After using the Sony VX2000 Mini DV camera a while back, it became apparent on just how poor the device was for audio. Not only does the VX2000 merely have a single stereo 3.5mm mini jack for its mic input (instead of superior XLR connectors), it provides no phantom powering for attached condenser microphones either. The only way to use microphones requiring power of some kind is to battery power them and to use adaptor cables to convert the XLR to said mini jack.
Aside from the connectivity issues of the camera, its actual audio performance is well below par too. Manual gain mode is available (but only for both channels simultaneously) but engaging this causes incredible amounts of hiss (assumed to be from the front end pre-amp). A test was carried out using Soundforge and what was immediately noticeable was just how high the noise floor was. The camera is capable of either 12 or 16-bit recording resolutions (giving theoretical dynamic ranges of 72dB and 96dB respectively assuming no dither applied), but this is totally pointless given just how noisy the front end is. The test will be carried out again soon for the purposes of this blog and the results will be posted but a noise floor higher than -40dBFS springs to mind. Why therefore bother using 16 bit resolution when, in theory, an 8 bit resolution would be more than adequate (48dB theoretical dynamic range).
To help overcome this problem, on a recent video project, a separate audio device (in this case a laptop running Soundforge plugged into an Edirol UA-25 soundcard) was used to capture the audio. Not only did this give far far superior results audibly, it also added the benefit of two separate XLR inputs each with manual gain control, +48V phantom power and 24 bit, 96kHz capabilities. As Soundforge was used, the audio was recorded as standard wave file formats which could easily be dragged into the NLE (Sony Vegas) and lined up with the video, using the onboard camera sound as a reference.
Glensound - http://www.glensound.com/ manufacture a box called the GSTN-1 which connects to the VX2000 and provides a better front end plus XLR connections. They also manufacture a version to be used in conjunction with a modified (by the BBC) VX2000 which performs even better.
It is hoped that very soon, one of the new Sony HD cameras with onboard XLR connections will be investigated for its audio performance.
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