Lapel Microphone 'Distorting'

by Danny B
(Johannesburg, South Africa)

I recently did an interview for a documentary where I used a lapel mic. I recorded straight onto the DVX camera which I've used before just a few days prior and it worked fine. But, when I used it this time it seemed to distort. On the camera the levels don't clip but it sounds like it does. I changed the batteries and lowered the input level on the camera, but still no change. But, when I tested the mic on another person it worked fine. I wanted to know, is it possible that this interviewees' voice is more of a chest voice, thus the sound of his voice 'distorting' is rather his chest vibrating causing a sound which sounds like distorting?