Camcorder Microphone - How Pulse Code Modulation And Sampling Provide High Fidelity

October 1st, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Your research for the acquiring a modern camcorder has brought you down many different routes.  The first trip taken was through the world wide web. Through this avenue you read all of the accessible reviews involving the performance and options that are available for that particular camcorder that you were contemplating purchasing.

After assembling all the knowledge that you can get you then put together all the information and recorded that data into a comparison table.  In equating apples to apples, you are able to find out which brand had the best performance reviews, came with all of the options that you wanted, who had the best warranty, and which camcorder was the cheapest.

With all of this time and energy invested toward your new purchase, you want to make sure that the recording experience is performed optimally.  This commitment not only includes the purchase of your new camcorder, but also the incorporation of the best camcorder microphone to ensure that the accompanying quality of the audio matches the quality of the video.

There are many built-in camcorder microphones available to the consumer.  However, in order to select the appropriate camcorder microphone it is important to take into consideration two critical features.  These features include the pulse code modulation and the sampling and quantization.

Pulse Code Modulation

The camcorder microphone, found within a digital video camcorder, generally allows for excellent audio playback.  This capability is realized through a process called pulse code modulation.  This process is a very sophisticated procedure.

Basically, there are two recording methods.  The first method captures the extreme level of sound quality.  This recording method is known as the 16-bit stereo or two channel style of sound processing.  A second recording method that ranks a little bit lower in sound quality, but allows for the use of two stereo conduits, is the two12 bit stereo or four channel style of sound processing

One of the styles of camcorder microphones may be on selected camcorders, but not necessarily.  Therefore it is prudent that, if the feature is important to you, you take great care to ensure that one of the styles is built into the camcorder.

Sampling and Quantization

The next inbuilt part in allowing for optimum audio by the camcorder microphone is the conversion of the sound through the two or four channel camcorder microphone.  Summed up briefly, when the rating of these two factors, sampling and quantization, is elevated the comparable quality and purity of the sound will be realized.

Sampling only assesses the sound waves at certain times throughout the acquiring of the sound.  These sets are grouped back together culminating in the sound part of the acquired video from the camcorder.  The more often this sampling is executed the better the quality of sound is created.  A proficient range of sampling goes over the spectrum of 32 KHz to 48 KHz.  What this entails is that the recorded sound from the camcorder microphone is measured out at 32 to 48 times per second.

Quantization then alters the computed value into a an amount that is digitized.  These numbers are then kept storage at either the highest two channel sound quality level, 16 bits, or at the four channel level, 12 bits, of sound quality.  The higher the number of bits used to store the audio, the greater the accuracy of mirroring the captured sound.

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How a Video Camcorder Functions

August 6th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

A modern day electronic device is the video camcorder that captures both sound as well as images.  After that it records the combined result onto a self-contained disc, tape or storage unit within the video camcorder.

Designed to both visually and audibly capture special events from all lives and the lives of our family, a video camcorder was virtually guaranteed to be a success.  The insatiable desire for new technology coupled with a love for our families made the video camcorder an instant part of each families technological tools.

Additionally, captured video were eventually commercialized and became an integral part of a successful television show that featured hilarious antics captured on tape.  All of these elements have added to the continual evolution of the video camcorder.

Video camcorders have been available for decades.  Often we take for granted the benefits of technology that are provided for us on a day by day basis.  Perhaps, it would be beneficial to know the two key parts associated with the workings of a video camcorder.

Camera Section

There are three basic elements that comprise the camera section of the video camcorders.  Those elements include the CCD, the lens and the various electric motors to handle the accessory functions.

The CCD, charged coupled device, is basically a sensor that measures the light received through the lens of the camera.  This measuring of light results in the image being captured with more intense image reflecting a higher electrical charge and a subdued image reflected by a lower electric charge.  This recorded image, captured through the variances in light, are then displayed as imagery on our computers, televisions, etc.

The lens functions in a video camcorder as the receiver of the light.  It also provides the focus for the reflected light coming from the image in view.  This focus allows the light to come in contact with the specific area of the CCD in order to obtain optimum imaging.

The video camcorder generally is accessorized with many features.  One such feature is a zoom function.  The motor, built into the unit, powers the accessories such as the zoom function and camcorder microphone.

VCR Section

The built in VCR is the second major component to a video camcorder. The only difference between the stand alone model and this VCR is the size. Because of the smaller size it can be fitted compactly to make up the video camcorder unit. Transmitted electronic video impulses are accepted by the VCR and are recorded onto magnetic tape.

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