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I have noticed recently unwanted sounds in a video camera recording and
found that the microphone built into the camera is so sensitive that it is
picking up sounds when I touch the tripod or touch the camera during a
recording. This will happen in quite conditions with very little background
sound.

Do others have this problem or do I have a camera that happens to have a
sensitive microphone. Are there tripods designed to prevent sounds from the
tripod from reaching the camera? One example is when slowing releasing the
grip on the panning lever of the tripod.

--
Regards Brian

On 6/03/2012 7:29 PM, Brian wrote:
> I have noticed recently unwanted sounds in a video camera recording and
> found that the microphone built into the camera is so sensitive that it is
> picking up sounds when I touch the tripod or touch the camera during a
> recording. This will happen in quite conditions with very little background
> sound.
>
> Do others have this problem or do I have a camera that happens to have a
> sensitive microphone. Are there tripods designed to prevent sounds from the
> tripod from reaching the camera? One example is when slowing releasing the
> grip on the panning lever of the tripod.
>

cheap tripod?

if the camera has a built in mic (consumer style), they're highly
susceptible to ANY handling noise.

if your camera has an external mic input get a rode mic in a suspension
mount and kiss such problems goodbye ;-)

ushere <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> On 6/03/2012 7:29 PM, Brian wrote:
>> I have noticed recently unwanted sounds in a video camera recording and
>> found that the microphone built into the camera is so sensitive that it is
>> picking up sounds when I touch the tripod or touch the camera during a
>> recording. This will happen in quite conditions with very little background
>> sound.
>>
>> Do others have this problem or do I have a camera that happens to have a
>> sensitive microphone. Are there tripods designed to prevent sounds from the
>> tripod from reaching the camera? One example is when slowing releasing the
>> grip on the panning lever of the tripod.
>>
>
> cheap tripod?
>
> if the camera has a built in mic (consumer style), they're highly
> susceptible to ANY handling noise.
>
> if your camera has an external mic input get a rode mic in a suspension
> mount and kiss such problems goodbye ;-)

I didn't pay a lot for the tripod but it won't blow over in a strong wind
compared to other tripods.

I think I'll have to train myself for dealing with a sensitive mic.
If I attach a mic to the camera I'll have to get a bigger camera bag. I
like to be able to quickly get my camera out of the bag and switch it on as
soon as possible so I don't miss a good shot.

Speaking of mics, a friend of mine had an idea of using the camera mic as
well as a wireless mic so he can ask questions to the person being
interviewed while recording him. The problem with this is that you get echo
if the wireless mic comes close to the camera mic as the voice is recorded
in both

--
Regards Brian

"ushere" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:
2ck5r.4069$(E-Mail Removed) om:
> On 6/03/2012 7:29 PM, Brian wrote:

> > I have noticed recently unwanted sounds in a video camera recording and
> > found that the microphone built into the camera is so sensitive that it is
> > picking up sounds when I touch the tripod or touch the camera during a
> > recording. This will happen in quite conditions with very little background
> > sound.
> >
> > Do others have this problem or do I have a camera that happens to have a
> > sensitive microphone. Are there tripods designed to prevent sounds from the
> > tripod from reaching the camera? One example is when slowing releasing the
> > grip on the panning lever of the tripod.
> >

> cheap tripod?
>
> if the camera has a built in mic (consumer style), they're highly
> susceptible to ANY handling noise.
>
> if your camera has an external mic input get a rode mic in a suspension
> mount and kiss such problems goodbye ;-)

Sigh - I was disappointed with the sound-quality of the Rode
(it's rather bright), its weight (it's heavy), and the suspension
isolation (it's not very effective). I compared several mics with
shoe mounts and 1/8th inch stereo plugs, and while the Rode Stereo
VideoMic wasn't terrible, others were better in all respects (but
some did require suspension add-ons and/or external wind filters).
Unfortunately, most of the better ones are no longer made (but they
may be available used). I have not used it, but for new I would be
most likely to try the Sennheiser MKE-400. My mic comparison (with
audio samples) is at --
http://www.donferrario.com/ruether/camcorder-mics.htm
--DR

