Video recording: background noise from internal microphone?

[ChromeJob]

Recording some lovely 1080p video on this much-ballyhooed camera, there's a distinct, cycling electronic hiss, cycling about twice a second. A video recorded with an external (wired) microphone connected doesn't exhibit this. Anyone else notice this? I'm interested in the phone's ability to record in stereo, even playback in some kind of "HTC 5.1 Surround" (available during playback with stereo headphones plugged in), but ... this noisome hissing sound spoils it.

Can anyone else reproduce this, or do I have a single unit with a microphone problem?

 

[stixzadinya]

another known issue. I also experience a hissing sound when the noise level around me is louder than normal. It's very annoying. The only fix for that is to turn off the stereo recording until HTC releases a patch. Go to your video recorder, hit menu, uncheck the stereo recording box. It's mono but the hiss is gone.

 

[stixzadinya]

Just saw that you got the "workaround" from another post so you're all good... haha

 

[ChromeJob]

All good? No. I got a replacement handset from T-Mobile, and after two days it exhibited the same problem. I found during some troubleshooting that a factory reset without deleting user data didn't make it go away, but a factory reset with deletion did. But by process of elimination I've ruled out any apps I'm installing from the market. The firmware updates didn't fix it either.

I've got a ticket open with HTC and, should the problem recur, I hope to send it to them direct for investigation.

 

[stixzadinya]

All good? No. I got a replacement handset from T-Mobile, and after two days it exhibited the same problem. I found during some troubleshooting that a factory reset without deleting user data didn't make it go away, but a factory reset with deletion did. But by process of elimination I've ruled out any apps I'm installing from the market. The firmware updates didn't fix it either.

I've got a ticket open with HTC and, should the problem recur, I hope to send it to them direct for investigation.

Interesting. So a full factory wipe fixed the hissing noise when recording in Stereo?

 

[ChromeJob]

Yes, but then it returned. I did a factory reset deleting all data :'( 1/26, and slowly installed only the necessary apps -- updates to factory-installed apps, Google Authenticator, Currents, Docs, RSA SecureID, TouchdownPro.... no games. All has been fine until this morning the phone restarted itself for no apparent reason. And the noise is back.

HTC was sympathetic, I have an existing ticket open with them (12USD040010515), but only offered to let me send the handset in and they'll "try to fix it."

I have a few options:

1. Get another replacement from T-Mobile, and do this all over again (but this time I can send in a faulty handset, with hiss happening, with my data cleaned off). Re-provision my RSA and company's Touchdown all over again, yada yada yada. Rinse, repeat, every 2-3 weeks at great expense (to T-Mobile) Perhaps after 5-6 returns HTC will get the hint, and stop saying, "It's a new model, we have no reports of this happening."
2. Return the phone to Costco for a full refund, get a 2nd hand loaner, and wait to buy an HTC Ville or other ICS phone when they come out (don't want a Samsung, don't even mention them). Maybe a Sensation XE 715...
3. Just live with the limitation of mono-only recording, maybe send it in for warranty after 10 months while using a newer phone, then unlock and sell the repaired phone. (Confirmed under warranty until 12/27/12.)

Too bad, I think this is a top of the line phone otherwise, and I'm hearing anecdotes that they didn't even optimize 2.3.4 and Sense 3.0 for the dual-core, suggesting that when ICS and Sense X.X is available, the phone will kick into turboboosted performance. But if HTC focuses on resolving design, manufacturing, or firmware issues in later models of phone, they won't be engendering any customer loyalty.