Comments for Sam Mallery

Comment on An EZ Guide for Updating the Zoom H4n Firmware by Nick

Nick — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 21:50:55 +0000

Thank you!

Comment on An EZ Guide to Hacking the Panasonic GH2 by Dave

Dave — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 23:05:40 +0000

Following your instructions allowed me to hack my GH2 with my specific settings ,namely an increase in bitrate to 44Mbps and auto iso settings increased.
My camera had the Panasonic update 1.1 already installed.
I chose an increment of 1 and named my saved firmware GH2__V12.bin.
(I don’t know if this was the proper protocol but it seemed to be the correct approach from what I could learn). Everything went successfully.
For personal reasons, I would certainly appreciate the correct method and settings for returning the camera to its original firmware? I believe I use Ptool and reload the original firmware(GH2__V10.bin) and keep everything else unchecked. Do I use 1 as the increment and do I name the new file GH2__V13.bin (since the last firmware was V12.bin)? Then I go thru the flashing process again as specified correct?
If all goes as planned will I be able to download future Panasonic updates (like the Version 1.1) that I had formerly? Thank you very much for any assistance you can give me.

Comment on An EZ Guide for Updating the Zoom H4n Firmware by JR

JR — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:48:41 +0000

I am totally new to this kind of technology. I bought this to record separate tracks for my pupils’ compositions. In MTR mode I cannot hear a previously recorded track whilst recording new on a different track. I am clearly doing something wrong or haven’t enabled something. Can anyone please advise?

Thanks

Jon

Comment on An EZ Guide to Hacking the Panasonic GH2 by Sam

Sam — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 01:10:19 +0000

what does one do like me who sees that there’s a firmware update on Panasonic’s website? Do I download that firmware update, then hack it?

Hi Eduardo. No need to load any new firmware from Panasonic. If you hack your camera, you'll be removing any firmware that's on your camera anyhow. Now, if you follow the steps in my hacking tutorial, you'll see that there is a step to download a version of the firmware to use in the pTool. If you're going to be hacking, you will be doing this.

do I skip to the latest hack, or do I have to go step by step from the first hack Vitaliy ever did to the newest?

You can load any hack you want to, you don't have to go from old to new or anything.

what will happen if I have a 64gb sd card unhacked vs a hacked GH2 for recording time and battery life?

Hacks typically eat up more memory. The more intense the hack is, the more memory it will eat on your card. I suppose hacks tax your battery a bit more, but typically I don't notice this as much.

Do you recommend having two batteries and if so which ones?

Yes. Hack or no hack, it's important to have extra batteries, without a doubt. The Lumix DMW-BLC12 is a good way to go, because this battery will communicate how much juice it has left with the camera. You can certainly save a pretty penny by using generic batteries for the GH2, like this one. The drawback? They don't communicate how much power they have left (the camera can die in the middle of a take). But, they're so cheap that it's wise to pick one up. You can just use the charger that comes with your GH2 with these batteries. Enjoy your new camera!

Comment on An EZ Guide to Hacking the Panasonic GH2 by Eduardo

Eduardo — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 23:23:32 +0000

I just ordered the GH2 so it will arrive on valentine’s day (February 14, 2012, for anyone reading this a year or two from now). Now what got me was the quality of the video. Obviously with all the hacks that have happened since the inception, like driftwood and or/aqua (I don’t know the difference), what does one do like me who sees that there’s a firmware update on Panasonic’s website? Do I download that firmware update, then hack it? Now for hacking, do I skip to the latest hack, or do I have to go step by step from the first hack Vitaliy ever did to the newest?
Also a question of recording time, what will happen if I have a 64gb sd card unhacked vs a hacked GH2 for recording time and battery life? Do you recommend having two batteries and if so which ones? Lastly what charger is good to keep out in the field? These are the questions I would happily donate to you to post right here! Because many of us 2012ers are just getting into the game. I’m sure this camera will be lasting for quite a while even after the 5dmk3 canon camera comes out and the gh3. It’s just too darn good.

Comment on RØDE VideoMic Pro vs. Sennheiser MKE 400 – Indoors & Out! by Chris

Chris — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:46:34 +0000

Hi Sam,

I’ve got a pair of questions. Having not seen these mics personally yet, I was wondering which you thought to be better for the style of shooting I do. I often shoot concerts, which means I’m at the front of the stage with LOTS of sound coming at me, but sometimes i’m in a photo pit and sometimes I’m in a moshpit.
Will either of these mics have problems with too much sound? (or which can deal with more?)

I currently shoot with a Sennheiser MKE300 and have been happy with it (for comparison: it’s longer then either of these, and there is no stabilization system). Lately I’ve been getting more & more (cell phone?) interference on my audio tracks. Do you think this has something to do with the Microphone itself? (damaged wire or receiver???) or on my camera’s end? (Nikon D7000)

Thanks a lot!

Comment on An EZ Guide to Hacking the Panasonic GH2 by j.r.

j.r. — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:55:43 +0000

excellent, very clear: sorry but I don’t want to be on Facebook!
keep up the good work

Comment on Review of the New Sennheiser MKH 8060 Shotgun by nika paniashvili

nika paniashvili — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:05:12 +0000

great review. I think of buying that mic. thought of sanken first but this is a better option price wise… for cs-3 I needed +700$ for rycote kit while I have a spare ws-2 that will host the mic perfectly. and some say they sold their sc-3s to get 8060…
how would you compare it with mic’s like CMIT-5U, cs-3e, MKH-60 or kmr81i?

@Khater As I recall Zoom has an p48 option somewhere in menu. the quality problem comes from low(er) bad quality preamps and A-D converters. while there is nothing you can do at A-D stage you can help your sound buy using a mixer with good pre’s and “overriding” the recordrs preamps. and as stated above – always record at 24/48 … while zoom doubtingly will record true 24 bits, it’ll hopefully give more than 16… that will help fight the noise floor at later stage. besides this technical part on-axis sound and proper gain levels are a must, no matter what quality equipment you use.

Comment on An EZ Guide to Hacking the Panasonic GH2 by krishnatre

krishnatre — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:20:23 +0000

thanx for the information… you have turned a complex thing into easy process.. take care

Comment on What’s Cool About the Beachtek DXA-SLR for HDSLR Video by tom

tom — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 19:28:43 +0000

you say “…When you switch it over to RCA, the headphones will let you hear what’s coming in the RCA inputs – in this case the A/V output cable from your camera (in other words, you’ll be able to hear the sound in the video clips that you playback from the camera)….. having the ability to listen to the recorded audio on playback through headphones the instant after you shot it is a major benefit.”

- do you mean by connecting the av digital cords to the beachtek?
- and by -”the instant after you shot it”… do you mean, it’s not possible to switch the “monitor” switch to RCA and listen to it WHILE you’re recording. I just f’d up a major shoot because I wasn’t able to monitor the audio. wicked confusing info out there regarding the monitoring of the recording “while” it’s happening… toally jumping through hoops here…help?