Awesome Video! I agree with your comments from (11:19) that the XLR Handle Input and Sony Wireless Receiver in the electronic hot shoe set to digital. The Sony wireless receiver is really impressive and could be a great solution for a compact setup.
I appreciate these types of tests. I've been happy w/ the Sony audio handle and my MKH416. But since I record everything in the exact indoor studio location, I can get even better quality by recording the audio separately into Audition and syncing the audio tracks in Final Cut. It's an extra couple of steps, but I can place the mic closer and use external inputs in my audio interface. But I haven't tested the mic at the same distance, which could also affect the quality. Thanks again for another great video. I watched nearly all of your FX3 videos over the past four months while I waited to order the FX3. Your videos helped me get up and running quickly once the camera arrived.
Hi David, thanks for the detailed response. Can you describe what kind of difference you see in the audio recorded using your studio over what you might achieve just by using the FX3? I'd love to play with some proper audio gear and to one day sit down with somebody who knows to analyse this stuff properly.
I see what you mean. So yes if you want to use Input 2 as a backup and combine Input 1 with Input 3 that does indeed give you three channels of audio. I think I'd be inclined to record 4 channels on the camera rather than trying to send the third direct to the ninja because you could run in to sync issues, it also means that if you lose the ninja recording for some reason you lose the only audio from the lav mic whereas if it's going to camera you can write that to two cards for backup.
@@PaulJoy Thanks for the additional testing, Paul. I'm finding my best audio is to not use the FX3 at all and run my MKH416 into my laptop and record directly into Audition. Using the built-in audio on the FX3, I sync the externally recorded audio w/ the FX3 audio. Using a boom, I find it easier to get the mic closer than when mounted on the camera. Admittedly, I haven't picked up the Ninja yet:-) I'm too busy losing time and money on lighting at the moment. Thankfully, the audio is something I know how to do, so that's one obstacle out of the way.
@@cbtcafe I’m guessing your using an audio interface that sends phantom power to the 416? I’d be interested to hear how much difference there is in the two recorded signals.
This was great, thank you. The only thing I would have liked to compare it to would be to have the audio recorded into an external recorder like a Zoom F3 or F6.
That would be interesting. I did consider including the a7iv and my Tascam recorder but wanted to keep this in the scope of the FX3. Maybe I’ll look at a comparison to other devices in another video. Thanks loads for the feedback.
Hey Paul, Thx for that. My Fx3 audio handle broke when my camera fell off the tripod I've tried to fix it but failed. Straight replacements are very expensive. Are there any other cheaper ways of getting an xlr into the fx3? Many thx ROry
Ouch, sorry to hear that. Sony do make another adapter, I think it’s called a K3M or similar but you’d be better off just getting another Fx3 handle I’d say as it allows you to bolt it to the camera body.
What would have helped you visually confirm the differences would be to display the spectrum in Audition or similar audio software. But thank you for running these tests.
Thank you so much for these thoroughly done tests. Just one question though; all the inputs on my microphones are 3.5mm however I use an xlr adaptor to connect them into the xlr imput located on the handle. So what kind of quality am I getting?
Good question! I can't answer specifically about your mic but ultimately in this test my wireless receiver takes either a 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable or a 3.5mm to XLR cable. It was the same signal going in to both the xlr input and the 3.5mm input yet the audio still sounded slightly different. My guess is that going in to the xlr input will make a difference but it's worth remembering that none of the results were really producing bad quality, it's just that some stayed closer to the original source.
Great video. I'm thinking about getting an FX3 to use as a travel VLOG camera and wanted to keep it minimal so how is the audio quality of the in built mic without any external inputs? I haven't really seen any videos of just the camera shooting raw footage with the raw audio. Would help for a hobbyist like myself. Thanks!
Hi Paul. Thanks for all the info. 1 question, is there any way I can put the B1M Sony mic on the hotshoe in Chanel 1and2 and at the same time in the 3.5 jack a wireless lav system on Chanel 3and 4?
Thanks for explaining so well, helped a lot. I just got Deity S-mic2S for fx3 for run and gun shoot. I am getting lots of handling noise through mic, is there a way to get around this? Thanks
If they have xlr cables then I'd choose the xlr inputs however I've not tried those mics so can't be sure I'm afraid. Best bet is to try both and see if you can tell any difference.
