JVC GR-D350 Camcorder Reviewby David KenderPublished on Apr 10, 2006 3:00 PM 
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Audio (4.0)
The JVC GR-D350 features a stripped down audio layout that will force users to rely solely upon the in-camcorder stereo microphones located directly beneath the lens. There is no audio input. An AV out port on the back of the camcorder restricts users and won’t provide an opportunity to engage in analog-to-digital pass-through.
Within the Setting menu are two sub-menu options for audio settings. The Sound Mode sub-menu allows the user to select between 12 and 16 bit sampling rates. In addition, a wind cut filter can be engaged when recording in windy conditions, in order to block the low tones which occur when the wind strikes the surface of the microphone. This feature shouldn’t be used if recording in non-windy conditions, since the audio range will be unnaturally reproduced without lower frequencies.
VCR Mode (6.5)
When the JVC GR-D350 is in VCR mode, the four-way control doubles as the standard VCR control. The up arrow functions as play/pause, the right arrow as fast forward, the down arrow as stop, and the left arrow as rewind. In the lower left corner of the LCD screen, the menu for VCR mode displays as an opaque gray overlay, featuring options for Rec Mode, Sound Mode, Narration, Bright, Date/Time, On Screen, and Time Code. The narration feature is a bit misleading, since this camcorder is not able to record audio dubbing. Instead, with this control, the user is able to set the camcorder to “off,” which will play back the original un-dubbed audio, “on,” which will play back the dubbed sound on the left and right speakers, or “mix,” which plays back both original and dubbed sounds simultaneously. The Sound Mode feature allows the user to select between playing back audio in the standard stereo setup or isolating it to the left or right channel.
Ports (4.5)
Ports for the JVC GR-D350 are located on the back and left side of the camcorder body. The ports on the back of the camcorder are both covered and uncovered. In the lower right corner, beneath the battery pack, is the uncovered AV out port. Also beneath the battery pack, but located in the lower left corner, is the DC In port. The cover for this port is over-sized, oddly thick, and impossible to close or open cleanly and quickly. On the left side of the camcorder, in the LCD cavity, is the third and final port for the JVC GR-D350: a FireWire port which facilitates image transference in both directions.
