Question about filming flight and sound?

Question

i have a vacation coming up and i wish to film it. I also want to film my flights takeoff and landing. Last time i did it, the camera picked up a lot of scratching noise untill the plane lifted off the ground. and on landing the scratching noise came on when the plane touched down. The scratching wasn't the actual airplane, it was that the camera couldn't handle the sound(i think). Is there a way or setting i can use so that my camera's microphone can handle the noise of the aircraft without having to make the scratching sound? i am using a sony handycam DCR-SR42 camcorder.

Answer 1

Nikolai is on it... here is a bit more detail... The mics can handle the loud audio just fine - it is the camcorder's automatic mic gain control that is getting overloaded and the audio is oversaturated - The "scratching noise" is the audio peaking and clipping.

The good news is your camera has very basic audio control - according to the camcorder's Handbook

http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/model-d...

Refer to page 71, "MICREF LEVEL". It is a camcorder menu selection item in the Options area. Most low-end camcorders do not have this or any other manual audio control.

Nikolai is also correct on "Don't get caught". During the safety instructions prior to take off, the flight crew (or pre-take-off safety video) tells you that all electronic devices must be off. In the US, this is Federal law. Violation is a felony. The crew is merely carrying out specified safety requirements - they are not making this stuff up... If you have a problem with it, your issue is with the FAA, not the flight crew.

By using your electronic camcorder, you are committing a felony by ignoring their instructions and your camcorder can be confiscated - and you can be "detained" for not following the directions of the crew (among other reasons). You do not get to make up your own rules (or ignore those you choose to ignore) and you are not above the law.

Answer 2

It's probably the sound of the engine and everything overloading the mic, giving you that scratchy sound, so try this: If there is a manual mic level control, use it and turn it down. Browse through the camcorder's menu to see if there is a mic attentuator function. If so, turn it ON; it should reduce noise. Hope that helps, just don't get caught ;P