Recording audio in flight.

[Paul H]

I'm aware this has been covered before, but I'd like a specific answer based on my camera specs.
I own a Sony DSC H20 cybershot. I've used it once in flight (YouTube - Flying over Silverstone (HD 720)) and was very happy with the video quality, however I'd like to add commentary in future videos.
The camera only has a HDMI socket in the base with no other connections at all. Does anyone know if you can get a HDMI connector for use with my Sennheiser HME 110 headset? Or any other way to connect headset audio to HDMI?

Thank you

[IO540]

The method which always works is to get an external mike and simply stick it inside the headset earcup.

Obviously you need a very small mike...

Then, what really helps is having a camera which has a manual recording level control. This is quite rare as this feature is one of several used to separate the "prosumer" market from the "consumer" market.

You can make a connection directly into a headset socket, but I have no data on this. Others have done it though.

I have had excellent results (technically far better than my own narrative capability ) with my Sony HD camcorder, a little mike and a professional adjustable-gain preamp bought from the USA which clips onto the seat belt, but you don't need anything this fancy.

Whether you can connect anything to an HDMI connector I have no idea.

[bern444]

HDMI is digital, and the output of your aircraft comms is analogue. Also the HDMI socket is just for playback to a tv or whatever.

EDIT: I keep editing this post as I read through the manual. I'm pretty certain that your "HDMI" socket is actually a proprietory Sony analogue output.

You will probably have to change cameras, or take an audio recorder and sync the sound later. Somewhere on this forum is an earlier version of this thread with lots of audio recording ideas. Back when I was a BBC producer/cameraman I made adaptors for both fixed wing and helicopter comms sockets which worked and still work very well.

B

[Airbusboy]

This might help:

@ 1:12 YouTube - Recording My Flights

[Paul H]

Excellent, many thanks for the link.

[bern444]

All good stuff, though the output level from the comms system is high, so you could easily overload the input stage of the audio recorder. It won't of course, work with your Cybershot camera (I'm pretty certain)

B

[magpienja]

My camera has no audio in so I bought off ebay (cheapskate) one of those Olympus digital voice recorders....I think it was about £20 and it was like new....but it has to be the type that comes with a remote lapel mic not all do.....this simply fits inside your headset ear cup and produces very clear digital audio ready for uploading onto your PC,

The model I use is the Olympus VN-480 PC .

Nick.

[Paul H]

Thanks for the reply. How big is the mic that you need to stick in your earpiece? Is it noticable in flight?
I might give it a go.

[Mike744]

bern444, if input overloads a problem it can easily be overcome by an attenuator built into the inline socket (a quick job by any competent tech). If you have the choice of mic and line inputs on your audio recorder use the line input/s because using the mic input will probably cause input overload.

M

[magpienja]

Paul its quite small and not noticeable easily tucks in there, make sure the one your interested in comes with a remote mic not all do.

Nick.

[Paul H]

Will do, thanks. Can I confirm this is the one you use?

Olympus VN-480PC Digital Voice Recorder on eBay (end time 19-Oct-10 16:40:51 BST)

[magpienja]

Yes that's the one Paul....I see that one is c/w mic.....mine was used that one looks new....but it does the job nicely.

[Airbusboy]

Any one know where I can buy one of these "aviation audio patch cables"?

1:18 :

YouTube - Recording My Flights

[terryb99]

Google is your friend,

aviation audio patch cable - Google Search

[Airbusboy]

I tried with no UK results. Have I missed one? Any one bought one from the UK? Plenty of US websites sell aviation ones.

[flyingpony]

Airbusboy

I'd suggest a generic headphone splitter and a 1/4inch jack to 3.5mm jack rather than a seemingly specialist cable- you'll get ripped off. Digital Village have examples for a few quid. Check your PMs

[gileraguy]

I tried plugging a cable into the audio socket, but found a lot of distortion and electronic "noise" on the recordings.
You can hear the strobes and the transponder and the ignition on the headset jack recordings.
I am searching for a small mike to stick in the headset cup.

[bern444]

There are lots of small mics to choose from, anything from a few pounds to several hundred. In your case, a reasonably cheap one will do. You just need to make sure you have the right connection on the other end, or buy an adaptor. And make sure it and the cable are rugged enough to go in a cockpit.

B

[IO540]

Several years ago I posted here full details of some American miniature mike and an amplifier I bought for this purpose.

The quality is really excellent for cockpit videos.

Unfortunately I have no easy way to find it but a search should dig it out eventually.

A direct connection should be better, I would think, but I have never tried one.

It helps hugely to have a camcorder with a manual audio level control. Very few cheap ones have that because manual level controls are a traditional market differentiator for the 'pro' v. 'consumer' camcorders. I have a Sony HC1E HD cam which has this.

[bern444]

This one would probably suit you -
CANFORD EM100 LAVALIER MICROPHONE