much more specific way:
I would like to shoot weddings. I’m wondering whether I should get a DSLR, thereby allowing me to get great low light capabilities, or if I should go with a nice 3-chip camcorder, like the Panasonic AG HMC-150. I’ve seen some beautiful video work done with DSLRs, but I would like to have good audio, too. I would like to keep my purchase in the $2000 – 3000 price range, and (in the case of the DSLR) this would include a lens. I suspect that limits me to something without audio controls, such as the Canon 5D. Here’s the thing: I could live without the good audio features (i.e. manual, xlr, etc), especially if the difference in low light capabilities is going to be great (bokeh benefits of the DSLR are a real nice benefit). But, I really do like the features of a true video camera, such as the auto/powered zoom, xlr mics, and how it feels in one’s hands as compared to a DSLR. In other words, I like the run and gun aspects of a true video camera, but I’m concerned about low light image quality of a 3-chip video camera vs. a full frame DSLR. Don’t get me wrong: I do realize the image quality would be much nicer with the DSLR. But, will the low light image quality be “high” (subjective, I know) with the HMC 150? And, just so you’ll know, I just shot a wedding with a Canon HF 10; the low light capabilities of that camera are not too good. I’m looking to improve my low light image quality over the HF 10, and given that it has a 1/3″ chip (albeit, a single chip!), I’m wondering will the HMC 150, with its 3 x 1/3″ chips give me significantly better quality, or do I need to forego audio and zoom features and go with a DSLR?
I hope my question is clear enough. Perhaps I can summarize/re-phrase:
Will stepping up to a 3 x 1/3″ chip camera give me significant improvement over a single 1/3″ chip camera, or should I go for a DSLR (given the shortcomings of audio, zoom, etc)?
Thanks very much, Craig, for your insight. I sincerely appreciate it.
Vic -
Thanks very much, Guy. That helps me a lot in deciding which way to go. I feel like HDV is on the way out, technologically (though, still a high quality format). I don’t want to buy “old” technology, and I really like the workflow of AVCHD (log and transfer is fast and easy). Thanks very much, again. Looks like I’ll be going with AVCHD!
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Thanks very much, Richard. I was hoping I’d not done any damage. And, as I said in my previous post, the sound I’m getting is just great! But, your input makes me feel better that I have not done any damage to my brand new monitors. Thanks again!
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Thank you, Richard. I feel better.
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Thank you, Sam. Actually, that was a mistake on my part. I actually do have the M-Audio box connected via USB (I’d been connecting the monitors using the headphone jack for so long… prior to purchasing the audio interface… that I forgot about now using the USB connection).
Regarding going to sleep, I’ve contacted Apple and they have told me that this is just the way it will work… that I should simply set my MacBook Pro so that it does not go to sleep. Also, I found similar advice on the M-Audio forum (i.e. that it “does not support sleep mode” and that I should set my Mac to never sleep).
I wonder, though, if I purchased the external power supply for the Fast Track Pro, would that solve the problem (right now, it’s powered via USB). My thinking stems from how the M-Audio box works: right now, when the power is cut, the Mac reverts to its internal sound card. Is this because the USB power supply is cut? An external power cord into the M-Audio box would mean continuous power, regardless of whether the Mac is asleep or not. This might keep the connection alive.
Of course, first I have to purchase the optional power supply cord for the M-Audio box.
Thanks again, Sam! -
Hi again, Ty.
Just wanted to clarify: It’s not a constant, even “hum” that I’m getting (I actually experience that from my old desktop computer speakers); rather, it’s an inconsistent “sputtery” static that I’m getting. It kind of sounds like the somewhat erratic sound you hear when your hard drive is being accessed, only more static-like. Could this still be caused by AC or RF interference?
Thanks,
Vic -
That sounds like good advice, Ty. Thanks! I’ve been experimenting with a couple of different cables I have here, and one cable seems to be worse than the other (i.e. more/louder static noise). So, perhaps the problem is, indeed, with the cables.
FYI: Originally, I’d been running my cable from the headphone jack (unbalanced?) to the TRS (balanced) on the back of the monitor. Is there a problem with going from an unbalanced out connector to a balanced in connector?
Just wondering…
Thanks, again, Ty.
Vic -
Hi Ty,
I’m using a pair of Sony MDR-XD200 headphones (about $55); not sure if these are up to scratch to try what you’ve suggested. But, I really don’t hear anything in them at all (no static, I mean). Could it be that, even though I don’t hear any static in the headphones, that I still need the device you’ve mentioned in order to get good sound on my monitors?
Thank you, again.
Vic -
Hi Ty,
Thank you for your help/input. As I mentioned, I’m a complete neophyte when it comes to most electronics (especially audio!) I’ve connected the MR5s to my MacBook Pro by running a Y-cable (stereo) from the headphone jack and into the TRS connections on the back of the monitors. I found the sound rather unimpressive (and I’d been used to only $20 desktop speakers). More importantly, I can hear a constant static sound in the monitors (a kind of crackle, with a faint “chirping” sound). Moreover, when I scroll with the mouse on the laptop, it results in added static (directly resulting from the scrolling).
FYI: The static doesn’t get louder when I turn up the volume (via the audio controls on the Mac).
Have you ever experienced this kind of problem/interference? Any thoughts as to what might be causing it? How I might fix the problem?
Thanks again, Ty. I do appreciate your expertise. As I said, I know nothing about audio!
Vic