- Posts: 245
- Joined: Mon Aug 26, 2013 3:33 pm
I've discussed this issue with fellow Pocket 4K owners, and all cameras seem to be affected, not just my copy: When recording sound internally via the stereo mini jack or the mini XLR connector, audio levels are much lower than they should be (and than they were with previous BM cameras such as the BMCC and first-generation Pocket).
These were my observations:
- The Rode Stereomic X connected to the stereo mini jack needs its output level set to +20db and camera audio levels set to 100% to reach normal peaks when recording acoustic music or conversations.
- Same is true for the binaural Ohrwurm mic whose output is 16db stronger than average mics. It needs 100% audio levels on the Pocket 4K in situations where 20-40% sufficed (to avoid clipping) on the old Pocket and the BMCC.
- Finally, the Rode NTG2 connected to the mono mini-XLR port with +48V phantom power and being ca. 10cm away from the mouth of a speaker talking in a normal voice needs 100% amplification on the Pocket as well. (Which means that levels will be too low when booming the mic.)
I wonder whether this is a production error of the cameras that have been sold to date, or an issue that could be fixed in firmware.
These were my observations:
- The Rode Stereomic X connected to the stereo mini jack needs its output level set to +20db and camera audio levels set to 100% to reach normal peaks when recording acoustic music or conversations.
- Same is true for the binaural Ohrwurm mic whose output is 16db stronger than average mics. It needs 100% audio levels on the Pocket 4K in situations where 20-40% sufficed (to avoid clipping) on the old Pocket and the BMCC.
- Finally, the Rode NTG2 connected to the mono mini-XLR port with +48V phantom power and being ca. 10cm away from the mouth of a speaker talking in a normal voice needs 100% amplification on the Pocket as well. (Which means that levels will be too low when booming the mic.)
I wonder whether this is a production error of the cameras that have been sold to date, or an issue that could be fixed in firmware.