Audio level issues

[benedictspence]

Hi all,

I've just had my camera back from a job and I've had a complaint about one of my audio channels.

The sound recordist said that channel 2 was very low but would sometimes pop back to normal when the cable was given a wiggle.

I've tried to repeat the problem in the office by running tone into the camera, both levels seem fine and they stayed fine for a full 15 minute test. I've wiggled the cables as hard as I dare but I can't seem to repeat the fault.

The audio tails the soundie was using weren't mine and I cannot test them, however the client is looking to my camera as the suspect. Since I cannot repeat the fault with my tails, I'm looking at the tails he used as a possible culprit, however I would be neglectful if I didn't ask the question here.

I was wondering if anyone had come across any kind of camera heating up and causing audio issues of this type or anything similar?

I don't want my camera to be blamed as I don't think it's at fault, however I also don't want to keep putting out my camera if there is a problem!

Many thanks!

Ben Spence

 

[Alan Piper]

Sounds like he may have been using a 'pre-upgrade' cable; these are fitted with a pad which will reduce the level - he may have had a faulty cable which bypassed the pad occasionally.
Make sure that you use the Mini XLR to Mini XLR cable which was supplied when the camera was upgraded.

Alan.

 

[benedictspence]

Thanks for your quick reply Alan.

I think that may be the cause in this case.

Sorry to ask but if there was an issue with the inputs on the camera, could a low audio level be a symptom or would it likely be just that there was no audio at all? Like I said I can't get the fault to happen again in a controlled environment with my own MiniXLR to XLR cables.

Cheers for your time,

Ben Spence

 

[Alan Piper]

More than likely no audio as you suggest.

 

[benedictspence]

Thanks very much Alan!

Ben

 

[ericyoung]

If the audio went low level and sounded "tinny", it most likely a cable fault, where one of the balanced audio cores has an intermittent break (ironically most often just at the exit of the strain relief sleeve) - you still get audio, but it just sounds crap!

 

[Joe Shemesh]

Sounds like he may have been using a 'pre-upgrade' cable; these are fitted with a pad which will reduce the level - he may have had a faulty cable which bypassed the pad occasionally.
Make sure that you use the Mini XLR to Mini XLR cable which was supplied when the camera was upgraded.

Alan.

Alan,
I had no idea that new cables were supplied with upgrade - I certainly did not receive any. Is this something that needs to be taken up with Red US?

best
joe

 

[Andrew J.]

If you have old padded cables laying around don't throw them away, take them to the place you bought them and most will remove the pad for free if you ask nicely.

You can tell if it has a pad if you unscrew the XLR connector housing and slide it off, if there is a small ohm resistor on the wiring that requires to be unsoldered.

 

[Joe Shemesh]

If you have old padded cables laying around don't throw them away, take them to the place you bought them and most will remove the pad for free if you ask nicely.

You can tell if it has a pad if you unscrew the XLR connector housing and slide it off, if there is a small ohm resistor on the wiring that requires to be unsoldered.

Thanks Andrew, I'll have a look - just interested that Red did not mention this at the time of upgrades

best
joe