VX2000 capturing audio in Mono?

Edin1 wrote on 2/12/2005, 6:16 PM
I have noticed that some of my clips captured from my camcorder Sony VX2000 via Sony Video Capture 5.0 have Mono audio, while other clips from the same tape and capture session have Stereo audio.
Another thing I have noticed about this is that the audio is in Mono on the clips where I have used camcorder's Microphone Input (External Mono Microphone), while the clips that used the camcorder's onboard Stereo Microphone contain Stereo audio.

I checked my VX2000 manual, and I can't find a thing about capturing audio in Mono when using an external Mono mic. I am assuming that this camcorder saves audio in Mono when the audio source is Mono, but I am not sure, and would like someone who knows this for a fact to confirm it.
I am also assuming that DV standard only accepts Stereo audio, which could explain why my DV clips with Mono audio have no sound when playing them with Windows Media and similar players.

So, I am a little confused here. I would ask someone who knows answers for sure to make it clear for all of us here (Non-technical answers, and answers from those not well-versed in technology are not welcome, we have enough confusion, and don't need any more guessing! Straight answers based on actual knowledge are what we all need). Thank you!
Links with good content relating specifically to this issue are also welcome!

P.S.: One thing I forgot to say is that I am using a cheap Panasonic camcorder (PV-GS12) to transfer some tapes to computer. I don't really think it makes a difference; it's all digital.

Comments

Laurence wrote on 2/12/2005, 6:27 PM
I use a PD-100 hotshoe to XLR adapter on my VX-2000. Every time I use it I get mono audio. It doesn't play back smoothly from media player, but it captures just fine into Vegas. If I use the 1/8" mic input it always records stereo audio, even if one side is muted.
Mahesh wrote on 2/13/2005, 2:33 AM
Try out a trial copy of Sceneanalyserlive at
http://www.scenalyzer.com/download.html

You may find this utility captures in stereo irespective of mono/stereo mics.
Randy Brown wrote on 2/13/2005, 7:49 AM
Hmmm, I may be missing something here but let me point out a couple of things that may help.
A stereo mic actually is two mics in one, in that it has 2 diaphragms and each signal is passed to two different sources; usually a TRS (tip, ring, sleeve) jack. If your camera has a 1/8 " mini jack then it's probably a stereo TRS. If your mic cable has only one black ring on it then it's mono but it still lines up with one of the female 1/8" "rings" on the camera insert and records one side (left or right). I freaked out the first time I used an XLR mic adaptor on my cameras (Canon XL1s), I had it plugged into one of the four channels of the adaptor that didn't show up in Vegas so I thought the mic hadn't worked(even though I had heard it on my headphones while taping). I finally found out that if I right-click on the audio and choose left (or right) channel only all was well.
If you already know all this and I did miss something and I'm making a fool of myself please disregard...it's early and I'm just trying to avoid the mudslinging threads : )
Randy
Mahesh wrote on 2/13/2005, 9:07 AM
g randybrown
The problem lies in how the audio is laid on DV tape. I know that my Sony DSR200 camera has a mono mic but 2 audio channels. There must be an audio ID laid on the DV tape so that when Vegas captures this tape, it only captures channel 1 only. The problem is that if the channel 2 was laid using an external microphone, Vegas will still capture channel 1 only.
Only way to get over this problem is to use another capture utility like SCLive which captures both audio channels.
Hope that clarifies my previous post.
Randy Brown wrote on 2/13/2005, 9:16 AM
Then maybe this is only a problem when using a TRS connection? I say that because vidcap always captures both channels for me. I've noticed when I put a clip on the timeline it will have a stereo track there and I have to choose right or left only (depending on if I plugged the mic into channel one or two of the adaptor).
If I used two mics then I put the "stereo" audio on two separate tracks (to mix and EQ individually) and choose "left only" on one and "right only" on the other.
Randy
winrockpost wrote on 2/13/2005, 9:52 AM
............Non-technical answers, and answers from those not well-versed in technology are not welcome,

Never mind.
Randy Brown wrote on 2/13/2005, 9:54 AM
What part of my post was not technical enough for you winrock? My suggestion may not be of any help but what terms or terminology are incorrect? Regardless man I thought everyone was welcome here.
Randy
Liam_Vegas wrote on 2/13/2005, 11:04 AM
Randy - I think you missed the point (which was not aimed at you at all) Winrock is simply referring to the contents of the first post in this thread... where that (very impolite IMO) request was written.

In fact... although I own a VX2000... and could probably have added my own <potentially> useful answer to this thread... I decided not to.
jaegersing wrote on 2/13/2005, 11:16 AM
I also have a VX2000, and came across the mono input to stereo jack problem a few times. Luckily, the answer is simple, you just have to - oops sorry, my answer isn't really well versed in technology, better not post it here!

Richard Hunter
Randy Brown wrote on 2/13/2005, 11:16 AM
Silly me...makes sense now. Maybe I should go take a nap. Sorry Winrock.
Randy
jdas wrote on 2/13/2005, 4:23 PM
Well-versed in technology ???????
Mahesh wrote on 2/14/2005, 12:43 AM
sorry, I did not read the whole post.
I withdraw my reply as I do not qualify.