Background noise using Canon Vixia

[allisonr]

I use my Canon to record meetings with three people. I typically set the camera between the three people. I then download the clips to my PC (HP ultrabook) and need to review them via Skype with another person using share screen.

The problem I have is that in two different locations where I've recorded, the ventilation system (heat or AC) is so loud that it makes the Skype replay almost impossible to hear the voices. All we hear is the buzzing of the ventilation with occasional voice sounds.


I've tried to use a friend's omni directional mic, but the sound didn't record at all (buzzing noise only). Is this a mono/stereo issue?

I would prefer not to have to use lavalier microphones on all three people. Are there any alternatives that would be less obtrusive?



Thanks in advance.


Allison

[smrpix]

You have to change the sound to noise ratio, you can do this by getting microphones closer to the speakers -- lavs or desk mics, for example -- or get someone to operate a fishpole boom. Or you can make the environment quieter by turning off the ventilation system or finding a different room.

[allisonr]

Thanks for the help. If I did do multiple desktop microphones, which kind do you recommend? Also, I think I would need two microphones. How does that work as far as plugging them in? Hoping to not spend a fortune as I have quite a technology graveyard already in trying to make this work....

[budwzr]

[Oops]

[redwudz]

Not knowledgeable about the microphones, but you should be able to find a adapter. This one is assuming a 1/8" stereo input jack on your camera.

It's called a 'Stereo Mini (3.5mm) Male to 2 Mono Mini (3.5mm) Female Y-Cable - 6" ' Notice the stereo plug end. A mono plug only has two contacts and won't work with a stereo jack. That's likely why you were getting nothing. I saw this one on B&H, but the shipping may be pricy for such a small item. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=hosa+ymm-261&N=0

You can probably find it locally, just make sure it works correctly. And you might let us know what is the model of your Vixia camera. There are quite a few versions.

EDIT: budwzr was a bit quicker.

[budwzr]

No no, redwudz, you're right there too. Those splitters can be used as a combiner in this case. I didn't understand the original post. I thought it was three people, three cameras.

Yeah, that would be perfect! A poor man's mixer.

[allisonr]

OK, here's more info. The microphone I borrowed is this one: http://www.amazon.com/CM-1000-Conference-Meeting-Microphone-Omni-Directional/dp/B004E1...d+tech+cm-1000 I see now that it has the word "Stereo" in the description, so is this why I need the adapter to be able to plug it into my Canon? My Canon is the Vixia HF and either the R20, R21 or R200. I don't have the camera with me at the moment, but my computer does have the manual on it, which shows those model #s.


Thanks in advance for helping me with my cluelessness.

[redwudz]

I looked up that microphone and noticed this:

Minimum System Requirements

3.5 mm jack with plugin power. All computers and digital recorders have
this plugin power. Some cameras / camcorders may or may not supply plugin
power.

That seems to be a powered microphone and may not work with your camcorder. It does seem to be a stereo microphone.

Others here that know more about camcorders and external microphones may be able to give you better advice.

And let me move this thread to our Camcorder Forum. You may get more replies there.

Moderator redwudz

[julitomg]

I've tried to use a friend's omni directional mic, but the sound didn't record at all (buzzing noise only). Is this a mono/stereo issue?

No, it´s probably due to other factors, as redwudz mentions, the mic could need some kind of power the cacorder does not provide or other specs like impedance or signal level don´t match since it ´s a microphone more suited for office work rather than audio/video recording.
If you want to keep your setup simple, you could get a microphone like this:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/atr1300-unidirectional-vocal-microphone-dynamic-handheld-7...5#tab=overview
a cable adapter like this to connect it to your camcoerder:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/xvm-105m-microphone-cable-3-5mm-trs-to-xlr-3m-male-right-a...0#tab=overview
and a mic stand:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/on-stage-adjustable-height-desktop-microphone-stand/500091...&skuId=5000914
or
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/pyle-pmks7-compact-base-microphone-stand/1306785066.p?id=m...uId=1306785066

