Audio Noise on Helium

[Ryan Sheets]

Used my new Helium today for the first time on some interviews.

With the Red I/O V mount expander I used a wooden camera A-box to my Rode NTG-4 mic. (Same setup I use with my Epic Dragon)

Seemed to me I was hearing noise...much like the gain is searching or something. Reminded me of when I used to use DSLR's for audio.

Anyone seeing this?

Thanks!

 

[David Peterson]

Seemed to me I was hearing noise...much like the gain is searching or something. Reminded me of when I used to use DSLR's for audio.

You mean automatic gain control? You'll want to turn that off

 

[Ryan Sheets]

I'll search for that...didn't see anything in the menu's on the helium for that.

 

[Ryan Sheets]

Just looked at the manual for the Helium and didn't see anything about automatic gain control. Just the normal pre-amp gain controls that are manual.

The noise I hear is exactly like the automatic gain controls I have heard back in the day. Funny thing is the menu options and gear I am using is exactly like the Dragon...but the Helium is no clean audio. Please help.

 

[Bob Gundu]

The A box for Dsmc1 Cameras is different than for Dsmc2. Also Dsmc2 doesn’t have phantom power so the mic’s have to be self powered.

 

[Ryan Sheets]

Hey Bob,

Totally...using a battery powered Rode NTG-4 mic.

To clarify, using the new A-box may change results? I'll get one ordered if that is the case.

Thanks!

Ryan

 

[Ryan Sheets]

Bob - I just spoke with Wooden Camera and they said it actually wouldn't change the audio either way. So the problem I think is within the pre-amp in the camera.

 

[Jeremy Torrie]

Have gone through many iterations of cameras and builds for more than a decade. It amazes me how bad audio is treated on this camera. Yeah for bigger shows we go double system, but smaller projects we need to have clean, reliable audio. As it is, I've got the DSMC2 I/O expander on both cameras, and there's actually only one input on the back via the headphone jack, which is unacceptable. Never mind the gain placed on the input.

 

[Brian Timmons]

Have gone through many iterations of cameras and builds for more than a decade. It amazes me how bad audio is treated on this camera. Yeah for bigger shows we go double system, but smaller projects we need to have clean, reliable audio. As it is, I've got the DSMC2 I/O expander on both cameras, and there's actually only one input on the back via the headphone jack, which is unacceptable. Never mind the gain placed on the input.

I made a thread a few months back concerning this and I agree that it is indeed a problem.
I hope this discussion can be used by RED and third parties to understand the endusers' problems, expectations,
and ideas to effectively tackle this problem of sound on RED cameras.

Please feel free to contribute.
http://www.reduser.net/forum/showth...r-better-audio-recording-on-newer-RED-cameras


Brian Timmons
BRITIM/MEDIA

 

[Joel Arvidsson]

Have gone through many iterations of cameras and builds for more than a decade. It amazes me how bad audio is treated on this camera. Yeah for bigger shows we go double system, but smaller projects we need to have clean, reliable audio. As it is, I've got the DSMC2 I/O expander on both cameras, and there's actually only one input on the back via the headphone jack, which is unacceptable. Never mind the gain placed on the input.

Do you rely on the built in preamps or are you setting the gain to 0 and feed the camera with a strong and clean signal from a clean preamp (Zoom F8n, sounds devices). I believe this is the way to go (for recording straight to camera).
I wish the camera had better built in preamp or a red pro audio module, but there is non yet.

 

[Andy Maser]

Don't expect great results if you move the internal gain sliders up from 0. Most streamlined run & gun setup is either a Juicedlink preamp or a OMOD XLR expander, with camera internal gain turned all the way off. This is the reality of DSMC2. Both of those options work really well though.

 

[Bobby Farokhzad]

If you want quality audio you will need an external pre amp, no two ways about it. Yes, it sucks carrying an extra box when something like this could be built into the camera but digital cinema cameras are not built with audio as top priority. I got the sound devices and I connect the stereo output to the input jack of the I/O expander and viola. The audio quality is absolutely superb and you don't need to waste any time syncing the audio to the video.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bk5q-uPHPa_/