Hi, I've got a sony vx-1000 which only records 8 bit 32khz audio. I've got a senheiser shotgun mike and I'll be buying an xlr adapter soon. My question is will this be good enough to record just the dialogue for the film, with music and sound effects coming from better sources, or should I fork out the money to buy a DAT or another camcorder that records 48khz sound? Win

-- win edson (win7@earthlink.net), November 16, 1999

Answers

Let me correct myself, the vx-1000 samples audio at 12 bit 32 khz as opposed to 16 bit 48 khz. Too many numbers to remember.

Win

-- win edson (win7@earthlink.net), November 16, 1999.

Hi. Depends on whether or not you're shooting narrative. If you're shooting documentary, use the XLR adapter and a hot-shoe mountable shotgun. It's just too much to deal with a DAT and the camera if you're on your own. In terms of narrative, I avoid camera audio at all costs. Even if your camera has manual audio gain control, you still have to go through the mini mic jack. Using a DAT with XLR inputs, your audio will be much better. (Not to mention the fact that it's easier to adjust and check levels on a DAT.) Some people advocate using MiniDisc, but all of the consumer MiniDisc systems have AGC (Auto Gain Control). The least expensive portable MD recorder with adjustable gain is around $800, I believe, which is more than an entry level DAT walkman...

Hope

-- Ben Syverson (ben@kaleidafex.com), November 21, 1999.

i have a mini disk the sony mzr-50, it has manual gain. $300!!

-- aaron chapplin (digitalriot@earthlink.net), November 21, 1999.

The the most part I think it's difficult to hear the difference between 12 bit - 32 kHz encoded audio and 16 bit - 48 kHz. The problem I have been running into is digitally transferring 12 bit audio from my Sony vx-1000 to Final Cut Pro via the Firewire. Final Cut Pro only encodes at 8 bits or 16 bits, so after a for few passed from my Sony to my G3 and back there is a noticeable loss in audio, making it sound like someone is constantly varying the audio level. This is only a problem if you are tranfrering comlpetely digital. It can be avoided by taking the analog output, but then you dealing with the same old problem of signal noise and and equipment noise. If you are trying to stay 100% digital from aquisition to completion and you are editing with a system that does not support 12 bit, I would suggest recording your audio on DAT or Mini-Disc, or shooting with another DV-Camera.

-- Lonny Quattlebaum (lonnyq@aol.com), December 07, 1999.