Rode Videomicro backgrund noise

[rraffaele1]

Hi, I have a rode videomicro connected directly to the camera but there is a lot of background noise.
Could it be because it isn't battery powered? Unfortunately, I cannot use an external recorder. Would the only solution be to change microphone? My main use is VLOG outdoors, the ideal would be a small and compact microphone just like the videomicro.
Do you have any suggestions? Thanks a lot!

[mlubomirov]

To be honest, today i tried with Fujifilm ST1 several times. The results are the same. With postprocessing software i have a lucк to cut "light" noise. So now i'm looking for some good shotgun-style microphone like Azden SMX-30, but is it possible to have some noise? I don't known.

[Don Barar]

Hi Raffaele:

The preamps in most cameras are inexpensive and noisy.  I had a similar situation with my X-T3.  The strategy is to turn down the gain on the camera's pre-amps and increase the gain on your microphone to have which should have better, less noisy preamps.

For example I have the camera audio gain setting for the external microphone on my X-T3 set to -25.5 db.  Then I set gain on my microphone system (Sennheisser ew100 G4) so that audio levels on the camera are at -12 db.  -12db is the goal you should strive for in the vast majority of audio systems.

Also, never use auto audio levels on your camera.  What will happen when auto is engaged, the camera will adjust the camera audio gain to the correct level when someone is speaking.  However, when no one speaking, it will increase the audio gain and reveal the noise.

With your equipment do you have the ability to adjust the gain on the camera and microphone?

Hope you find this helpful.

Don Barar

Edited December 3, 2020 by Don Barar

[Baresku]

With internal mic in my Xpro2 I hear background noise. I resolved connect a VideoMic Rode, better with VideoMicGo.