converting mono sound to stereo

marko69 wrote on 8/4/2004, 11:07 PM

I used a Sony microphone on my camcorder (also a Sony - model DCR-TRV38). It appears to have recorded in stereo (I confirmed this by using headphones plugged into the camcorder). But when I transferred the video into the Screenblast Movie Studio, the audio only came through on one speaker! I then tried importing the video into Microsoft's Movie Maker (just to make sure that it wasn't the Movie Studio software), and the same thing happened. I'm sure this is really an issue with the type of microphone that I'm using, but has anyone else had this problem? (Oh, and it's not a speaker problem, either. It's clear in looking at the audio track in Movie Studio that the audio is only on the left side.) It's weird.

In any case, does anyone know if it's possible to convert mono audio to stereo within the Screenblast Movie Studio software program?

Thanks!

Comments

IanG wrote on 8/5/2004, 12:31 AM

There are a couple of threads that may be useful - here and here.

Ian G.

ChristerTX wrote on 8/5/2004, 7:42 AM

Hello,
I use a MONO wireless mike to my camera. When I do that I need to have a simple adaptor on the plug to ensure that the mono sound is going in on both the channels on the camera sound tracks.
If you just plug a mono moke into the camera mike jack, it will only engage one of the camera sound tracks.

marko69 wrote on 8/5/2004, 7:56 AM

Ian - thank you! It looks like he was having the exact same problem that I had. I really appreciate your help.

And thanks, Christer. I might give the adapter a try. The only thing is that the microphone I'm using IS supposed to be a stereo microphone, at least according to Sony. (It's the ECM-Z37C.)

Chienworks wrote on 8/5/2004, 9:48 AM

Take a careful look at the plug on the end of the microphone cable. Mono plugs will have a long single shaft with a separate tip. You'll be able to see a band of insulation inbetween them. Stereo plugs will have the shaft split into a shorter shaft and a narrow ring with two bands of insulation.

Of course, even if it is a stereo mic with a stereo plug, it might still be half-broken. ;)

Which channel are you getting? A mono mic plug will record only on the left channel, assuming the camera's jack is wired properly.

marko69 wrote on 8/5/2004, 7:07 PM

I'm getting the left channel only. It does appear to be a stereo mic, because when I have headphones on, I get sound in both ears, and even when I transfer the video to my DVD recorder, the audio is in stereo. It's only when I transfer it into my PC that I get the mono recording. It can't be my PC either, because when I've shot video using only the built-in microphone, it records in stereo, and transfers in stereo to my PC. It's baffling. But I'm glad that I've at least got some suggestions to solve the problem.