Sony Cinealta noise

Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 11:24 am

Hello!

I'm currently mixing on a shoot in Missouri. The camera being used is a Sony Cinealta HD camera. Getting good sound (using a Sennheiser MKH60 for the most part into a Shure FP33 and out to the camera) except for a high-pitched whine whenever the camera is rolling. It's noticible mostly in just the quiet areas. It's constant, and it occurs only when the tape is advancing.

I'm pretty sure it can be taken out with a simple highpass in post, but is there a way to eliminate it now? Has anybody else encountered this problem with a Sony camera (or any other)?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 2:48 pm

I don't think you want to use just a " high pass" or a low pass filter but rather one of the popular " noise reduction" programs available?

Adobe Audition includes a noise reduction program where you highlight just a couple of seconds or less of just "the noise" and create a "noise print" of that noise. Then you highlight the sections that includes the noise you want to eliminate along with the dialog and apply the filter with your "noise print" that you sampled elsewhere.

The noise reduction feature defaults to 100% which is usually more than what is really needed and can create audible artifacts. So, less is more while you are previewing the noise reduction amount and effect.

Sony Sound Forge also has a DirectX noise reduction application that can be utilized within numerous DirectX compatible software's that is quite similar to the Adobe version but many people I've talked to indicate they like the Adobe version better?

Shhhhhhhhhhh
Ms. Remy Ann David

Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 6:41 pm

A Good notch filter and the Dolby Cat.43A are also handy tools to get rid of camera noise. Sometimes with less "artifacts" than the noise reduction programs. I'm currently mixing a movie shot on HD and there is 2K camera whine all over it. I'll have to ask if the used Sonys.

Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 8:47 pm

You want to notch. Do not use noise reduction unless you have to. They tend to "throw out the baby with the bath water"!
I too finished a Feature with the Sony HD camera whine all throughout . Notch and you'll be fine. It just takes some work.
Good luck,

Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2006 2:16 am

Doesn't sound like you are actually getting 'good sound' if there is a high pitch whine!

Sounds like the mic is picking up some electrical interference from somewhere.... "sort it out during the coffee break or else you loose your internship"!!

Perhaps it's Missouri River Wine... vintage 1994, are you using a generator, batteries or what??? I wouldn't be trying to fix the problem with software after the fact, get rid of it NOW. Clean power and good grounds... it's BASIC MAN.

Anyway, is RemyRAD a guy or a girl?? she looks way too cute in the pic.

Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2006 2:36 am

Pete,
You stuck your neck out and are talking about something you don't know about. It ISN"T basic grounding etc. It is ther camera and the fans that are on it to cool it down along with the zoom on the lenses.
It is a common problem on the early generation HD Sony Cameras.

Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2006 10:36 am

Thanks for the tips! I'll track down a notch filter ASAP and pass along your tips for post for anything we don't get out. Also, I meant "low pass" above, but I'm sure you all figured that out. If and when it comes to that, I'll leave it up to someone more knowledgeable software-wise.

I know it's not grounding noise because I've taken precautions against electrical interference, and the noise occurs when the camera starts rolling.

You make it sound like a Sony problem, dr. Anybody have troubles like this with another camera?

Thanks again.

Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2006 11:21 am

Chris,
This is a Post Sound fix, NOT a Production fix! Do not start notching on the set. You'll do too much. Have a Post Mixer use a very narrow notch (or 2 or 3 ) and just notch the offending frequencys. Sony is the only Hi Def camera that I've had problems with. Now Film cameras that's a whole other story!

Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2006 12:21 am

Thanks, dr! I'll keep that in mind.

Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2006 1:03 am

Yes! Hot flat and dry from the set please. Replace the camera.

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