I think I have found a way to match line outs to the Nikon stereo mic input without overloading or damaging the camera's circuitry. I found online an attenuator lead which seems to be for this purpose by a US company called Sescom. Here is the link.

*LINK REMOVED*

Presumably now (using a connector cable) I will be able to link my amp (which has a line output of -10dBV) to my camera. I could also link the line output of my old Tascam 4 track cassette recorder (used as as mixer) for this purpose. I will be ordering one immediately and will let you know how it goes.

Sorry to be rabbiting on about all this stuff, but I am hoping my experience can help other musos on this forum use line outs to input good sound into their Nikon or other video cameras with the stereo mic input. It has, and will continue to be, a learning experience for me in improving the sound of my home videos.

Thanks DutchNikon for your advice to date, it has been most helpful (I didn't even know that line outs and mic inputs did not match).

Thanks again for your comments. The video stuttering is completely gone when I hooked up the camera to the tv. I finally realised this morning that it is my computer that is the source of my concerns, exactly as you surmise. It has been running slow generally, so I will take it into the shop to see how I can improve it, if at all. Another computer might be the go.

I've also got to say that the stereo line out from my amp into the mic input, though mismatched (I won't do it again) sounds glorious when played back. I might have to invest in an attenuator to convert the line out signal to a safe mic input level, as the sonic upgrade is worth it. I also directly fed my Rode NT3 mic into the camera's mic input, with good audio results (it only produces a mic level output). However I prefer the sound of the Roland amp, as it mixes the Rode for vocal and the direct acoustic guitar,with additional effects such as reverb and chorus if desired.

Finally, you're right that a photocamera is not a video camera and it was one of the compromises I made when I bought the camera. In hindsight I think I would have been better getting a video camera with both mic and line inputs. Nevertheless I am reasonably happy with the Nikon video, and the sound if an external mic or source is used. However when I transfer video to my hard drive on my dvd recorder (using the lead with the three rca plugs provided with the camera), the widescreen picture on the tv is about 2/3 of the available tv screen. Would you know how to make it fill the whole screen? I can use the tv's remote to expand the picture, but I am interested how to do that with the signal that is being fed to the stand alone dvd recorder's hard drive.

Regards from Mike

'What I am after is something many musicians wish to do. That is, video a band or solo performer, and have the audio running directly from the soundboard line outs to the video camera for maximum audio quality '

Nope that's not how "they"do it. Sound is always recorded separatly, clips are taken with multiple camera's, 'ticker'signal is running with the camera and sound ( not one you can hear) , and sound & video are edited together to a new 'Tape" ( not real tape, but electronically) afterwardes using the ticker signal for synchronisation... that way you can use the video from multiple camera's to edit it all into 1 clip without getting the sound cut all the time...

And yes, a photocamera is not a video camera...

The slowing down and speeding up, when playing back may be due to a 'busy'computer with background tasks running, like virus scanners, and update services. Only way to avoid that is to edit / play back on a very powerfull computer, or at least a 'dedicated'system which is not 'onlie'and runs no extra background tasks in the mean time...

I was doing some more testing of the movie function and encountered some problems I had had previously. Sync was ok but I keep getting digital blip noises regularly, and the video sometimes slows down. However when I replay the video it does it, but not in the same spots. I don't know what is going on. I am pretty disappointed in the movie function of this camera. I am not sure what to do next. Surely it shouldn't be doing this. I am tempted to get a stand alone video camera for making my music videos. Any other suggestions as to what might be causing these problems. Thanks from Mike.

Tried it out before I got your post but thankfully did not damage the camera. The sound was good on the test, but was spoilt by digital bips every now and again, and was therefore not useable. Then did some googling. I now see that the line out is much more powerful than the mic input, and could overload it. I was hoping they would be interchangeable.

Really I was after a better quality sound for my vocals and guitar videos than the imbuilt mic. I want the camera to record the sound along with the movie, and not have to add it in separately. I guess the options are getting a stereo mic that is compatible with the P7100. However I did read online that there are attenuator patch cords that can equalise a line output to a mic input- they go from an (unbalanced) line output to an (unbalanced) mike-level input via resistors that are built into the cable. The attenuation is usually about 50 dB. Would this work?

