Beachtek alternatives

[Thaxter Clavemarlton]

You can build cables for this.

On the camera end-
1/8″ mic-level, unbalanced low impedence, “stereo”
Tip is Left “hot”
Ring is Right “hot”
Sleeve is common ground/shield.
———————–
On the XLR end-
Connect Pin 1 and pin 2 to shield.
Connect pin 3 to the “hot.”

(Do this: one for the Tip (left) and one for the Ring (Right.)

This will “un-balance” the mics but it should work fine with most mics.
If you’d like to stay “balanced” you can connect a mic transformer to the cables (connect a female 1/4″ jack in place of the XLR connectors on the end of the cables and plug in the following.)

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/68647-REG/Shure_A85F_A85F_Microphone_Matching.html

It will be slightly off “impedence-wise” but it should keep out the “hum” on longer cable runs.

If you need to feed LINE into the camera, you can add a “line-level-to-mic-level pad” on one or both of the inputs.

https://cameras.pricegrabber.com/general-professional-video-equipment/m/8100700/

[Ty Ford]

Hello Peter and welcome to the Cow Audio Forum.

Please explain what you are trying to do. The answer may range from a cable to a mixer.

Please be specific about what gear you have.

Regards,

Ty Ford

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[Peter Groom]

HI TY, although Ive been contributing on this forum for a few years now!

The Beachtek allows the transformer unbalancing of mic or line sources to a camcorder that looks for a mic input.
It also has gain pots, earth lift, mono / stereo channel operation switching etc. It is a metal diecast box and has the necessary screw threads to fix to a tripod underneath and to the camcorder above (ie sandwiched between camcorder and pod)
I potentially need 2, but just wanted to see if anyone else has discovered any other devices doing the same job either better and or cheaper.
Also found the optex box.

Any others

Cheers

Peter

[Ty Ford]

Thanks Peter,

OK, what are you trying to do?

Ty Ford

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[Peter Groom]

Just find any alternatives to what a Beachtek does. Interface XLR mic and line level balanced audio feeds with a stereo mic in on a camcorder!
But it needs to have the tripod mounts I mentioned

peter

[Thaxter Clavemarlton]

I’m sorry to have troubled you to explain how to build breakout cables.

When you asked about “alternatives” I assumed you were looking for all sorts of alternatives.

[Peter Groom]

No that was great. Especially the links to the transformers etc. Ive no problem with making cables etc and would agree with your suggestion if i were soldering etc, but Im really looking for a manufactured product .
Cheers

Peter

[Warren Bake]

I’ve actually been looking into these XLR camcorder adapters. Here’s a summary of what I’ve found:

http://www.beachtek.com – Mounts to camera. Various passive adapters. Some with phantom and audio meter. New unit with preamp (DXA6HD).

http://www.juicedlink.com – Mounts to camera. All include preamplifier. Options include phantom, 2-4 XLR inputs, audio meter.

http://www.studio1productions.com – Doesn’t mount to camera, and no phantom or preamp option. Option for 3 XLR input. Plastic case.

http://www.signvideo.com – Mounts to camera. No phantom or preamp option. 1 and 2 XLR input options.

The juicedLink website has an interesting demo video, showing how a preamp can reduce camcorder hiss while recording fine audio detail:
https://www.juicedlink.com/index_files/CX_camcorder_XLR_microphone_adapter_audio_mixers_Beachtek_demo_comparison.htm

[Ty Ford]

Yes it can, provided you use a low sensitivity mic and a noisy camera preamp. In applications where the mic is more sensitive and the preamps are OK, it’s not a problem.

Regards,

Ty Ford

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