Audio from microphone gets muffled on some devices when played

Report · Jul 28, 2018

Hello!

I have just had the strangest error so far in my career. I think it is either a Premiere error or a corrupt audio error out of the camera but I will try to write here and see if you guys have either experienced something similiar or have a solution to this.

It is hard to explain but I will try my best. I made an episode for YouTube publishing as I always do and exported it in the same h.264 codec I've always used for several years. On my personal computer, my work computer and my phone everything sounds good but apparently I have a sound problem on some devices after uploading to both YouTube and Instagram. What happens is that the audio from the microphone (all the speeches) get removed/muffled but all the music is still there. And this just happens on some devices, I think android and iphone smartphones. I think it's incredibly strange how some specific devices can remove JUST the microphone audio and the music is still there. It's an exported file from premiere that is then compressed to Instagram and YouTube! It blows my mind and everyone I've talked to about it.

The only thing that is different from what I usually use is the micrphone which is a Rode NTG4+ instead of the lav mics I mostly use. But I dont see how that should make this problem... I have made videos with that mic before aswell with no problems.

So I don't really know what I can do right now, I've exported 3 different versions already. Do you guys have any suggestions? Could it be a Premiere bug? I am currently on the version 12.1.1.10 and will try to update.

Here is the video: SportingTV - Abborrfiske med Manuel Fyrestam och Martin Wasberg - YouTube

Best regards,

/Christian

Report · Jul 28, 2018

On my personal computer, my work computer and my phone everything sounds good

No, it doesn't. (How do you not hear the problem? Even if you don't understand the issue, it's pretty obvious something is wrong.)

Audio Phase: Why You Need To Pay Attention To This - YouTube

Report · Jul 28, 2018

Thanks for the reply.

I'm not really following, maybe I'm slow or we are misunderstanding each other. As I said, on my computer I can hear the speech perfectly fine (yes a bit noisy and so because I had to crank it up but not anything out of the ordinary). I have heard this clip being played on my colleagues phone where the speech was gone and we held my phone beside where the speech was there. So I know how it sounds when it's not working aswell. I first noticed it when people where commenting that they couldn't hear the speech then we started trying different devices.

I watched the Audio Phase video you linked. Do you mean that some devices plays in mono and some in stereo and the mono devices get muffled sound? I've also had the same file (uploaded 2 times) work one time on a phone and the next time it didn't, the exact same file not a new render. So I don't think it's that either.

Report · Jul 28, 2018

Could you dropbox a copy of the faulty audio so I can look at it on my audio vectorscope, that will prove one way or the other if it is a mono phase issue.

Report · Jul 28, 2018

My experience is only with one lav mic and a couple rode mics.

One little rode mic can be mounted on my DSLR and get plugged into 'mic' of camera. I record via atomos, and use 4 frame 'delay' for sound. So basically that is ONE mic using a mini stereo plug into camera. It records a so-called stereo track but is actually a mono track on both L and R of a stereo sound file.

Then I also have a boom mic (rode) where I use a Tascam to record. It is also ONE mic (mono) with an XLR combi plug to Tascam (phantom power).

Is slated shots so I can synch later. It also creates ( due to my setting in Tascam ) a stereo track with both L and R channels having the same exact audio on them ( mono to stereo with one mic ).

The lav mic has to go into Tascam cause I use phantom power and wouldn't even bother to try and put into camera mic input. It is also mono but as per settings in Tascam it records a stereo track with both L and R having exact same mono sound ( same waveform).

I could set the Tascam to record mono ( like I'm gonna do dolby stuff or whatever) but I don't use that stuff.

Since the thing that changed for you is going from lav to rode, it seems most likely that you have something set wrong on whatever you are recording to ( camera or recorder unit ). I have no clue if you went from mini stereo plug to XLR combi or whatever, but somewhere you maybe don't have the recording criteria set right so that it's easily transposed to all devices after uploading.

??

You can set stuff to mono and then create stereo using audition etc... so you have lots of options.

good luck !

