Sony HDR-FX1E Auto sound very Low!

Marco-Dias · 16th July 2005, 15:24

When I use the Automatic sound option on my Sony HDR-FX1E, I find that the sound is quite low compared with other camcorders that I have worked with.
Now, I know that this is a consumer model and not a professional model with an external mic, but I find that camcorders less expensive with better sound quality than the Sony Camcorder.
I would like to know if someone has compared the sound of the FX1E with other camcorders out there.
I use the Camcorder mostly on DV, to film weddings.
Because things happen quickly, I don't want to fiddle around with the Auto or Manual settings the whole time.
If I forget to change from Manual to Auto the sound might distort.

I have used other Camcorders to film weddings before, but this is the lowest sound I have heard on a Sony Camera (Auto mode).

1. Are you happy with the Sound (Volume) on your Sony HDR-FX1E?

2. Has anyone used the Sony ECM-MSD1 Stereo microphone with their
HDR-FX1E?

3. Was the sound volume improved using the Sony ECM-MSD1 Stereo microphone on Automatic?

Kind Regards!

Robin Davies-Rollinson · 17th July 2005, 09:57

Just to put the record straight, there's nothing at all wrong with the audio quality of the FX1 - if you use an external mic/mics.
It's the built-in mic that is c**p...
We're shooting broadcast material on our FX1 , alongside the Z1, without any problems whatsoever.

Robin

Marco-Dias · 18th July 2005, 19:59

Robin, I am reffering to the Built on mic on the Camera itself. The sound volume is quite low compared to other camcorders.

Robin, what external mic are you using on your FX1E?

Thanks!

tom hardwick · 19th July 2005, 07:48

And how are you connecting them? Beachtek?

Robin Davies-Rollinson · 19th July 2005, 21:54

Sorry for the delay in replying - been out on a shoot in Chepstow all day today and yesterday.
We were using the Sennheiser 416, as well as a couple of radio mics via the sound recordist's mixer.
And yes Tom, via a Beachtek.
This was a documentary shoot for BBC Wales.
For my own basic stuff though, I get good results with the Audi-Technica 897.
It all depends on the job as to the choice of mic - if its for broadcast, then there is always a recordist booked as well - and he or she will bring all their own kit...

Robin

Marco-Dias · 20th July 2005, 21:25

Thanks Robin for the Reply!

I presume that theses mics (Audi-Tescnica 897 & Sennheiser 416) are mono mics.

I am thinking of buying the Sony ECM-MSD1 High Grade Stereo Microphone.

Has anyone used this Microphone with great results with the Sony HDR-FX1E?

Kind Regards!

tom hardwick · 21st July 2005, 05:20

I know the idea of a stereo mic is appealing if only because the mic input is labelled as stereo, but I'd not recommend it at all. It's ok if you plan to shoot an interview, say, and you'll have the mic on the table between the talking heads, but as an on-camera mic it's a no-no.

Remember that for most of our shoots having the mic on camera is the worst place possible for it. OK, as a one-man-band we accept this as a compromise, but in reality the lens and the mic sould be in two completely different places for the best A and V quality.

Go for a mono mic as all pros do and pan in post if you really need the stereo feel. You can then buy a semi-shotgun such as the Senheisser K6/ME66 and have it selectively listen to what your lens is looking at. If you go for a stereo mic on camera it'll be listening to the sounds left and right of your shooting position, and generally this isn't what's in your viewfinder.

tom.

RayL · 21st July 2005, 06:34

The Z1/FX1 has the selection between internal mic and external mics buried in menus, rather than as an easily-accessed hardware switch - what a pain! This means that you have to have SOME sort of mic attached to the camera to avoid making silent recordings when in XLR mode.

Of course, I'm talking about event shooting where one often has to put the camera in a bag or case at short notice (in which situation a rifle mic has to be detached because it won't fit) and then get the camera out quickly and start shooting (no time to set up an external mic).

