D5100 - Video mode not recording sound... any help?

[Ellythrion]

Hi all,

This is my first post in the forums and I was just wondering if anyone could offer any help or advice on the problem I'm having at the moment.

I've double-checked the video settings and tried all the variants of microphone sensitivity and even tried turning it off, recording, then turning the mic back on, but the internal mic just isn't recording any sound.

It's pretty much a brand new camera so was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions/tips/advice on what I could do to hopefully rectify this.

I've tried connecting an external microphone and it's only a cheapy one but that records sound ok (though playback on the handset itself is very quiet, not a problem when transferred to the computer) so I'm a bit stumped.

​Thanks in advance.

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

Welcome to the forum

If you fill out your profile we can better answer any questions that you might have.
You can do that at http://nikonites.com/profile.php?do=editprofile

Some useful links
http://support.nikonusa.com/app/ans.../nikon-product-manuals-available-for-download
Nikon | Imaging Products | Digitutor


Try resetting the camera back to factory settings. It sounds like you got a setting in the wrong place. The manual will show you how to reset.

You will see a direct link below.

 

[Ellythrion]

Hi there,

Many thanks for your reply - I've filled out a little more information in my profile.

I have also tried factory resetting via the 'menu' and 'i' hold down but that doesn't seem to have done the trick. I have my manual with me and am just scouring that now to see if there is any other means of doing a factory reset.

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

the 'menu' and 'i' hold down works as long as you hold it down long enough. IT will blank out and reset. Just make sure you go through and reset all your standard settings.

 

[Ellythrion]

Yeah I've got the reset itself to work but it hasn't done the trick in regards to recording sound. I'm being as fastidious as possible going through the settings and seeing if I can find out why it's not capturing sound but I'm not having any luck.

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

Yeah I've got the reset itself to work but it hasn't done the trick in regards to recording sound. I'm being as fastidious as possible going through the settings and seeing if I can find out why it's not capturing sound but I'm not having any luck.

I reset mine just to make sure of the settings and the default is mic on. The only think I can think of is that you have a camera problem. How long have you had the camera? You may need to send it in for work.

 

[Ellythrion]

It's pretty much brand new, only had it a handful of weeks. I really hope it isn't a physical defect as my first D5100 had a manufacturing fault and this one was a new replacement one sent out due to that.

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

Did the sound ever work? The only thing I can think of that might have broken it is the external mic you plugged in might not have been compatible. That would be a long shot. I would carry it back to where you bought it and talk to them.

 

[Ellythrion]

Nope - I recorded a video a few days after getting it and there was no sound on that either, at the time I put it down to there being a setting that needed adjusting, but I've had a play with the settings and done a factory reset before even trying an external microphone and they were all no-audio before then.

How frustrating!

But thanks for your advice!

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

Send it back quick. Did you buy local?

 

[Ellythrion]

It was a replacement sent by Nikon directly due to technical issues I was having with my original D5100, so I guess I'll have to get back in touch with the repair centre yet again.

 

[Don Kuykendall_RIP]

It was a replacement sent by Nikon directly due to technical issues I was having with my original D5100, so I guess I'll have to get back in touch with the repair centre yet again.

Sounds like they sent you a refurbished one that was not checked out completely.

I did buy my D5100 as a refurbished camera and I have to tell you that it is the best camera I have ever had. Good luck and let us know how it works out.

 

[Ellythrion]

I will do! Thanks very much for your advice

 

[turbobuick86]

Did you check the sound volume controls during recording? The manual shows that an icon will appear if no sound has been recorded. I would think that if the sound level is zero'd, it would mute the recorded video.

Here's page 110 of the manual.

 

[Ellythrion]

Hi Turbo,

Thanks for replying - yes I have checked the volume controls - when I recorded with the microphone off I got the indicator in playback that no sound has been recorded, but when I turn the sensitivity up and on it's not showing that icon.

I really have thoroughly tried practically every suggestion I can find in the manual and on forums and other areas online. Definitely think it's looking like a physical issue.