Background white noise and 'channels' on Handycam HDR-CX410VE

[jonjo82]

Hi

I have a Handycam HDR-CX410VE.  I bought a plug-in free-standing microphone and plug-in lapel microphone because the on-baord microphone sounds so 'tinny', but both have a noticeable background noise.  In fact even when recording with the on-board microphone, on silent, there is a faint hiss that is picked up.

Needless to say this is pretty disappointing for a fairly expensive piece of kit and isn't something I encounter on a smartphone or tablet.

Is anyone able to advise?

Another issue is that when using either of the plug-in microphones it goes from 5.1 channels to 2 channel.

I'm new to this and an amateur, just looking for something that has a bit more polish than a phone/tablet.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[SSovets]

I can answer the second question: the microphone plug is stereo only, so whenever you plug one, the camcorder automatically switches to stereo mode.

As for the white noise - I have the same problem (just maybe bigger) with my camcorder, hoping to get an answer here too.