My solution has been to undersling the Z1's external mic holder (to reduce the camera profile) and fit it with one of those little Sony lightweight stereo mics (ECM-MS907) which has been sitting in the mic cupboard for some years. This mic has an unbalanced output with L and R as tip and ring of a stereo 3.5 jack. By wiring an adaptor from stereo jack socket to XLR plug as Sleeve-1, tip-2, ring-3 I turn an unbalanced stereo mic into a sort of balanced mono mic. This means that the camera will always be recording sound in 'XLR' mode and the second mic can be added as required.

Ray Liffen

Marco-Dias · 22nd July 2005, 22:01

Thank you Gentlemen, for all the advice.

As a “one man band” videographer, I film mainly weddings on DV. I bought the Sony HDR-FX1E because of the picture quality, which I am very happy about. Unfortunately the sound quality is very low, when on Automatic. Now because things happen quickly on a wedding shoot, I don’t want to fuss around with the Manual & Auto settings on the sound part of the wedding shoot.

Now I will tell you why I think I need a Stereo microphone instead of a Mono mic.

When you film a wedding, there are certain times that you have to film the couple or guests at the church service, while the priest speaks off camera, or when you are filming the guests dancing and your DJ speakers are playing on your right or left.

There are plenty parts where you are filming a subject, but your sound source comes from behind, left or right of you.

Therefore I think that a Stereo microphone with a 3.5mm jack would suit me better for what I need.

I would like to know if someone has used the Sony ECM-MSD1 High Grade Stereo microphone with good results on the Sony HDR-FX1E camcorder?

infocus · 22nd July 2005, 22:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marco-Dias

[There are plenty parts where you are filming a subject, but your sound source comes from behind, left or right of you.

Therefore I think that a Stereo microphone with a 3.5mm jack would suit me better for what I need.

Not sure I agree there. By and large, you expect to hear what you are seeing, except in th case of cutaways, but there you would be unlikely to use their sound recorded at the time anyway.

But it still doesn't argue for stereo mics. Imagine the priest directly ahead in your example, then scene A to the left, B to the right. Film A and the priests sound will be right on the stereo track, film B and he will be left on the track. Edit them together and the effect will be for his voice to jump from one side to the other, and believe me that can be truly awful. (I've never forgotten the hopping fountain on one TV drama when it first started to experiment with stereo!)

16th July 2005, 15:24	#1
Marco-Dias Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 6	Sony HDR-FX1E Auto sound very Low! When I use the Automatic sound option on my Sony HDR-FX1E, I find that the sound is quite low compared with other camcorders that I have worked with. Now, I know that this is a consumer model and not a professional model with an external mic, but I find that camcorders less expensive with better sound quality than the Sony Camcorder. I would like to know if someone has compared the sound of the FX1E with other camcorders out there. I use the Camcorder mostly on DV, to film weddings. Because things happen quickly, I don't want to fiddle around with the Auto or Manual settings the whole time. If I forget to change from Manual to Auto the sound might distort. I have used other Camcorders to film weddings before, but this is the lowest sound I have heard on a Sony Camera (Auto mode). 1. Are you happy with the Sound (Volume) on your Sony HDR-FX1E? 2. Has anyone used the Sony ECM-MSD1 Stereo microphone with their HDR-FX1E? 3. Was the sound volume improved using the Sony ECM-MSD1 Stereo microphone on Automatic? Kind Regards!

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17th July 2005, 09:57	#2
Robin Davies-Rollinson Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Gwaelod-y-garth, Cymru/Wales Posts: 248	Just to put the record straight, there's nothing at all wrong with the audio quality of the FX1 - if you use an external mic/mics. It's the built-in mic that is c**p... We're shooting broadcast material on our FX1 , alongside the Z1, without any problems whatsoever. Robin

18th July 2005, 19:59	#3
Marco-Dias Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 6	Robin, I am reffering to the Built on mic on the Camera itself. The sound volume is quite low compared to other camcorders. Robin, what external mic are you using on your FX1E? Thanks!

19th July 2005, 07:48	#4
tom hardwick Senior Member Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: Billericay, Essex, England Posts: 6,064	And how are you connecting them? Beachtek?