Depending of how you arrange the people talking in front of the camera, a Uni-directional (also called Cardioid) microphone will help to avoid picking up other sounds or noises (omnidirectional means it will pick up sound coming from all directiones), but ith the three people are sitting at the same table facing the camera, with this arrangement it could be enough for practical porpuses, just make sure the AC vents or other sources of unwanted noise (like windows) aren´t in the direct "line of sight" of the mic/cam.
Also (and this is very important regardless of what mic you end up using), make sure to set your camcorder´s audio to MANUAL, instead of AUTO. You´ll notice a significative decrease in background noise ( A/C, people talking outside the office, airplanes, etc)

[allisonr]

Hi Julitomg,

Thank you so much for your help. I did have my camcorder set to Auto, so I just changed it and will be able to test during one of my meetings today. I noticed that there was a gauge that I could then set 0-100, I think. Any ideas what the best # is or what that even means?


I'm crossing my fingers that this solves my audio problems.


Would the handheld microphone you recommended need to be very close to the speaker's mouth? That scenario wouldn't work with my needs as I need the system to be as unobtrusive as possible. I couldn't ask the people I'm filming to hold the microphone, move closer to it, or anything like that. I need to just be able to set it up and leave it throughout.


Thank you so much to all of you who have responded for lending me your expertise. I'm grateful.


Allison

[julitomg]

Hi Allison
The optimal setting for the audio will have to be determined by you, try to make a short test before the actual meeting. If the range you see is 0-100, you could satrt at the middle, and there should be a small bar garph for the audio level on your screen, have someone talk at a normal level with the camera in the actual position (distance), there should be a red area or red dots that appear if the sound level is too high (the souund could get distorted), and if the sound is too low, it´s no good either...the level should be most of the time just under the red area (0 db level), and at all times use headphones to hear what´s going on.
I Found this video, it could help you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVHNe-6runQ

About the handheld microphone, no, it doesn ´t necesarily have to be held close to the person´s mouth. You can hold it that close (like singers do) if you want nothing but the person´s voice, but as you place the mic away from the sound source, the pick up pattern widens. That´s why I suggested the desktop stand, if it´s in front of the three people (and they are not very far away from each other), you should hear them quite well.
To understand better the pickup pattern thing, imagine this: you are standing in front of the three people you want to hear talking, but instead of a microphone, in your hand there is a flashlight, and the room is dark, now; if you come closer to one of the guys and place the flashlight close to his mouth (like a singer´s microphone), you´ll notice his mouth is very bright but if you walk away from him (still pointing the light at him) you´ll see the light spreads and reveals his face, and a few steps more will put light on the three of them, they won´t be as bright as the first guy´s mouth with the mic very close but they´still be visible enough, and if you walk further away, you´ll be spreading light on most of the room, but the faces will become darker and the longer the distance, the less distinguisheable they´ll be. Well, think of the sound volume and quality as the light from the flashlight and you´ll see why it´s recomended that the microphone is places as close as posible to the people speaking.
If you want to know more about pick up (also alled polar) patterns, maybe this video could help:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7ihvSdz_vM
And even if it´s a bit technical, the principles still apply even if you aren´t using very sophisticated or expensive equipment.
Good luck

[2Bdecided]

Hi Allison
The optimal setting for the audio will have to be determined by you, try to make a short test before the actual meeting. If the range you see is 0-100, you could satrt at the middle, and there should be a small bar garph for the audio level on your screen, have someone talk at a normal level with the camera in the actual position (distance), there should be a red area or red dots that appear if the sound level is too high (the souund could get distorted), and if the sound is too low, it´s no good either...

That's not necessarily true. On my Canon HV20, I can boost the audio by 20dB in post without any audible problem - the resulting noise floor is exactly the same as recording 20dB louder in the first place. Assuming you will fix the level in post, getting the original recording close to 0dB is really not critical with decent digital recorders. Avoiding going over 0dB is critical though.

Cheers,
David.