Video Technical Question

I did my last video shop in April. There were some technical problems with the audio. There were four shops that day. Since they were relatively short, I decided to just use one SD card for all four shops, thinking less chance of accidently screwing something up.

I had sections where the audio was fine, others where the audio was extremely low, and some where there was no audio at all. I had the microphone plug taped so there wasn't a loose connection there.

Since then, I've done about 40 regular shops wearing the video equipment and I can't get the problem to repeat itself. I've tried the same SD card, different cards, etc. Does anyone have an idea as to what might be happening?

All the cards were bought new in April, 2013.

I'm also posting this on the VSN Board if someone there might have an answer.

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Have PV-500 & willing to travel.
"Answers are easy. It's asking the right questions which is hard." (The Fourth Doctor, The Face of Evil, 1977)

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James,

I have been told to replace all of my SD cards once a year, they can have problems after repeated use. I had one card that the audio and video was out of sync. The MSC was able to edit the shop to sync it back, but they told me not to use the card again because it could be fine and then have problems again. I plan to replace all of mine soon, I have bought them at different times during the past year as I had the need. I almost always pop a new card in for each shop, a little more time, but safer in the long run if a card has a problem.

Rover girl

============================================================
"We are all worms. But I believe that I am a glow-worm."

- Winston Churchill

“Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon.”

- Paul Brandt

I had one shop with no audio, but it was my error. I did 25 shops prior and they all turned out. There is a way to turn down the audio to the point of no sound. I have the touchscreen PV-500 and must have hit the sound volume by accident. The settings were "on" for audio, but that did not make any difference.

I suspect it's your SD card acting up. I also would not use 4 shops on one card. I'd rather take my chances using 1 card per shop.

Not my circus - Not my monkeys @(*.*)@

~Polish Proverb~

What I hate worse is running out of SD card space or battery when doing a shop. You can't fix it, and there is nothing you can do. Waste of time and some shops won't pay you if you only get half the shop or cut the ending off.

I did a dental shop and in the middle of the shop the audio/button camera cord came out of the PV 500 and it stopped recording the rest. I'm glad I knew it did within a few seconds and tried to discreetly plug it back in and start recording before someone came in or start talking again.

Jumping jelly fish I'm a video shopper!

PV 500 EVO button and glasses

mshoulders,
You need to use a small piece of electrical tape to tape that plug securely into the unit.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

Thanks walesmaven.

Any suggestion for the camera pointing to the ceiling. I have the button and no matter how much adjusting I do it usually points high. I have to arch my back and lean over a bit when I walk to make sure I catch the target.

Jumping jelly fish I'm a video shopper!

PV 500 EVO button and glasses

I pull down on the bottom of my shirt. Nobody notices. Sometimes I have forgotten and that was a big mistake.

I wonder if the camera button was put in the wrong place.

I, too, have technical problems. I plan to experiment around the house and neighborhood ad nauseum in order to figure things out. I have already sent the equipment back where I got it for repair and there is still an audio problem. It may be just me. Right now, though, I have so much to do that I don't even have time to practice. Now that warm weather is here and I don't have to wear a jacket, this is the time for me to practice. I will put it on my list of things to do again.

I didn't use the questionable card and I had a good trip yesterday. All my videos came out with beautiful audio and video.

I have found that by using a bit of masking tape rolled with the sticky side out, you can place it at the bottom of the camera causing it to tilt downward. Eventually by adding to or taking away from the amount of tape used, you can achieve the desired height.

I simply moved the camera down to a lower button hole. I now get great shots of the target, with the ceiling beyond, lol. My video gets great ratings; it's not the ceiling that matters, as long as you have the target well framed, apparently.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

I have found, given my build, that "chef shirts" tend to work well for me. They come in a variety of colors with black buttons--look for them at uniform stores. I also like them because they are loose-fitting and comfortable.

I've been known to tell people who ask if I'm a chef, "No, but I do "killer ribs" and a friend gave me a shirt as a gag gift. I love the comfort so I bought more.

Thanks for all the help guys!

Jumping jelly fish I'm a video shopper!

PV 500 EVO button and glasses

cubbiecat Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I had one shop with no audio, but it was my error.
> I did 25 shops prior and they all turned out.
> There is a way to turn down the audio to the point
> of no sound. I have the touchscreen PV-500 and
> must have hit the sound volume by accident. The
> settings were "on" for audio, but that did not
> make any difference.
>
> I suspect it's your SD card acting up. I also
> would not use 4 shops on one card. I'd rather take
> my chances using 1 card per shop.

Hmmm...I've now had this identical issue on two separate occasions with my new PV 500 EVO2. The last time it happened, the sound was missing on the test recordings I did after the failed shop. I reset the unit using the "Restore Factory Settings" function on the DVR and the audio function returned. I've called the technician at the company where I purchased the unit and he had no clue of what would cause it. This is very perplexing...waiting for the next shoe to drop.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/02/2014 08:33PM by jncut.

Hmm,
Someone from Lawmate will be at the IMSC conference in NOLA. I will try to talk with him and find out what we can do to find a reliable, consistant source of information on the various PV models. Mine are both -re-2010, so are quite different from current models. On top of that, they are different from one another!

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

I've done several shops and tests since and no problems.

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