Pocket Camera Internal Microphone Clicking

Hi everyone,

When I shoot footage using the Blackmagic Pocket Camera's internal microphone I get fast clicking sounds as if the microphone is picking up noise from the internal workings of the camera.

Does everyone's Pocket Camera do this, or is mine defective?

Assuming they all do this, can anyone suggest the smallest, cheapest solution to get decent audio without clicking into the camera (without an external recorder)?

Thank you!

Yup... pretty much every BMPCC has that issue. The internal mics are not properly isolated from the electronics.

I've used a Rode Video Mic Pro set to +20 and get good clean sound out of the camera.

The Rode Video Mic (non pro version) is no good at the gain is too low.

Thanks, Adam Roberts.

Do you mean this? http://www.amazon.com/Rode-VideoMic-VMP ... eo+Mic+Pro

To be sure, did it eliminate the clicking/internal noise issue entirely, was the audio high quality, and did it capture audio loud enough to provide good results even if the talent/subject is speaking quietly (assuming you shooting a few feet away?)

What's the best way to mount it on the camera without a rig? I read it has a 3/8th threaded mount. Is there some kind of adapter that would allow me to screw it into the 1/4 thread on the top of the BMPCC?

No clicking with mine.

Here is a quick and dirty mic test.

BMPCC in a quiet room. Subject about 3ft away from the camera.

Internal mic gain set to 100%

Video Mic Pro set to +20 and gain set to 100%

WAV files are direct from camera (recording RAW)

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/646 ... _Audio.zip

Do you mean this? http://www.amazon.com/Rode-VideoMic-VMP ... eo+Mic+Pro

Yup, thats the one.

To be sure, did it eliminate the clicking/internal noise issue entirely, was the audio high quality, and did it capture audio loud enough to provide good results even if the talent/subject is speaking quietly (assuming you shooting a few feet away?)

I think the audio files speak for themselves. It's pretty good. As good as using the Video Mic Pro on a DSLR

What's the best way to mount it on the camera without a rig? I read it has a 3/8th threaded mount. Is there some kind of adapter that would allow me to screw it into the 1/4 thread on the top of the BMPCC?

This: http://amzn.to/1a3sSgh

Thank you Adam for the testing! The Rode sounds fine to me, pretty much what i'd expect from a camera mounted microphone. The internal mic is good for nothing else but synchronising shots...

Here is a quick and dirty mic test.

BMPCC in a quiet room. Subject about 3ft away from the camera.

Internal mic gain set to 100%

Video Mic Pro set to +20 and gain set to 100%

WAV files are direct from camera (recording RAW)

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/646 ... _Audio.zip

Thanks a lot for confirming that I'd found the mic you were talking about and for recording and uploading those test .wav files, Adam! It's clear that using this mic completely eliminates the issue.

I would order one now but for Worzel's post:

No clicking with mine.

So you don't hear anything that sounds like the fast clicking/rotor/whatever that you can hear in the .wav file Adam Roberts was kind enough to upload, Worzel? I thought this issue effected all pocket cameras. If there are indeed pocket cameras that do not exhibit this behavior then I would much rather have mine serviced or replaced to eliminate the issue than spend $250.

Worzel, can you please take a listen to the .wav files Adam shared and confirm that your pocket does not make this or a similar noise when you record with the internal microphone? Thanks!

Even if there was no clicking, the internal mic is just awfull, unusable for anything else but sync'ing to external audio.

So is this a confirmed problem for all BMPCC's?

Pretty much. To be honest, 90% of all internal mics in cameras are going to have camera noise in it, unless the mics are more separate from the main body (like cameras where the mic is in the handle). Even the Canon 5D M2 has similar clicking in the internal audio.