Problem with external mic sound

22 Nov 2005 5:55 PM

Neil C

I have had my UK bought NV-DS27 for a few years and am generally very
happy with it. I have just treated myself to an Audio Technica ATR55
external shotgun mic to try to improve the sound when recording stage
shows.

The ATR55 is supposedly designed for camcorders and provides a stereo
signal. It terminates in a 3.5mm stereo mini jack and is powered by a
1.5v AA battery.

The problem I have is that on plugging the Mic connector into the
camcorder, the sound switches from being Stereo (or at least both Left
and Right channel sound output to the headphones) to being left channel
only. I have done a fair bit of troubleshooting (see below) and am now
stuck with left only sound using the external mic.

So I figure there are only two options left here though would liek to
hear other suggestions:

1. The camcorder mic input is not designed to work with a 3.5mm stereo
minijack. Maybe an adaptor is required? The manual does not say so
and it seems unlikely.

2. My camcorder external mic input is stuffed, despite never having
been used before. It's way out of warranty.

Can anyone help with any information or advice? Thanks in advance

Neil

*** Troubleshooting Summary

The sound is certainly being fed from the external mic. If I plug the
mic in and power it off I get no sound at all as the on-board mic is
switched off automatically. With the ATR55 powered on the sound is
much more directional than on-board mics, as you would expect, but I
can only hear the left channel.

I plugged the mic into my PC and the sound recording software I used
displayed both channels as hitting the same levels. The recording I
made on the PC sounded perfectly matched left and right. So I figure
the brand new mic itself is OK.

The headphones test perfectly both when using the built-in mic on the
camcorder and when connected to my minidisc, PC etc.

I can find no menu options that refer to the external mic. In fact the
only sound option I have is between 12 and 16 bit. I have tried both
(I use 16 bit usually) and still I get left channel only on the
external mic input.

I have also tried plugging in my minidisc player via a double ended
3.5mm cable and still only get the left channel through the camcorder.

If I use a mono 3.5mm plug to connect the minidisc player and then
partially pull out the plug (2mm or so), I get a mono signal across
both left and right channels. Not much help to me but may tell us
something....

23 Nov 2005 10:34 AM

Neil C

OK I have now been told the ATR55 is a mono output and the stereo input
on the camcorder may not like that despite the size being the same
(thanks Andy at Jansens NZ). I'll be getting a mono to stereo adapter
and will report if that fixes the problem.

28 Nov 2005 11:02 PM

Neil C

This was resolved sucessfully using a $2 adaptor. A 3.5mm mono socket
to 3.5mm stereo plug was required to get the mono output from the ATR55
onto both channels of my Panasonic camcorder.

24 Nov 2005 6:54 PM

fiveiron

Problem with external mic sound - Panasonic NV-DS27