Turning off auto levels in audio

[peter_g]

Hey everyone,
I have this problem with my camcorder. When I plug in an external shotgun mic, autolevels are on. it "searches" for a signal to increase, making the volume fluctuate wildly, depending on how much noise is going into the mic. How can I turn this feature off? My camcorder is a sony digital 8 dcr/trv 240.

Thanks!

[belovedmonster]

i have that camera and have never had any problems. Sorry to say i dont have a clue how to help you! Check the intructions?

[belovedmonster]

yes ive used it with an ext mic

[peter_g]

There are so many variables here. I have an XLR to 1/4 inch to 3.5mm cable. Auto levels are a ***** . I'll share any developments, Alex

[Alex]

That might make help explain what's going on. If your XLR microphone has a hotter signal than the camera specs are set to, whenever voices are being recorded, the camera is "knocking down"/limiting the volume, then when there is silence, the silent ambience begins to rise quite a way up.

Definitely try a -10, -15, or -20 pad on your microphone. A -15 pad is probably your best bet.

[peter_g]

Could you explain what that is please alex?
Thanks

[Alex]

This is not a technical explanation as I am one part Technical, one part creative, and three parts confused, however, the pad basically "deadens" the sensitivity of the microphone.

This is extremely useful in preventing audio loudness/distortion. Of course you don't want to overdeaden the microphone, but I have found that Sennheisers tend to be too sensitive for video gear and work much better with at the very least a -10db pad.

[Alex]

BM, have you used that camcorder with an external microphone?

I'm a big fan of "padding/attenuating" microphones".

If your microphone is overly sensitive it could causing the camera to gain up and down at an aggressive pace.

On the other hand if you pad/attenuate the microphone the overall ambience level may drop, and that could cause the autogain to kick in, so that may not be a solution at all.

um, I hate auto gain.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ October 28, 2003 05:57 PM: Message edited by: Alex ]</font>

[Alex]

Originally posted by Peter_G:
Hey everyone,
I have this problem with my camcorder. When I plug in an external shotgun mic, autolevels are on. it "searches" for a signal to increase, making the volume fluctuate wildly, depending on how much noise is going into the mic. How can I turn this feature off? My camcorder is a sony digital 8 dcr/trv 240.

Thanks!

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Peter, any chance you might update some of your previous topic posts about audio if you have new info to share?