19th July 2005, 21:54	#5
Robin Davies-Rollinson Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Gwaelod-y-garth, Cymru/Wales Posts: 248	Sorry for the delay in replying - been out on a shoot in Chepstow all day today and yesterday. We were using the Sennheiser 416, as well as a couple of radio mics via the sound recordist's mixer. And yes Tom, via a Beachtek. This was a documentary shoot for BBC Wales. For my own basic stuff though, I get good results with the Audi-Technica 897. It all depends on the job as to the choice of mic - if its for broadcast, then there is always a recordist booked as well - and he or she will bring all their own kit... Robin

20th July 2005, 21:25	#6
Marco-Dias Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 6	Thanks Robin for the Reply! I presume that theses mics (Audi-Tescnica 897 & Sennheiser 416) are mono mics. I am thinking of buying the Sony ECM-MSD1 High Grade Stereo Microphone. Has anyone used this Microphone with great results with the Sony HDR-FX1E? Kind Regards!

21st July 2005, 05:20	#7
tom hardwick Senior Member Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: Billericay, Essex, England Posts: 6,064	I know the idea of a stereo mic is appealing if only because the mic input is labelled as stereo, but I'd not recommend it at all. It's ok if you plan to shoot an interview, say, and you'll have the mic on the table between the talking heads, but as an on-camera mic it's a no-no. Remember that for most of our shoots having the mic on camera is the worst place possible for it. OK, as a one-man-band we accept this as a compromise, but in reality the lens and the mic sould be in two completely different places for the best A and V quality. Go for a mono mic as all pros do and pan in post if you really need the stereo feel. You can then buy a semi-shotgun such as the Senheisser K6/ME66 and have it selectively listen to what your lens is looking at. If you go for a stereo mic on camera it'll be listening to the sounds left and right of your shooting position, and generally this isn't what's in your viewfinder. tom.

21st July 2005, 06:34	#8
RayL Senior Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Carshalton, Surrey, UK Posts: 3,700	The Z1/FX1 has the selection between internal mic and external mics buried in menus, rather than as an easily-accessed hardware switch - what a pain! This means that you have to have SOME sort of mic attached to the camera to avoid making silent recordings when in XLR mode. Of course, I'm talking about event shooting where one often has to put the camera in a bag or case at short notice (in which situation a rifle mic has to be detached because it won't fit) and then get the camera out quickly and start shooting (no time to set up an external mic). My solution has been to undersling the Z1's external mic holder (to reduce the camera profile) and fit it with one of those little Sony lightweight stereo mics (ECM-MS907) which has been sitting in the mic cupboard for some years. This mic has an unbalanced output with L and R as tip and ring of a stereo 3.5 jack. By wiring an adaptor from stereo jack socket to XLR plug as Sleeve-1, tip-2, ring-3 I turn an unbalanced stereo mic into a sort of balanced mono mic. This means that the camera will always be recording sound in 'XLR' mode and the second mic can be added as required. Ray Liffen

22nd July 2005, 22:01	#9
Marco-Dias Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 6	Thank you Gentlemen, for all the advice. As a “one man band” videographer, I film mainly weddings on DV. I bought the Sony HDR-FX1E because of the picture quality, which I am very happy about. Unfortunately the sound quality is very low, when on Automatic. Now because things happen quickly on a wedding shoot, I don’t want to fuss around with the Manual & Auto settings on the sound part of the wedding shoot. Now I will tell you why I think I need a Stereo microphone instead of a Mono mic. When you film a wedding, there are certain times that you have to film the couple or guests at the church service, while the priest speaks off camera, or when you are filming the guests dancing and your DJ speakers are playing on your right or left. There are plenty parts where you are filming a subject, but your sound source comes from behind, left or right of you. Therefore I think that a Stereo microphone with a 3.5mm jack would suit me better for what I need. I would like to know if someone has used the Sony ECM-MSD1 High Grade Stereo microphone with good results on the Sony HDR-FX1E camcorder?