OT: Weird distortion on camera audio input

Jessariah67 wrote on 7/27/2021, 10:15 AM

So, my normal setup for camera audio is a Sennheiser ME66 on the camera (using the camera's phantom power) and a wireless lav. I shoot with no attenuation or limiter (I'm using a Canon FX100) and have not had any audio issues when the levels were good.

Plugged an Audio-Technica AT2020 directly in, with phantom power on - and even though the levels are peaking between -20 & -10, there is distortion in the recording.

Attenuation "fixed" the distortion, but why would I get distortion from one condenser mic - plugged directly into the camera - but not the other?

As another test, I tried running the AT2020 through my Zoom F4 (turning off phantom in the camera). Again, the F4 levels were fine and the recording was clean - but there was distortion in the camera's recording, even though the input never got above -20. Again, attenuation took care of this.

It's almost like there's some kind of uncontrollable pre-amp in the camera or something...but why wouldn't it fry ALL the signals coming in equally?

Comments

Musicvid wrote on 7/29/2021, 5:02 PM

Your Zoom Recorder has selectable phantom voltage of either 18 or 48 volts. The default is 48, and it's ok to leave it there.

Your AT is a hot condenser that will work best at higher phantom volts. See what your camera preamp is supplying. I have an AT Pro 45 hanging above my head with a Zoom h4 acting as preamp and USB interface. Running Voicemeeter Banana, Cantabile Lite hosting TB Barricade, and my voice would sound like a million bucks, if it weren't me.

@Jessariah67

Jessariah67 wrote on 7/31/2021, 6:51 AM

@Musicvid That makes sense. Thanks for the insights. I didn't know some condensers were "hotter" than others. The only other difference between the two mics is that the Sennheiser has the option of being powered, but I can't imagine that would make a difference. I'm not very educated on what makes mics "hotter than others," so maybe that is why the ME66 doesn't spike the camera directly plugged in like the AT2020 does.

Dexcon wrote on 7/31/2021, 8:09 AM

Even dynamic mics can have power differences. The well regarded Shure SM7B dynamic mic requires a pre-amp like a Cloudlifter CL-1 or similar to get a decent signal without noise from it. Shure's popular SM58 and Beta 58A mics don't require such assistance. I was recently thinking about getting an SM7B but decided 'no' by watching some YT comparisons between the SM7B and the AKG C-214 (the latter of which I use for VO) and other condenser mics as well. I still prefer the 'sound' for VO from a condenser mic. And you don't have to go for a super expensive Neumann either.

With that in mind, @Jessariah67, are you using the ME66 and the AT2020 for similar or different purposes? I know that doesn't solve the AT2020's distortion problem, but personally I wouldn't use a condenser mic into a camera because condenser mics' ideal usage is for studio recordings. For this, using the Zoom for recording would be the better choice IMO.

Also, while your camera may well be the problem (given that the AT2020 worked well with the Zoom), please keep in mind that the AT2020 is in the lower budget level of condenser mics. Over the years, I've bought a couple (okay, a few) budget dynamic mics that turned out to be absolute rubbish.

Jessariah67 wrote on 7/31/2021, 1:40 PM

@Dexcon This is strictly about "why do two condenser mics function differently..."

The AT2020 I picked up for YT remote VO recordings for clients (that was why I was "testing" it in conjunction with my camera - one less thing to haul if it worked "just as well" since I had to bring the camera along for host shooting anyway...)

No, I generally use the ME66 as my on-camera mic. In the studio, I use an RE20 for VOs.