ABSTRACT
Monitoring audio quality is difficult in single person camera/recorder operations. If there is time, a double-sided headset can be used to check quality but more often time is at a premium and single-sided headsets (or none) are used. It is only by listening to the sound that an evaluation can be made. Audio level meters in the viewfinder and on the recorder side panel only assess loudness and do not identify the source of the sound. The least one can achieve with the intelligent use of a meter is to avoid a sound overload pushing the audio into the limiting circuit when its level exceeds the maximum permissible recording level. Beyond this point, the audio will be progressively distorted with no increase in loudness. Listening to the audio establishes production priorities (subject prominence, disturbing background, sound perspective etc.). Metering the audio allows the correct technical requirements to be fulfilled. An audible sound check confirms that audio is being recorded. There is usually provision for a confidence audio check on the camera speaker by switching between the audio tracks or combining (mix). E–E (electronics to electronics) is a facility that allows a check to be made on the signal before it is recorded.
