In-Car Video: Audio Interference
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jas
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Unfortunately, you don't get the choice between internal and external. As soon as the camera senses input on the mic jack, it disables the internal mic. I strongly suspect that JUST connecting the adapter won't be enough to trip the switch in the camera, and it'll still record from the internal.
jas
jas
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Mic test.
1. No mic connected, car not running.
2. Fire car up, rev engine.
3. Connect mic adapter, no mic (no sound, as robvuk expected).
4. Connect mic. Rev engine.
5. Drop mic into center console. Rev engine.
Not sure where to go from here.
jas
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...another thread that might be of interest.....
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1624170
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1624170
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Click Here
Mic test.
1. No mic connected, car not running.
2. Fire car up, rev engine.
3. Connect mic adapter, no mic (no sound, as robvuk expected).
4. Connect mic. Rev engine.
5. Drop mic into center console. Rev engine.
Not sure where to go from here.
jas
Mic test.
1. No mic connected, car not running.
2. Fire car up, rev engine.
3. Connect mic adapter, no mic (no sound, as robvuk expected).
4. Connect mic. Rev engine.
5. Drop mic into center console. Rev engine.
Not sure where to go from here.
jas
I know this is a big PIA but it's the only way to narrow it down.
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I assume you were sitting still in your driveway. I can't help think that this still might be a vibrational problem with the camera. Did you try it outside but near the car? Have someone handhold the camera from a distance and then approach close to the car while you rev it. Then handhold while IN the passsenger seat.
I should do that and repeat the tests. Perhaps lending credence to your vibration idea...
jas
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Yes, if you revved the motor and still didn't hear the noise that rules out the possibility that the camera itself (no mic) is NOT generating the noise.
Repeat this test again when you mount it to the harness bar. If it is vibration, it might make the noise even with no mic.
Now that you mention that you were handholding, it was definitely much better and hardly noticeable noise until you actually revved it.
Repeat this test again when you mount it to the harness bar. If it is vibration, it might make the noise even with no mic.
Now that you mention that you were handholding, it was definitely much better and hardly noticeable noise until you actually revved it.
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I may need to EBay this camera.. :-(
jas
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More info. I ran another set of tests this evening, with the camera sitting in my lap during a "spirited" drive. The first recording I took was with the external mic in place. Half way through the drive, I removed the external mic and relied on the internal mic. No difference in sound. Still that high-pitched, constant chirping and static noise, overwhelming the audio.
The second recording I took was with the microphone adapter in place, but no mic attached. I've included a link to this recording. At first, you'll hear nothing. But if you crank the volume up, you will here my door chime ring a couple of times. Then you'll hear me say something like "Camera still in lap, microphone adapter, no mic." But it sounds like I'm mumbling. Then faint engine noises.
So the camera is still picking up faint audio, even without a mic attached.
Half way through the recording I popped the mic adapter off and recorded a bit with the internal mic again.
Click Here
Other than trying another camera (which I don't have access to) I'm not really sure what to do at this point. :-(
jas
The second recording I took was with the microphone adapter in place, but no mic attached. I've included a link to this recording. At first, you'll hear nothing. But if you crank the volume up, you will here my door chime ring a couple of times. Then you'll hear me say something like "Camera still in lap, microphone adapter, no mic." But it sounds like I'm mumbling. Then faint engine noises.
So the camera is still picking up faint audio, even without a mic attached.
Half way through the recording I popped the mic adapter off and recorded a bit with the internal mic again.
Click Here
Other than trying another camera (which I don't have access to) I'm not really sure what to do at this point. :-(
jas
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More info. I ran another set of tests this evening, with the camera sitting in my lap during a "spirited" drive. The first recording I took was with the external mic in place. Half way through the drive, I removed the external mic and relied on the internal mic. No difference in sound. Still that high-pitched, constant chirping and static noise, overwhelming the audio.
The second recording I took was with the microphone adapter in place, but no mic attached. I've included a link to this recording. At first, you'll hear nothing. But if you crank the volume up, you will here my door chime ring a couple of times. Then you'll hear me say something like "Camera still in lap, microphone adapter, no mic." But it sounds like I'm mumbling. Then faint engine noises.
