With the growing popularity of videography as a hobby, audio brands are introducing more idiot-proof wireless lav kits for the mass market.
One feature common to many of the latest wireless lav releases is built-in Automatic Gain Control or AGC.
This feature is common on camcorders and cameras but it can be switched off - not so on AGC enabled wireless lavs.
Most videographers will switch off AGC in the camera due to the pesky pumping of the audio volume which amplifies room noise during moments of quiet.
However, the AGC built into even very expensive lav systems like the Senny AVX and XS series cannot be switched off!
This poses a big problem when shooting two-way interviews and narrative scenes.
AGC works well to automatically adjust the interviewer's volume when he is asking a question. However, when the interviewer finishes a question and the interviewee starts to answer the question, the AGC on the interviewer's lav set will start to amplify the off-mic voice of the interviewee along with the room noise and all.
When the interviewer starts to ask another question, the AGC takes a 3 to 4 seconds to revert to the correct level. By then, the start of every question will be "tainted" by this unwanted sensitivity and background noise. The same will happen to the talent's lav set if the interviewer asks a long question.
So while mics with AGC are great for quick piece-to-cam, voxpop and solo camera interviews, do avoid using them as a pair in conversations.
One feature common to many of the latest wireless lav releases is built-in Automatic Gain Control or AGC.
This feature is common on camcorders and cameras but it can be switched off - not so on AGC enabled wireless lavs.
Most videographers will switch off AGC in the camera due to the pesky pumping of the audio volume which amplifies room noise during moments of quiet.
However, the AGC built into even very expensive lav systems like the Senny AVX and XS series cannot be switched off!
This poses a big problem when shooting two-way interviews and narrative scenes.
AGC works well to automatically adjust the interviewer's volume when he is asking a question. However, when the interviewer finishes a question and the interviewee starts to answer the question, the AGC on the interviewer's lav set will start to amplify the off-mic voice of the interviewee along with the room noise and all.
When the interviewer starts to ask another question, the AGC takes a 3 to 4 seconds to revert to the correct level. By then, the start of every question will be "tainted" by this unwanted sensitivity and background noise. The same will happen to the talent's lav set if the interviewer asks a long question.
So while mics with AGC are great for quick piece-to-cam, voxpop and solo camera interviews, do avoid using them as a pair in conversations.
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