On Tue, 6 Mar 2012 03:29:27 -0500, Brian wrote
(in article <1775820464352714959.912060bclark-(E-Mail Removed)>):

> I have noticed recently unwanted sounds in a video camera recording and
> found that the microphone built into the camera is so sensitive that it is
> picking up sounds when I touch the tripod or touch the camera during a
> recording. This will happen in quite conditions with very little background
> sound.
>
> Do others have this problem or do I have a camera that happens to have a
> sensitive microphone. Are there tripods designed to prevent sounds from the
> tripod from reaching the camera? One example is when slowing releasing the
> grip on the panning lever of the tripod.
>
>

Very typical.

Regards,

Ty Ford

Try my new blog; http://tyfordaudiovideo.blogspot.com/
Try my audio sample archive: http://tinyurl.com/796z25d
Try my gear reviews: http://tinyurl.com/79q797r

Brian <(E-Mail Removed)> writes:

> I have noticed recently unwanted sounds in a video camera recording and
> found that the microphone built into the camera is so sensitive that it is
> picking up sounds when I touch the tripod or touch the camera during a
> recording. This will happen in quite conditions with very little background
> sound.
>
> Do others have this problem or do I have a camera that happens to have a
> sensitive microphone. Are there tripods designed to prevent sounds from the
> tripod from reaching the camera? One example is when slowing releasing the
> grip on the panning lever of the tripod.

There's a reason professionals use separate microphones elaborately
suspended. Basically, sound travels through solid things MUCH better
than through air.
--
David Dyer-Bennet, dd-(E-Mail Removed); http://dd-b.net/
Snapshots: http://dd-b.net/dd-b/SnapshotAlbum/data/
Photos: http://dd-b.net/photography/gallery/
Dragaera: http://dragaera.info

Brian writes:

> I have noticed recently unwanted sounds in a video camera recording and
> found that the microphone built into the camera is so sensitive that it is
> picking up sounds when I touch the tripod or touch the camera during a
> recording. This will happen in quite conditions with very little background
> sound.
>
> Do others have this problem or do I have a camera that happens to have a
> sensitive microphone. Are there tripods designed to prevent sounds from the
> tripod from reaching the camera? One example is when slowing releasing the
> grip on the panning lever of the tripod.

It's always going to be a problem for anything that is solidly connected to
the camera, e.g., a rigid tripod connected to a rigid camera through a rigid
mounting plate.

The only generally suitable solution is to record sound with an external
microphone that is acoustically isolated from the tripod or other sources of
unwanted noise. External microphones of quality comparable to those used on
the camera are not that expensive and can solve all the problems of unwanted
noise from handling of the camera or its tripod, in addition to providing
better sound overall (on-camera mics are mainly for ambient noise and
emergencies).

Mxsmanic <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> Brian writes:
>
>> I have noticed recently unwanted sounds in a video camera recording and
>> found that the microphone built into the camera is so sensitive that it is
>> picking up sounds when I touch the tripod or touch the camera during a
>> recording. This will happen in quite conditions with very little background
>> sound.
>>
>> Do others have this problem or do I have a camera that happens to have a
>> sensitive microphone. Are there tripods designed to prevent sounds from the
>> tripod from reaching the camera? One example is when slowing releasing the
>> grip on the panning lever of the tripod.
>
> It's always going to be a problem for anything that is solidly connected to
> the camera, e.g., a rigid tripod connected to a rigid camera through a rigid
> mounting plate.
>
> The only generally suitable solution is to record sound with an external
> microphone that is acoustically isolated from the tripod or other sources of
> unwanted noise. External microphones of quality comparable to those used on
> the camera are not that expensive and can solve all the problems of unwanted
> noise from handling of the camera or its tripod, in addition to providing
> better sound overall (on-camera mics are mainly for ambient noise and
> emergencies).

Thanks for your suggestions.
I was recording a person talking about some equipment he was standing next
to and the vocal would have been better if he was holding a mic while
talking. I got a few unwanted sounds from the tripod while he was talking.

