Before to panic I have to say that the audio test you can hear on top has been boosted to display the issue. In any normal recording condition you will not notice the issue at all! So this is just for “audio-peepers”.
Suggestionofmotion posted that video on top to show the background audio issue on the GH4:
It’s common knowledge that camera preamps are not the highest quality to begin with. The best practice is to set the in-camera audio gain as low as possible to keep the camera from introducing noise.
Now instead of just noise, we also have a buzz to contend with in the GH4. Just like noise, the buzz is always there regardless of gain level.
At the same time, like noise, if you set the gain as low as possible and feed the camera a strong audio signal, the buzz is buried pretty well.
The good news is 1) In no real word recording condition you will notice that and 2) Panasonic is already working to fix this (Source: Facebook). So unlike Suggestionofmotion I do not see that as a serious issue. TheDingo at DVXuserforum answered to that video test:
When I first heard about this audio buzz issue I was a bit worried about the audio quality of the GH4, but the more I hear about it, I am becoming convinced this is people listening to the actual noise-floor of the camera, which is something that would NEVER happen if you have all your audio ducks in a row.
So don’t worry guys!
North American preorders, shipping date and price:
GH4 camera at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Ritz Camera and Panasonic. Price: $1,698. In Canada at Vistek.
GH4 camera with interface unit at Adorama and BHphoto. Price: $3,298
Interface unit only at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto and Panasonic. Price: $1,998
Europen preorders, shipping date and price:
Germany: Wexcameras, Marcotec-shop.de.
UK at Wexphotographic, CameraWorld, UKdigital, CVP, TipTop.
Holland at Fotohanskeuzekamp.
Belgium at Fotokonijnenberg.
Norway at Fotovideo.
Sweden at Cyberphoto, Skandinavianphoto.
Finland at Telefoto, Topshot, Verkkoauppa.
France at Photocineshop.
Spain: Fotoboom.
Asian preorders, shipping date and price:
Digitalrev and Digidirect Australia.
4K cards
Kingston 16-32-64 GB SDHC UHS-I Speed Class 3 at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
Sandisk 16-32-64 GB Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-II Memory Card at Amazon (Click here), Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
Transcend 64-128 GB High Speed 10 UHS-3 at Amazon (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
Panasonic 16-32-64 GB SDHC-UHS-I U3 Card (90MB/s) at Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
12 Responses
admin i think there is a typo
“In any normal recording condition you ->want-< notice the issue at all!"
mmh…we got a nice motorcyle here… hehe..
it is a little disappointing considering the GH3 doesnt have the same issue.
The GH3 has this problem listen with headphones its a little hard to hear.
Panasonic Lumix GH3 Audio Limiter/Leveler Issue
https://vimeo.com/57907505
Not the same issue as on the GH4, but doesn’t sound nice either 🙁
The GH4 has an option to disable the limiter, but it doesn’t seem to actually stop the camera from squashing the audio when it peaks.
It seems Panasonic is having audio issues when they went with 3.5mm TRS. The GH1 and GH2 have no issues like the GH3 or GH4.
http://suggestionofmotion.com/blog/panasonic-gh4-audio-buzz/
Update (May 9, 2014): Panasonic has responded
that the issue is due to mics with industry-standard 3.5mm TRS (tip
ring sleeve) connectors because the GH4 was designed for mics with TRRS
(tip ring ring sleeve) connectors (which Panasonic’s mics have).
Considering that the buzz is present without any mic plugged
in (see above), this does not seem like a valid solution. Hopefully
Panasonic will continue investigating the issue.
O. My. Gooood!
Let’s see if Panasonic responds to this “spill” faster than Nikon did with the D600 oil slinging shutter.
Just to clarify: There was no additional processing done to the audio in post production for those tests in the video. What you hear is straight from the GH4 using only built-in audio adjustments (mic level and headphone level). The buzz is audible at lower levels, but is of course more discernible at higher levels. The point of the tests is to get everyone on the same page about what we’re hearing and to give Panasonic as much data on the issue as possible.
Hiss and white noise is one thing, but a repeating “ticking” is much harder to clean up in post, which is why I think this can be an issue you have to process poorly recorded audio in post. Of course the solution is to record the audio properly from the start, but bad audio happens in the real world.
Meh. No buy.
“In any normal recording condition you will not notice the issue at all”
“…In no real word recording condition you will notice that….”
This reasoning doesn’t excuse the fact that the issue exist. Nor does it matter what parameters are being used to replicate this problem (however extreme it may seem). A problem is still a problem. Now the question is how will Panasonic fix/solve this problem.
“Panasonic is already working to fix this…”
Not really considering Panasonic’s suggestion thus far is to either buy their mics or use the YAGH interface. That is last posting they wrote.
Anyone have the law firm that’s suing Nikon on speed dial?
Just ordered some TRRS plugs to make a stereo XLR pair adaptor. We will see if this helps.