Low, noisy audio question

[JoshBertrand]

http://thoth.edo.usf.edu/mitvideo/soundtest.aif

Here is what I'm getting when recording with any mic straight into the Red (Sennheiser 100 series G2 in this case, same results with a shotgun). I'm using the Red mini-XLR adapter going in to Channel 2 (none of the others are better and this one sounded quieter. Phantom is not enabled on any channels, the input is set to Microphone (line produces essentially the same results) and the gain is turned all the way up. The audio is faint in the headphones while monitoring on camera and is very low and noisy in the file.

If I feed line level input from a separate pre-amp it sounds rosy. But this is not feasible for our 2 person field crew.

Any troubleshooting ideas? I've heard some have to have their audio boards replaced but I don't know what to look for in terms of symptoms for this to be the case.

[Teddy Hallaron]

try changing the output gain on the G2 reciever. go into the menu and play with the different gain increments, you can go from minus 30 to plus 12.

[Mike Weber]

If you have not done so, upgrade the camera firmware to build 16. The levels are much hotter, allowing you to operate the RED at reduced input levels which will drop the noise floor. Combined with using a slightly higher output level from your G2 you should see a dramatic difference. We did.

The other big upgrade to audio in Build 16 is that you can control all the audio levels with the controls on the EVF. Yes, real knobs and not a menu!

- Mike

http://www.RedOneFlorida at http://www.cmrStudios.com

[JoshBertrand]

I'm running Build 16 and I think the level out of the G2 should be ample as it works fine when recording off-camera. Perhaps I have a bad audio board?

[jimhare]

I had the same issue with the same mic.

Didn't have time to test everything but boosting the level through a mixer solved it.

I'd doubt it's a bad board, we just need to test all settings and see if it can be used without a pre-amp.

Like you I really want to be able to just plug the mics into the camera!

Cheers,

Jim