Drift Ghost-S High Pitch Sound Problem

[zmotoguy]

So I haven't had my Drift Ghost-S long. The first thing I noticed is that when an external mic is plugged in there is this constant high pitched sound. I've seen a couple other videos filmed with the Ghost-S and the same pitch is there and some where there is no high pitch sound, I'm assuming they are edited out like I do with mine. Does anyone else have experience with this sound? Is it firmware fixable or a defective sound board in the camera (more likely). I've included a video to show you what I'm talking about... Thoughts?

 

[Shirou]

My internet is being a b***h now so I cannot watch the entire video.
I noticed some white noise being recorded with my camera when the screen on the camera is ON, that is, when the backlight is active, maybe that's the problem with yours.

 

[zmotoguy]

It's not really white noise but a constant high pitched sound that only happened when an external mic is plugged in.

 

[Shirou]

That's a bad camera design. I guess the MIC audio path is going under or around the power supply, clock sources or data tracks, picking up electrical noise. I cannot confirm without checking the actual hardware though, and I don't plan on buying a ghost or ghost-s.
There is nothing you can do to solve it.

Oh, and I'm not happy to say that the noise was a little near my hearing threshold. It was hard to me to hear

 

[zmotoguy]

Oh, and I'm not happy to say that the noise was a little near my hearing threshold. It was hard to me to hear

That might explain why it got by Drift's quality control department... they couldn't hear it

 

[TekNinja81]

I have this issue on my own Ghost S, and was also wondering if it's common. I'm honestly running an $8 mic right now, "Genius" brand from a computer store, so perhaps a better quality mic with higher resistance or something would help. Ordered the Drift Ghost mic from a local reseller, so I'll see if that helps at all when it comes in...

 

[juicyjuice]

damn im nervous now, i have the drift s and waiting on drift mic

 

[zmotoguy]

I have this issue on my own Ghost S, and was also wondering if it's common. I'm honestly running an $8 mic right now, "Genius" brand from a computer store, so perhaps a better quality mic with higher resistance or something would help. Ordered the Drift Ghost mic from a local reseller, so I'll see if that helps at all when it comes in...

I've used three different mics all the same outcome, they weren't expensive but they weren't cheapo brand either. Be interested to know how the Drift mic does.... conspiracy?

 

[Shirou]

There's a bunch of people on the tubes with the drift mic and they all have the same problem.

 

[TekNinja81]

I've used three different mics all the same outcome, they weren't expensive but they weren't cheapo brand either. Be interested to know how the Drift mic does.... conspiracy?

I'll definitely follow up once I've got the new mic and had some time to test it. Hoping it fixes the problem; if not, I really hope this is something that can be fixed somehow through firmware, though it's not a dealbreaker for me if not. Still a better camera than the GoPro 2's I've been running.

 

[Shirou]

Somebody wants to take apart the camera and try to fix it? I need hi-res pics of the board.

 

[zmotoguy]

I'll definitely follow up once I've got the new mic and had some time to test it. Hoping it fixes the problem; if not, I really hope this is something that can be fixed somehow through firmware, though it's not a dealbreaker for me if not. Still a better camera than the GoPro 2's I've been running.

Agreed with it not being a deal breaker, it comes out easy in editing ... it's more of a minor annoyance.

Somebody wants to take apart the camera and try to fix it? I need hi-res pics of the board.

If I take it apart there is no way it's going back together lol.

 

[Shirou]

If I take it apart there is no way it's going back together lol.

Aww, bummer. I just can't stand things being assembled. This is a frame from a long video I made, all about the Liq Ego camera. I need to do a voice-over I just cannot find the time and I'm bad speaking off my bike... more than I normally am.

 

[CBRHoonigan]

Make sure the port is clean, otherwise id say warranty job mate

 

[zmotoguy]

Make sure the port is clean, otherwise id say warranty job mate

Probably won't do a warranty... like i said it's just a minor annoyance. Doing the warranty would probably cause a bigger headache.

 

[janx101]

My hearing is terrible for high pitch above about 12k .... So ... Your video sounds perfectly normal!

 

[zmotoguy]

My hearing is terrible for high pitch above about 12k .... So ... Your video sounds perfectly normal!

I swear it's there!! I'm not crazy!... I don't think

 

[TekNinja81]

Got my Drift mic today; did a sort of unofficial test/comparison between the two mics, here's the video:

It seems like the high-pitched whine disappears or is lowered on my YouTube videos, but it is definitely still there. I can confirm that the noise is amplified if you turn up the mic sensitivity in the Drift's settings -- mine is always set to the lowest -- and it doesn't seem to matter what mic is plugged in.

 

[janx101]

I swear it's there!! I'm not crazy!... I don't think

Oh I believe it's there! ... My poor industrial/firearm damaged ears just can't hear that kinda thing any more...

You know the alarm sound on a digital watch? ... Pip pip etc.... Nothin!! ...

I can hear mosquitoes if they right next to my head .... But that's lower pitch..

My missus calls me 'deaf ears' sometimes...

 

[zmotoguy]

Got my Drift mic today; did a sort of unofficial test/comparison between the two mics, here's the video:

It seems like the high-pitched whine disappears or is lowered on my YouTube videos, but it is definitely still there. I can confirm that the noise is amplified if you turn up the mic sensitivity in the Drift's settings -- mine is always set to the lowest -- and it doesn't seem to matter what mic is plugged in.

It might be me but the tone sounds like it's at a higher frequency when the Drift mic is plugged in. Curse my phenomenal hearing!