Hi. Thanks for all your great content. I do not find in menu the possibility to see the audio levels on the screen as you have them (large) but only as tiny in the upper left corner. Is it different in the fx30 or have they changed this? It is really hard to tell anything for those little ones😢. Thanks
Thank you for checking this. So is the FX30 compatible withthe SMAD-P5 adapter for the UWP receiver? Sony once stated it is NOT compatible, only with the F3. It is a shame since the direct adapter is such a great idea.
Paul, thanks for the comprehensive tests. I'm wondering if you'd had the experience of recording audio from a Shotgun MIC/XLR into input 1, (using input 2 as a back up track set to lower volume) and then wanting to record another channel of audio using a lav/3.5, whilst using an Atomos Ninja V. As far as I can work out, and think what I read on your website, is that the lav mic would have to be recorded directly onto the Atomos? Have you had to record audio like that, and how did you find the sound quality of the 3.5 to be? Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
Hi Christopher. You can record both XLR and 3.5mm using 4 channel audio on the XLR handle however as far as I understand hdmi only sends 2 channels so you need to decide which channels to send. I’ve not actually tried feeding a separate 3.5mm audio line in to the ninja but that would be interesting.
@@PaulJoy Thanks Paul. I wanted to film an interview with the Atomos for the pro res file, and use both a shotgun mic and lav/3.5 for the interview audio, but didn't realise the HDMI would cut one of the channels. The only work around I can find, if I want to record two channels (shotgun and lav) for an interview whilst using the monitor, is to record the shotgun via the XLR and the 3.5/lav mic straight into the monitor. Would be interested to hear you opinion on the sound quality of the 3.5 via the monitor / any other work around to record two channels for an interview. Another possible suggestion - shotgun via XLR into XLR handle input 1, and lav/3.5 via a XLR convertor into XLR handle input 2?) Thanks.
@@PaulJoy That's what I thought/tried to do, but haven't been able to do it, so I'm likely to have the settings somehow wrong. In your suggestion, would I have shotgun mic into input 1 / lav mic in input 2 (via an XLR convertor because it's a 3.5) and the input selector on XLR handle set to in1.in2? That's two channels being sent through to the HDMI. When I couldn't get it to work, what I was trying to do was a shotgun mic into input 1, use input 2 to record safety track at a lower volume setting for the shotgun, and the lav mic into input 3 (my rational being it's a 3.5 so it goes into input 3), but perhaps that's my mistake, because input 3 is the third channel? Thanks for your time and for linking through to your video below. I've watched all your FX3 videos! Super helpful, thank you. I still have the confusion about this particular set up because it includes the Atomos.
Un boosted my noise floor is present in all clips from the XLR handle. In my Tascam external it's non existent under the same conditions. Do I have a bad unit? Bad preamps?
You just saved me 600 euro to get the handle. I thought the handle 3.5 will have less hiss(noise floor) . It seems to me using it with a dji mic for instance, I get a lot of hiss and I thought the handle would have better amps. You saved me here! Do you have any recommendations to improve the audio to the 3.5mm audio?
Yes the main advantage of the handle is the XLR capability which does sound much better. I've not actually tried a 3.5mm to XLR adapter but that might be something to consider if you don't have the option of an xlr mic. Alternatively the Sony MI Shoe based mics look good although again I've not had chance to try them yet. Let me know how you get on.
As a hybrid FX3 shooter, there isn't a way to setup a flash + mic without using the on body 3.5mm is there? Swapping them takes too long in my shooting environments
@@IamAwp Thanks You could look at an XLR plug on wireless setup depending on your budget, that way you could have the receiver feeding the 3.5mm input with a flash mounted.
Sir need your help First of all sorry for my bad English , will try my best to explain,pls bear I have Sony FX 30 and I use audio handle, XLR input 1 use for capture Audio through XLR wire From Audio Mixer and im very happy. Problem is Input no 3 which is 3.5mm , im using Boya mm1 and for that I have to Record 4 track audio. I tried to use 3.5 to Xlr male in Input 2 but No Sound as I want to record 2 track audio Input 1 for Direct audio from Mixer Input 2 for Ambient audio. Pls help me in this .
Hi there. IF the mixer is sending a mixed down signal then iut should work as long as the levels are set correctly. Set IN1 | IN2 on the handle and then set the levels for each input as described in the video. If you want to use input 3 at the same time then you'll need to use four channel recording, check my playlists as I have a video showing how to do that.