What I am after is something many musicians wish to do. That is, video a band or solo performer, and have the audio running directly from the soundboard line outs to the video camera for maximum audio quality, usually stereo. I guess the Nikon is not the camera for this type of use.

Any further comments would be appreciated.

Thanks

mcphert1 said:
DutchNikon

Thanks for the advice. I tried it and it seems to have worked.

The next step I have to take is to convert the mov files to a format suitable for youtube such as avi or similar. I was going to try Freemake unless you have any suggestions.

Thanks again.

There may be some answers to your questions on Nikons own websites just google "Nikon Movie Editor" , or hava a look here : https://nikoneurope-en.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/48108/~/basic-operation-of-nikon-movie-editor

'

BTW, i would NOT plug any amplifier into any port of my camera, this might destroy the camera forever, without rights fro warranty....

If you want to do more editing and add soundtracks , then i would suggest you'd buy somethimg like Adobe Premiere Elements , and use that on your computer, also for adding a soundtrack....

I have since had time to experiment. I have worked out how to transfer a MOV file (now in sync with the updated ViewNX2) to Windows Live Movie Maker.

I can then add titles at the beginning and end, with a fade in and fade out after and before the respective titles. I have worked how to fade the audio in and out as well to correspond. I have also experimented with the duration of the titles, which I like at about 3 sec.

I then worked out how to save the file to my computer and then upload the file to my youtube channel (although that took about 2 hours compared to my previous slideshows of about 15 minutes). It all worked and I am so glad.

Tomorrows project is to put the L and R line output from my stereo Roland acoustic guitar/vocal amp into the stereo mini jack input of the Nikon P7100. If that works, I should have good vision and stereo sound. I will also look at the composition of the video (just me sitting down playing acoustic guitar and singing via a Rode mic into my Roland Amp). I will look at how to have 'forgiving' lighting and some sort of neutral background.

Thanks for the help.

You're right. Now that I have the MOV file, my main needs are to trim the beginning and end of the video and ad titles at the beginning and end. It would be good if the titles could fade in/out with the MOV file. I can't find a manual for the NX2 to assist in this regard. Alternatively, I have Windows Live Movie Maker which I have never used. I tended to use the old version of WMM to do slideshow videos, but my understanding is that it doesn't take MOV files. However Movie Maker Live apparently does, so I have to find out how to use it. Which one would you suggest for my fairly rudimentary movie editing needs?

And thanks again for your advice to date.

Regards

Why do you need to convert them? Youtube accepts .mov files.

DutchNikon

Thanks for the advice. I tried it and it seems to have worked.

The next step I have to take is to convert the mov files to a format suitable for youtube such as avi or similar. I was going to try Freemake unless you have any suggestions.

Thanks again.

mm You might want to try the newest version : 2.3.2, maybe something was fixed in between..

For this you'd best download the Full version of 2.3.2, because the 2.3.2 update requiers 2.3.0 or newer to be installed.

Before installing the new full version , it might be best to remove the older one, ppl. have had problems with residu of older versions when installing a newer one..

The version of ViewNX2 is 2.2.3. It was the version on the installation disc which came with the camera. Thanks.

Just a question to your question.. :-)

WHat version of ViewNX2 are you using ?

I have just joined the forum and am in need of some advice regarding my new Nikon P7100. I bought the camera partly because I wished to use the movie function to record myself playing guitar and singing, with a view to putting some up on my youtube channel.

However when I transfer the mov files to my windows 7 PC via View NX2, the sound is slightly ahead of the video, which is distracting. Otherwise the quality of the video and sound are great. I know it is not the camera, because when I hook it up directly to a tv, the video and sound are perfectly synchronised.

I have tried importing the files with a few free aps such as Picasa and Freemake. However while the video and sound this time are in sync, the video stutters and can slow down in speed momentarily. I use a class 6 memory card, so that should not be a problem.

I am really hoping someone can help me as the camera is not providing the synchronised video that I am after. Is it just View NX2 that is not up to scratch? If so, I cannot find any other similar problems being reported on the net. Any help would be appreciated. I have put this in Nikon Point and Shoot. If there is a better location, please advise.

Thanks.