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Capturing only audio via firewire
So my Panasonic DVX100 videocamera makes a great I/O (in/out) device for when I want to record audio onto my computer at home, and Sony Vegas makes a great DAW (digital audio workstation). The only problem is that I can’t quite figure out how to sync the two. My current work flow attempts are these:
(1) I plug a mic into the DVX, then send the signal from the RCA jacks through a TRS converter into my Audigy Soundcard, then record an audio track on Vegas. The problem is that quality is lost when I convert the RCA to TRS (correct me if I’m wrong), and I think I can hear a high-frequency ringing in the recording that otherwise wouldn’t be there.
(2) I plug a mic into the DVX, then send the signal via firewire and capture it live in Vegas’s video capture window. The problem here is that I can’t find any way to capture exclusively audio (I’m using Vegas 7), so I end up filling up my hard drive needlessly fast with superfluous video. And even if I do discover a work-around for this, the video capture window simply doesn’t give me the functionality I need for an advanced recording session.
So what I want to be able to do is select my camera as an “audio device” under “preferences,” using the firewire, then use the camera’s two audio channels in normal audio tracks in Vegas. But for whatever reason, no audio device is recognized or associated with the DVX. Is there some software, driver or plugin that will make it be recognized? It’s gotta be possible, because many I/O devices far less sophisticated than the DVX work with programs like Vegas via firewire.
Thanks in advance for your help.
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6 Replies
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My Audigy has a mic level input. Try making an adapter from XLR to 1/4 inch. pin 2 is tip and pin 3 is sleave, bypass the camera. Record right into your audio editor. Hope this helps, Danny
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Thanks, but that’s what I mean about losing quality when converting between RCA and TRS (quarter inch input). I don’t think it’s ever advisable to convert XLR to quarter inch if it can be avoided, and I think it’s my doing this that is causing a subtle high-pitched ring in my recordings. Also, I need to feed the audio through my videocamera, because the DVX puts off phantom power, which I need for my condenser microphones. Unfortunately, my Audigy soundcard can’t do that.
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If you want good audio you really should buy a quality audio interface. One of the firewire boxes from M-Audio, Echo Audio, or Presonus should do the job nicely. I have an M-Audo FW-410 that I use for all of my voice-over work with Vegas and it works great.
~jr
http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com -
I have the same M-Audio box as John and am equally happy with it.
Be advised that it needs to be on it’s own firewire card (not port, card) to avoid potential problems. -
Yeah, my friend owns an M Audio box, and I’ve typically used it in the past, but I’m tired of borrowing it. It just seems that in theory the DVX should be just as capable of an IO for most purposes, so I wanted to see if I could avoid buying extra hardware.
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Other than capturing video with audio, rendering audio only and then deleting the original video, I don’t see a way for you to do this. Audio apps won’t see firewire cameras as audio interfaces. I have a Presonus Firepod, 8 in and 8 out plus spdif. But I recently bought an Mbox mini 2 on Ebay, brand new that comes with Pro Tools 7.4 with a free upgrade to ver 8 for $239.00 I prefer Sonar or Nuendo but Pro Tools is considered the best audio NLE in the world. Plus I can record with effects at a lower latency than any other interface out there that doesn’t come with onboard effects. It has one XLR w/ phantom power and a line or instrument in. It also works with other audio programs than Digidesign hardware based ones with the windows drivers installed. I love the little thing. Danny
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