So the camera is still picking up faint audio, even without a mic attached.
Half way through the recording I popped the mic adapter off and recorded a bit with the internal mic again.
Click Here
Other than trying another camera (which I don't have access to) I'm not really sure what to do at this point. :-(
jas
The second recording I took was with the microphone adapter in place, but no mic attached. I've included a link to this recording. At first, you'll hear nothing. But if you crank the volume up, you will here my door chime ring a couple of times. Then you'll hear me say something like "Camera still in lap, microphone adapter, no mic." But it sounds like I'm mumbling. Then faint engine noises.
So the camera is still picking up faint audio, even without a mic attached.
Half way through the recording I popped the mic adapter off and recorded a bit with the internal mic again.
Click Here
Other than trying another camera (which I don't have access to) I'm not really sure what to do at this point. :-(
jas
The faint sound you were getting is probably from the switch in the connector is not completely separating the circuit. I've got to say though, it was not nearly as bad with the unit in your lap. I'm still thinking a vibrational problem here and if that's the case, the camera itself is at fault and would have to be serviced or replaced. Try the camera in your lap in another car preferably one that rides as rough as the Z.
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jas
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Get this.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuNPpX2R1N4. Someone with the exact same issues with that camera, in-car. He solved it the hard way: a digital sound recorder and mixing the sound into the movies after the fact. The difference in sound quality is AMAZING.
jas
jas
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As for further testing with it, I'm not going to bother. I think it's pretty obvious this thing is a piece of junk. :-(
jas
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Good audio on a video makes a world of difference.
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The main problem is a volume issue. The camera has an "external microphone volume" setting. I set it all the way down to "1" and recorded some high-rev driving.
You'll have to turn the volume up on your computer. You'll notice the "chirps" are still present, but not as bad. And the "clipping" is also present, but not as bad.
My external mic doesn't have its own volume setting. It's either "on" or "off." A different microphone with its own volume setting may help. But I'm still not sure by how much. It's very clear that the audio recording circuitry in this camera is junk.
Click Here
jas
You'll have to turn the volume up on your computer. You'll notice the "chirps" are still present, but not as bad. And the "clipping" is also present, but not as bad.
My external mic doesn't have its own volume setting. It's either "on" or "off." A different microphone with its own volume setting may help. But I'm still not sure by how much. It's very clear that the audio recording circuitry in this camera is junk.
Click Here
jas
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,707
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles
The main problem is a volume issue. The camera has an "external microphone volume" setting. I set it all the way down to "1" and recorded some high-rev driving.
You'll have to turn the volume up on your computer. You'll notice the "chirps" are still present, but not as bad. And the "clipping" is also present, but not as bad.
My external mic doesn't have its own volume setting. It's either "on" or "off." A different microphone with its own volume setting may help. But I'm still not sure by how much. It's very clear that the audio recording circuitry in this camera is junk.
Click Here
jas
You'll have to turn the volume up on your computer. You'll notice the "chirps" are still present, but not as bad. And the "clipping" is also present, but not as bad.
My external mic doesn't have its own volume setting. It's either "on" or "off." A different microphone with its own volume setting may help. But I'm still not sure by how much. It's very clear that the audio recording circuitry in this camera is junk.
Click Here
jas
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I have an older (late 90s vintage) Sony Hi8 camera that has a firewire port on it. Copying videos from it to my Mac takes quite a bit longer than just moving an MP4 file over. But, I mounted the camera up and took a drive.
Click here
Very clear, very precise audio (and very loud road noise, as expected). But, the engine revs are crystal clear. About 3 minutes into the ride, the camera stopped recording on me, for some reason. So I need to figure that one out. But, aside from that, I may have my solution.
jas
Click here
Very clear, very precise audio (and very loud road noise, as expected). But, the engine revs are crystal clear. About 3 minutes into the ride, the camera stopped recording on me, for some reason. So I need to figure that one out. But, aside from that, I may have my solution.
jas