[Robin_G]

Any ideas why a powered lav (new battery) would buzz while recording? Hooked up to a Canon Vixia HF R400. I don't remember it doing it the first couple of times I used it but I don't know for sure. I used a voice recorder and dubbed in the audio from that.


Or is it the camcorder? I plugged in an earbud to check for audio and that buzzed too.

 

[bsprague]

Are you near florescent tube lights? The new curly CFLs?

 

[Robin_G]

I've tried it near fluorescent, incandescent, and then ambient light only. Gotta be a setting someplace that I haven't figured out. The manual is obtuse.

 

[bsprague]

Could it be that you are plugging a mono mic into a stero hole?


Also, low cost mics are famous for bad noises. The reason expensive XLR systems exist is to make sure there is no background noise.


Good luck!

 

[Robin_G]

Both are very possible!


I did find another conversation online that suggested some setting changes that were not available on my screen but digging into a few more places I was able to find out how to change those (this is exhausting!)--the manual missed a few steps. It SEEMS to have reduced the buzzing, by setting the audio to manual.

 

[bsprague]

I should have thought of that.


Most consumer camcorders have "Automatic Gain Control". The idea is to raise the less "loud" sounds and lower the too "loud" sounds. It will work pretty well in a situation with a mix of "normal" sound. If you put the camera in a very quiet place the AGC will work it's heart out to elevate the sound level in case you want to record the sound of a pin dropping. If you have an inexpensive mic with a small amount of noise in it, the AGC will ensure you can hear it when there is no other noise present.


Does the buzz go away when recording a "normally" loud conversation? If so, the AGC is adapting to the primary sound and the buzz disappears in the background.


As you've discovered, forcing the camera to a manual setting that records "normal" sound levels will cause the background buzz to fade away.


AGC was a well discussed issue here many months ago when a popular and well liked camcorder would record its own cooling fan noise. If you recorded continuously for an hour, the camera would get hot. Then, if you locked yourself in a silent closet the AGC would boost the cooling fan noise to where it could be heard.


It sounds like you have figured it out!

 

[Robin_G]

Not sure I have the recipe yet. The buzzing was there irrespective of the conversation sound level.

I have another interview today that will run more than an hour. In short tests today it seemed OK. Once the camera gets hot, that might change. Hmmm--I have time for another test run. At least I hvae the voice recorer to backup sound in case it buzzes again.

 

[Robin_G]

OK--made the audio setting changes to manual and tested it and it seemed OK. Ambient light. Did an interview today and got loud buzzing. Fortunately, the voice recorder backup saves the day again. I am pretty sure the lighting was fluorescent.


So I try another test at home with ambient light and...I got the buzzing again. All settings remain as set yesterday with audio set to manual. The buzzing gets a little quieter when someone is talking into the lav, but it's still annoyingly loud.


Time to try the stereo to mono jack adapter thingie.


Update: Ran a test with battery only and no buzzing! So it has something to do with power source.

 

[bsprague]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Robin_G  /t/1517122/audio-technica-atr-3350-lavalier-buzzing-loudly#post_24349237


.....


Update: Ran a test with battery only and no buzzing! So it has something to do with power source.

I should have thought of that too! When "plugged in" it gets A/C current, meaning Alternating Current. In the US it is 60 cycles per second and in Europe it is 50 CPS. The inexpensive "unshielded" mic is picking up noise from the AC wall connection. I don't think there is an easy way to fix it.

 

[Robin_G]

So, the answer from A-T is to point me to a video produced by someone who uses the mic. Bottom line, yes it is the AC line because it's a "light circuit" and the answer is to never plug in the camera (use battery only) while using the mic.


I wrote in my original note that I can't do that because the videos I shoot are too long to rely on battery.


The end of the video says in essence: it's a cheap mic so suck it up. A-T offered no alternatives so I will have to find another option. Not an Audio-Technica option.


I'm frustrated because I've put a lot of money into this volunteer project already and don't need studio-quality video, but I don't need crap either. Apparently I need to put a few hundred into a lav now. I use a voice recorder as well as the lav so if one fails I am covered.

 

[brunerww]

I have to apologize, I think I'm the one who recommended that mic based on its price. I will not be recommending it again. Lesson learned - sometimes the lowest price isn't always the best option.


If it was purchased from Amazon or B&H, maybe you can send it back?


Again, my apologies.


Bill

 

[Robin_G]

Bill


No need to apologize. The mic works for the subset in which it can be used. My subset (and apparently others, but not everyone's) is not where it works.


I've had it too long to send it back, unfortunately. It has some other quirks that, now that I've had a chance to field test it, are also annoying. Someone in Canon's camcorder forum had the same issue with a Rode shotgun mic, so I'll have to find another solution. Using the voice recorder is the best option but if that fails, I'm toast. So I need this lav option too.