NV-GS400 faulty remote/mic input and line/phones output?

[tomba]

Hi,


Help!


I have an NV-GS400 and just tried using its external remote/mic input for the first time, with no luck. Here are the faults I'm seeing:

• I tried connecting the (unused and "as new") 'freestyle remote/mic' that comes with the camera, and it does not work at all.  The built-in stereo mic (on top of the camera) does not get muted, and the external mic does not appear to connect.  Also, none of the controls work (W/T zoom, REC, TALK, and PHOTO SHOT).
• I tried different types of external electret mics to the input, and they do not register.
• I hear a loud harsh "50Hz" type of noise on the headphone/line out jack.
• I even have a new 6-conductor 3.5mm jack to bare-end cable (DigiKey CA-356CS) which I have tested with.  When I connect the yellow/white lines together (the earth and ext.mic conductors I believe), the built-in mic does not get muted.  I am getting around 3V (relative to the yellow earth conductor) on all lines except the red and black conductors (which I think are the mic L/R signal inputs).

If anyone here has had a similar fault with their GS400 I'd be interested to hear.


Thanks!


Tom

[Guy Bruner]

Tom,
The GS400 is notorious for resisting the mic plug.  Make sure your mic is fully inserted into the jack.

[Chris Harding]

Hi Tom
Could also be a faulty socket on the camera!! The remote section uses the two outside shells so if none of the functions work as you say, you might also have an audio board issue inside the camera. If a simple jack plug provides no external mic then I would eithet suspect the socket or sadly the audio board. The fact that the remote functions fail to work does point to a board issue!! It would more than likely cost more than the camera's value to get Panny to fix the board!! If you do want to keep it then you could also dig out the internal mic cables and wire them to an external socket mounted on the camera. There was a mod somewhere on-line where a guy showed GS300 users how to add an external mic socket by re-wiring the internal mic....that might help you?
Link is here and the boards should be much the same :   http://www.thelasercutter.com/Camcorder%20Hack.htm

Chris

[Barry21]

I had this problem with my 400 a couple of years ago all I did was on the mic plug clean it first then put a bit of alcohol on the plug and insert the plug in to the socket on the camera push it  in and out vigorously to clean any dust or dirt.
It worked for me, and is still O.K.
Barry