Sony DCR-HC36 Camcorder Reviewby David KenderPublished on May 5, 2006 12:00 PM
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Audio recording options are fairly limited with this simple MiniDV camcorder. There is no mic input and no accessory shoe. Users have to rely entirely upon the in-camcorder stereo microphones located on the front of the camcorder, directly beneath the lens. The placement of the built-in mic is standard for point and shoot camcorders, and users won’t need to worry about covering the microphone with wandering fingers. It would be nice to see Sony put a microphone jack on this camcorder, especially since the less expensive Canon ZR500 (Review, Specs, $224.8) comes with more manual controls and a mic-in port. Users currently won’t be able to adjust microphone levels while recording, and will have to rely on a post-production software application to normalize or adjust the gain if the audio is of poor quality.
The audio mode settings are located in the Standard Set category within the overall administrative menu structure. Audio mode parameter allows the user to select between 12 bit and 16 bit audio recording options: the 12 bit audio option will record audio files as 2 stereo sounds, while the 16 bit mode will record one stereo sound at high quality. Twelve bit recording is intended for use during in-camcorder audio dubbing, although audio sampling rates are reduced and overall quality will be compromised. The 16 bit recording option will provide better audio quality: users with post-production editing suites which provide multi-track audio editing can use this option, then produce voice-overs and additional audio recording on a PC.
When in playback mode, the Sony DCR-HC36 (Review, Specs, $309) can dub audio if the camcorder recorded the original audio track with a 12 bit sampling rate. Located within the overall administrative menu structure in the Edit/Play category, this simple control allows users to add an additional audio track to their video clips. This feature takes some time to get used to and can be a bit tricky, especially when it comes to applying real-time audio overlays like voice-over.
Once the audio dubbing is complete, the user will be able to reenter the administrative menu system, select the audio mix feature, and adjust the two audio tracks in order to gain a more appropriate main to sub balance. The audio mix feature is a simple horizontal scale, in the center of the LCD, with arrows at either end to adjust tracks. . In addition to this mixing feature, an added playback volume controller is listed within the Standard Set category of the administrative menu. This feature has the same interface style as the audio mix controller and, while not the easiest to access if a beginning user, it is simple to use.
Audio playback patterns. This feature will appear within the Standard Set menu when the camcorder is in Play/edit video mode and the user enters the overly convoluted administrative menu structure. Three settings are available: stereo, which will play back audio with both main and sub sound; 1, which will play back the main sound or left channel; and 2, which plays back sub sound or the right channel. . Finally, the Sony DCR-HC36 includes no headphone jack.
VCR Mode (6.0)
Users can find the HC36’s playback mode by twisting the mode dial clockwise two times (and chanting the correct incantation). Playback controls – stop, rewind, play, and fast forward – appear as buttons along the bottom of the touch screen LCD. The zoom toggle can be used to zoom into the playback footage up to 5x. While zoomed in, you can tap the screen up, down, left, or right to pan and tilt in those directions. This is not a finely tuned control, and prone to error (I wanted to go up, it went right), but it’s fun to play with.
As long as you’re not in Easy mode, there is also a menu button along the bottom of the LCD. Menu functions here include End Search, which finds the next black space on the MiniDV tape; Volume, which should have an external control rather than being buried in the menu; and Variable Speed Playback, which gives you options for 2x speed, fast forward slow, rewind slow, and frame advance in forward and rewind.
Ports (4.5)
Ports are located on the right, back, and left sides of the Sony DCR-HC36. An AV out port, Firewire, and a USB port are located beneath a vertical port cover along the edge formed between the right side and the front of the camcorder. The cover will remain connected to the camcorder via four sturdy hinges along the front edge. The ports are too close to the top-loading MiniDV compartment, however, and their cables will become tangled, blocked, and possibly lead to accidental disconnection and other hassles. This is further exacerbated by the cover not swinging far enough away from the port area to allow easy access, especially with the aforementioned tape compartment open.
Most of the ports on the HC36 are located on the front right side; the DC port is located on the back.
A second set of ports is located on the back of the DCR-HC36 and includes an extending battery that locks vertically into the lower half of the camcorder . To the right of the battery pack, on the bottom edge of the back face, is the DC IN port. Its placement outside the cavity of the battery pack lets users switch power sources mid-shot without pausing the tape. While alternate power is not always an option when out in the field, this design is helpful in interior situations. The DC IN port is covered by a sturdy rubber cover that hinges along the bottom edge.
The third and final port location is in the LCD cavity on the left side of the Sony DCR-HC36. A vertical Memory Stick Duo Pro card allows users to slide optional memory cards into the body of the camcorder. This memory card format is a proprietary Sony brand; alternate universal card types like SD or xD are incompatible with this camcorder.
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