Camcorder Audio Recording Problem

Andrax · Kitten Joined: 16 Nov 2006 Posts: 127

I love my Sony Handycam DCR-DVD308 so far, but I took it tonight to a Thomas Lang clinic, I sat front row and recorded his solo and a few of his songs. The video is GREAT, the audio however isn't. The toms, snare and cymbals sound nice, but the problem lies in the kick drums. If you've ever heard a badly blown speaker, well it sounds like I have a badly blown speaker on every kick drum note, no matter what volume I play it at. It sounds like that through the camcorder playback, playback on the tv with AV cables, and also through a dvd player with the finalized DVD. Even when I usb dump the movie onto my computer it sounds horrible.

Now i've played with all the audio settings in the camera and nothing seems to be working...so I am wondering is my microphone defective? Can it be changed/upgraded? Or am I out of a few hundred dollars(I bought the camera mainly to record my own drum playing, as well as others)?

I've used it in my own home for my own playing, leaving me the same result for a kick drum sound...For the love of God if anyone has some insight i'd love to hear it!

scrubs · Little Hamster Joined: 24 Nov 2005 Posts: 77

I would suspect that the built-in microphone on your camcorder is not designed to handle the low frequencies and high volumes of a drumkit. It is probably not picking up any of the "punch" of the kick drum, because it does not have adequate bass response, and given that you were sitting in the front row, it is entirely possible that you were overloading the mic on kick drum hits. If the microphone sounds fine for speaking and other tasks, I would guess that is is not "broken," just not suited for the job.

Andrax · Kitten Joined: 16 Nov 2006 Posts: 127

Right on. On to my next question, is it possible to take this built-in mic out and replace it with one that WILL handle these frequencies?

Mr.Clam · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 9:36 am Post subject:

You may be able to find an attachment somewhere, has it got a line in socket? I'm no camera expert, but the way technology is moving, i'm sure there is something out there that will improve the rec. quality.
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Cale · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 9:14 pm Post subject:

it's all about the line in socket. We used an SM57, found the line in socket and an XLR -> 1/8" stereo converter cable, hooked it into our sony camcorder and came out with a great quality video. If you have a line in, USE IT!
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Andrax · Kitten Joined: 16 Nov 2006 Posts: 127

What would the line in socket look like? ^^

scrubs · Little Hamster Joined: 24 Nov 2005 Posts: 77

Wow, that's a fancy camera - just looked up the specs. Supposedly, it has a 5.1 channel surround sound microphone built-in, but I think you could still connect another mic.

treflip98 · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 11:06 pm Post subject:

You know if you are recording a band with a camera you can get better quality without distortion if you have the amps facing away from the camera and towards the wall.