Hydrophones for Aquatica Housing

Does anyone have a suggestion for how I can retrofit my Aquatica T2i housing with a good quality hydrophone? There is an extra hydrophone port on the housing and I have the Aquatica hydrophone installed, but it does not pick up an acceptable range of underwater sounds.

I recently switched from using a Sony HDV videocamera in a Light and Motion housing to using a Canon T2i in an Aquatica DSLR housing. I am shooting video with the Canon T2i, and I chose the Aquatica housing because it had the option for a hydrophone. Since the Aquatica hydrophone does not pick up an acceptable range of underwater sounds, I would like to replace the Aquatica hydrophone with a better one. (I have already communicated with Aquatica and they do not have any immediate plans for improving their hydrophone.)

I have used Light and Motion housings for over 20 years and have video recorded great sounds from whales and dolphins, so I know that the simple technology is possible. The Light and Motion microphones work both above and below water.

The standard software on a Canon T2i camera has an Automatic Gain Control for the audio that can cause some problems, but I have corrected for that by installing Magic Lantern which allows me to completely control the audio, so the problem is not in the camera. The problem is definitely in the way the hydrophone picks up sounds. Aquatica was kind enough to send me a second hydrophone in case my first one was defective, but that did not solve the problem.

I am getting great quality video and photos with the Aquatica housing. If I could also get good quality audio recordings, I would be very happy. It should not require an expensive hydrophone. The microphones come standard on the the Light and Motion housings.

If you like the LMI one, just buy a spare and modify it to fit the aquatica assembly.

What exactly is wrong with the Aquatica?

If you like the LMI one, just buy a spare and modify it to fit the aquatica assembly.

 

What exactly is wrong with the Aquatica?

I have not seen that Light and Motion sells their microphones separately, but modifying one of theirs is certainly an option if I can figure out how to do it. This is why I was hoping to hear from someone who has already done something like this.

The Aquatica hydrophone barely picks up any sound at all. I used the Aquatica to film wild dolphins and did not get any usable audio. (On past trips with my Light and Motion I got fantastic audio of dolphins clicking, whistling and echolocating.)

If you don't have the technical knowledge to do it, just get someone like Backscatter to do it. They are close to LMI. If a mic goes missing or borrowed, I don't think they'd notice or mind!

Have you tested other mics with your camera? If there is no sound then it could be your camera or your settings. I've tested the mic on the Aquatica 5D2. It recorded well enough.

If you don't have the technical knowledge to do it, just get someone like Backscatter to do it. They are close to LMI. If a mic goes missing or borrowed, I don't think they'd notice or mind!

 

Have you tested other mics with your camera? It could be your camera.

I have tested other mics with my camera. It is definitely not my camera.

I did talk with Backscatter and they did not have an easy solution, but I could try them again if I do not get any other suggestions.

I have tested other mics with my camera. It is definitely not my camera.

 

I did talk with Backscatter and they did not have an easy solution, but I could try them again if I do not get any other suggestions.

Hi

I could help but I am based in Singapore.

Just PM me here: info@scubacam.com.sg

I have both L&M, gates and Amphibico hydrophones.

Regards

David

Well then could you post a sample of what you mean by barely no sound at all?

In the video here, the Aquatica hydrophone was used. I can hear the dolphin's clicks and buzzes easily. Unless Aquatica had changed suppliers, I'm inclined to think it's not the hydrophone.

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=37161

Well then could you post a sample of what you mean by barely no sound at all?

 

In the video here, the Aquatica hydrophone was used. I can hear the dolphin's clicks and buzzes easily. Unless Aquatica had changed suppliers, I'm inclined to think it's not the hydrophone.

 

http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=37161

I will post some "barely no sound at all" audio tomorrow when I have more time, but here is an example of the depth of sound that I got from Light and Motion. Much richer than the dolphin sounds you posted.

http://vimeo.com/22528873

Err that was the point of using it as a background track as effect. LOL