How Do I Eliminate Camera Hiss?

[DaveJ]

Hello folks! After months of saving I finally bought my first DSLR, a Canon 60D last week which I'm loving to bits. Things are going well with regards to operating it but when it comes to video I'm getting awful hiss when recording. Can anyone advise on how to eliminate this as it's driving me nuts. I have tried different menu settings ie. enabled/disabled wind filter, manual/auto sound setting etc all to no avail I'm using the built in mic btw. Any help or advice would be very much appreciated.

Dave J.

[Sime]

Dave, post up a video so I can hear what you mean (or link your YouTube?)

--Sime

[DaveJ]

Hi Sime. Thanks for wanting to help. I haven't got a YouTube account and haven't really got anything worth posting either. I'm just tinkering at present. The hissing sound is a constant droning hiss which is quite audible (and annoying ). After doing some searching around this seems to be the norm with Canon dslr cameras, great picture quality coupled with poor audio!? Most people seem to invest in separate external microphones, Zoom and Rode mics being two popular ones. I'm not super serious about video but seeing as the camera has the option I'd like to use it from time to time. Looks like I need a mic now. Could you recommend a 'cheapo' model as the Zoom and Rode mics were all quite pricey! $249 US for the H4n at B&H Thanks again.

[Sime]

You're right, the mic on my 5DMKII is noisier than the mic on my Sony Nex5 (by a LOT) I use a Rode with my 5DMKII now, it's a great bit of kit. I have tried the little Senheisser too, it's very good.

Cheap... Well, I'm not sure... You could record sound externally and mix in post, it works OK... Check out the Zoom [ Amazon.com: Zoom H4n Handy Portable Digital Recorder: Musical Instruments ] though, it's still pricey - but a great recorder...

Aside of that... I'm not sure - A little Blue into an iPhone / iPod is very clean [ Amazon.com: Blue Microphones Mikey 2.0 iPod Recording Microphone: Musical Instruments ]

Hope that helps.

Sime

[OsmosisStudios]

If you're using an IS lens, it could be the stabilizer (which is almost always on in video), which makes a hissing sound when active.

A friend of mine is working with 7D and 5DII bodies for feature-film length video production. They use several small boom mics for the most part, and a separate audio mixer. Its a LOT of work, but its well worth it.

[Gaurav Prabhu]

The hiss is due to auto gain control. You can use Magic Lantern to remove the hiss. I think its not out yet for the 60D but it will be out soon.

Magic Lantern

[DaveJ]

Originally Posted by Sime

You're right, the mic on my 5DMKII is noisier than the mic on my Sony Nex5 (by a LOT) I use a Rode with my 5DMKII now, it's a great bit of kit. I have tried the little Senheisser too, it's very good.

Cheap... Well, I'm not sure... You could record sound externally and mix in post, it works OK... Check out the Zoom [ Amazon.com: Zoom H4n Handy Portable Digital Recorder: Musical Instruments ] though, it's still pricey - but a great recorder...

Aside of that... I'm not sure - A little Blue into an iPhone / iPod is very clean [ Amazon.com: Blue Microphones Mikey 2.0 iPod Recording Microphone: Musical Instruments ]

Hope that helps.

Sime

Thanks again Sime. Some interesting links and info there. Will have look at them properly later on today...

QUOTE.
OsmosisStudios "If you're using an IS lens, it could be the stabilizer (which is almost always on in video), which makes a hissing sound when active.

A friend of mine is working with 7D and 5DII bodies for feature-film length video production. They use several small boom mics for the most part, and a separate audio mixer. Its a LOT of work, but its well worth it."QUOTE.

I never even considered the IS could be the problem! The in camera mic is right next to the lens though so it could well be that. I'll switch the IS off and record again to see if there's a difference. I watched a couple of YouTube vids on dslr sound set ups and it does seem alot of extra work and expense just to get clear sound. If this is the only way to do it I guess I'll have to jump on the band wagon Thanks for your input.

QUOTE.
Gaurav Prabhu. "The hiss is due to auto gain control. You can use Magic Lantern to remove the hiss. I think its not out yet for the 60D but it will be out soon."QUOTE.

Interesting stuff. Thank you, I'll check this out later.

[inkista]

I went cheaper/smaller and got the Zoom H1. It's just under $100 on Amazon. You are likely to want to get one of those fluffy windscreens for it, though, if you're going to use it outside. It does stereo. The H4n is if you need to do four-track recording.

I'm not an audiophile, but I gotta say, I found the sound on the H1 to be nothing short of amazing, coming from cassette tape recorders with condenser mics. Sticking one on your camera hotshoe, however, is not going to be anything like using a boom mic and a sound guy, though.