rt2000 12 bit DV audio issue

[truthseekers]

I was noticing that when digitising from my DV camera the sound was bad. I tracked it down to the audio being 12 bit recorded on the DV tape. I re recorded from my source back onto DV at 16bit on the DV recorder and captured the video again. This time the audio was perfect.

It took me 3 days to track down this fault. I am sharing it with others to help. I dont know if this is a known fault. Happened on 2 cameras and 1 standalone DV deck - all Sony, not that this is the cause I am sure ;-)

Is 12 Bit fully supported on capture? I know it says in the manual it can do it and capture of 2 audio tracks is supported, however if you actually do it it ends up like this. Is it a known issue that the audio sounds a bit off on 12 bit?

Matthew

[Patrick]

Got something against 16 bit?

Why do you record in 12 bit with your DV camcorder?

[Jerry Jones]

Yes - recording in 12-bit mode is not a good idea.

Computers don't understand it, which is why nearly every capture software module I've seen translates a 12-bit mode DV recording into a 16-bit, 32khz file.

Even then, some NLEs have trouble with it on certain systems in my humble opinion.

I wish the camcorder manufacturers would stop setting the defaults on camcorders to 12-bit.

The noise floor on 12-bit material is something I can actually notice - 16-bit is much, much better.

Jerry Jones

http://www.jonesgroup.net