: )

Report · Jul 28, 2018

p.s.

I find that using WAV FILES (stereo with mono on both R and L ) is good for everyone after export and upload to places. Audition can convert stuff there too.

Report · Jul 28, 2018

probably doesn't matter, but the little rode that mounts on my camera has a 9v battery. The boom mic with phantom power LIKES 48v.

: )

Report · Jul 28, 2018

Your microphone is clearly being recorded out of phase. I can hear it on my system when playing back the linked youtube file.

The Rode NTG4+ is a mono mic with a balanced output - which means if you are converting the XLR output to a 1/8" TRS connector (or similar) for input into your camera, the right channel is being recorded 180 degrees out of phase from the left.

A simple test on your computer system to verify this - if you are monitoring the audio with stereo speakers, turn off one of the two speakers when the person is speaking on camera, and the microphone audio will become louder and richer on the active speaker.

I can do this on my system and hear the difference.

MtD

Report · Jul 28, 2018

Just looked at the youtube video on my scope and all the dialogue is out of phase.

Have a look at answer 3 on this link:

Re: Exported File Needs Headphones on Mobile Devices

Report · Jul 28, 2018

If that is what's happening, and meg dog is really smart, then there may be a setting in your camera to record mono. Try that and then you can change it to stereo in PPro via audition or whatever ( I have really old version of PPro so don't know what tricky stuff new versions can do ). Save as wav and should be good for everyone after exports.

: )

Report · Jul 28, 2018

As already have been told, the audio is out of clearly phase. It will sound "muffled" or not at all on mono devices and hollow on stereo devices.

For now, use either Fill Left or Fill Right on the audio track with no music. For the next time, check the cables since they seem to be wired incorrectly. Without knowing more about the hardware that´s the only tip i can give.

More info and example: Audio Phase: Why You Need To Pay Attention To This - YouTube

Report · Jul 28, 2018

Don't be bummed out by words like, "out of phase." I am not a smart person and when I hear, " out of phase," I think of Captain Kirk calling Scotty and asking when Warp power will be restored. And Scotty says, " Captain, the Dilitherim Crystals are out of phase, and I'm giving you ALL SHE'S GOT !"

OMG !

It's easy to fix and don't lose heart. You got a good mic and it will work great.

: )

Report · Jul 28, 2018

Thanks for all the replies guys!

Now that it's more explained I understand and I think you're right. I had to use several adaptors since my XLR to 3,5mm cable didn't work this day. In the earphones it sounded ok but apparently it was out of phase then. You learn something new every day I am not an audio expert as you might notice. And yes, I recorded directly into camera, no external recorder this time. For these projects everything should go quickly and I just have 1 day to edit these so can't spend that much time mixing audio. Mostly I use two lavs but this time they were 3 in the boat and I had to use my NTG4+.

I have exported an version with both channels set to left, willt ry to upload it again in the morning and try it out.

Thanks again everyone, I hope this works!

Report · Jul 28, 2018

You won't necessarily be able to hear an out of phase condition with headphones.

The out of phase condition becomes apparent when played through speakers where one speaker is pushing out and the other pulling back simultaneously - out of phase - so that the air waves created by the speakers cancel each other out.

If the speakers were perfect and the room you had them in acoustically perfect, you would hear no sound as the two speakers would cancel each other out.

In the real world, some of the sound will get through, usually sounding "muted", "muffled" or bass deficient.

If you wear headphones, your head is preventing the sound waves from interacting with each other.

This would also likely explain why some phone users heard little problem with your recording - they were wearing headphones to listen to it - while others who were using the closely spaced speakers on the phone heard the "cancelled out" sound.

MtD

Report · Jul 28, 2018

3 in boat plus you, wear your life jackets ! hehe, kidding.

good luck, please mark answered when fixed so it's a done deal.

Report · Jul 28, 2018

Haha, was way to hot for that this day

Of course I will! I just want to check that it works tomorrow

Report · Jul 28, 2018

I think meg dog is maybe Mr. Spock in disguise !

: )