Audio input levels Pocket camera

Did some quick tests with two Pocket camera's trying to record sound.
Normally I use a Zoom H4N to record so a fed the line output into the BMPCC.
I could not get a decent level (out of the headphone, remember no meters).

Because the H4N uses the same output for line and headphone the level can be cranked up high, but even with the camera input set to mic I could not get any decent sound recorded.

Also tried the Woodencamera's A box, added a Senheisser 66 with the battery phantom power but could hardly get anything recorded.

Anyone any luck recording sound on the camera? What setup?

I feel your pain and lack of success in getting a good audio level to the BMPCC - but I am not brilliant at audio. Still testing my way with the camera.

As part of a double system approach, I've been sending audio from mic to Sound Devices 302 (set to mic level output). I sent one channel to a Roland R-26 audio recorder and the other to the BMPCC via a Wooden Camera A-Box.

On the BMPCC, I set both channels to mic input, one at 75 percent; the other 100 percent. From the mixer I sent tone set at 0 db. After recording on both the BMPCC and the Roland, I loaded files from both units into FCPX. The levels from the BMPCC were audible, but way lower than the Roland.

There are enough steps in my process for multiple errors. Any guidance would be most welcome.

Tom

Clearly something wrong if you have a line output and still need to set the BMPCC to MIc / 100% to get a bit of signal......

At least similar to my experience, lets hope that a firmware update can solve this level issue.

I have tried to find some more info about the input but I expect a regular 3.5mm jack to have a standard stereo input and not a balanced input like the bigger brother.

Thanks for the feedback.

Ok Guys, The best solution is use the stereo internal mike for ambient/background sound for sync and record externally for dialog/ or whatever. The stereo in camera work best with this approach.

I have successfully recorded audio into the BMPCC. Mic > preamp > bmpcc line in. Perhaps the output of your recorder was not working? Easiest way to tell is to plug your cans into the BMPCC headphone output and you'll be able to monitor the signal being fed into the camera.

Cheers

Did some quick tests with two Pocket camera's trying to record sound.
Normally I use a Zoom H4N to record so a fed the line output into the BMPCC.
I could not get a decent level (out of the headphone, remember no meters).

Because the H4N uses the same output for line and headphone the level can be cranked up high, but even with the camera input set to mic I could not get any decent sound recorded.

Also tried the Woodencamera's A box, added a Senheisser 66 with the battery phantom power but could hardly get anything recorded.

Anyone any luck recording sound on the camera? What setup?

The H4N does not have proper line out. It does not work well in any situation that requires line out.

I believe the H6 and certainly the Sound Devices do have proper line out.

I do not understand is what defines proper line out. Frank G touched on this in another post but personally I could use another go around. Thanks for whomever can fill me in on this and its permeation's.

I am trying to use the Rode VideoMic Pro on the Pocket Camera but can get no levels at all. Any output is inaudible - I have checked the mic and it is fine so I know it is the camera - the level of inout on line 1 or 2 that is set makes no =difference to the recorded inaudible level.
I have tried the +20 dB boost on the mic … again no difference at all in the recorded levels.

I am having to assume I have a faulty camera - the internal mic works in its own poor fashion.

Has anyone any ideas what I could be doing wrong?

I was having the same issue. You need to change the input type in your camera settings to "Mic" instead of "Line" (or is it "Line In", don't have my camera here). It's counter intuitive - I assumed "Mic" simply meant that the camera would use the built in mic as opposed to an external one but changing that setting will boost the input levels significantly.

Did for me anyway

When we first got our Pocket I started doing some audio tests, but the lack of meters (i.e. you can't even use UltraScopes) and the fact that the headphone output is so horrible, just made testing long and painful, so I gave up. My suggestion... just record timecode to the Pocket, then sync it in post.

I don't think this is going to change any time soon. The problem I think is that most of the hardcore beta testers are all cinematographers who always work with audio professionals - so timecode syncing the cameras makes the most sense rather than wasting development resources getting the audio firmware right.

These camera's are CINEMA cameras - I think BMD have just decided that CINEMA users will just record a timecode track and be done with it.

Sad... but I think given BMD's track record with firmware releases today, I don't think we'll see any improvement to the audio functionality until we see a MKII of the hardware.

I plan to test the Sound Devices MM-1 on the Pocket Cinema Camera using a custom cable cobbled from Canare and Mogami parts by my audio guy today. Will report here. The MM-1 has limiters on both the input and line output, so you can set the levels pretty hot. The limiters are stunning on the MM-1.

By the by, one second increments in time lapse mode to shoot the moon is too quick when using super telephoto of 1728mm (effective) on the Pocket Cam. That's a 600mm SLR lens direct on the pocket cam via C-Mount.