The type of mic that would suit me is a mic the picks up sound in front of
it so that I don't get a lot of background noise. Any suggestions.

--
Regards Brian

Brian writes:

> I was recording a person talking about some equipment he was standing next
> to and the vocal would have been better if he was holding a mic while
> talking. I got a few unwanted sounds from the tripod while he was talking.

Yes. I think even a garden-variety hand-held mic would be better than high
quality mics on the camera.

My dream is to have two hand-held wireless mics, two wireless lavalier mics,
and two shotgun mics with booms and windjammers and stuff.

Fortunately the videos I'm doing right now don't require recording anything by
ambient noise, but if I want to do interviews, things will get complicated,
although I do have a hand-held stereo recorder and an inexpensive ($35) Audio
Technica ATR3350 lavalier mic (not wireless, alas!).

> The type of mic that would suit me is a mic the picks up sound in front of
> it so that I don't get a lot of background noise. Any suggestions.

If you have time during the shoot, get an inexpensive lavalier like the one I
mentioned (Audio Technica. They come with a really long cord. Then just clip
the mic to your talent and let him talk. You can plug the mic into the camera.
One channel will probably end up with the lavalier track, the other with the
ambient track, and you can mix the two as you see fit during editing. It
depends on what kinds of connections and options your camera has.

If your camera doesn't have mic inputs, then you need to record separately,
which requires some sort of external recorder. That's considerably more
expensive, although nothing forces you to break the bank on it.

Also, if you look around on YouTube, you can often find examples of all sorts
of mics and stuff, allowing you to get some idea of how they work and sound
before you spend your money.

"Brian" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:2073725489352777290.368928bclark-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Mxsmanic <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>> Brian writes:
>>
>>> I have noticed recently unwanted sounds in a video camera recording and
>>> found that the microphone built into the camera is so sensitive that it
>>> is
>>> picking up sounds when I touch the tripod or touch the camera during a
>>> recording. This will happen in quite conditions with very little
>>> background
>>> sound.
>>>
>>> Do others have this problem or do I have a camera that happens to have a
>>> sensitive microphone. Are there tripods designed to prevent sounds from
>>> the
>>> tripod from reaching the camera? One example is when slowing releasing
>>> the
>>> grip on the panning lever of the tripod.
>>
>> It's always going to be a problem for anything that is solidly connected
>> to
>> the camera, e.g., a rigid tripod connected to a rigid camera through a
>> rigid
>> mounting plate.
>>
>> The only generally suitable solution is to record sound with an external
>> microphone that is acoustically isolated from the tripod or other sources
>> of
>> unwanted noise. External microphones of quality comparable to those used
>> on
>> the camera are not that expensive and can solve all the problems of
>> unwanted
>> noise from handling of the camera or its tripod, in addition to providing
>> better sound overall (on-camera mics are mainly for ambient noise and
>> emergencies).
>
> Thanks for your suggestions.
> I was recording a person talking about some equipment he was standing next
> to and the vocal would have been better if he was holding a mic while
> talking. I got a few unwanted sounds from the tripod while he was talking.
>
> The type of mic that would suit me is a mic the picks up sound in front of
> it so that I don't get a lot of background noise. Any suggestions.
>
> --
> Regards Brian

Call B&H Photo in NY. I've always had very good experiences with them. You
are looking for either a hyper-cardioid (some mfg. call it a super-cardioid)
or a short shotgun microphone. Both cardioids and shotguns to one degree or
another minimize the pickup of sounds from other than in front of the mic.
The cardioids will perform better indoors, because they do not color the
sound coming from the sides of the microphone nearly as much as a shotgun.
Outdoors shotguns are usually preferred. Be aware that many of the better
microphones require phantom power supplied by the camera; you'll probabably
have to avoid those. One choice you might consider is a Sennheiser M-80.
It is an older shotgun that uses an internal battery. You should expect to
pay around a $100 or so. I haven't checked Ebay. It is a very rugged
microphone.

Steve King