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Good VO mic?
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[Matt Campbell] “XLR cables. Mic to Input 1 on mixer, output 1 from mixer to input 2 on camera. Input on camera set to Line, not MIC. Audio settings on camera CH1 Select on Input 2, CH 2 Select to Input 2, Input 1 is off, Input 2 is on. Channel dials on camera back are set to channel 1 below middle and channel 2 above middle. I do this so if one channel is too hot I can still use the other channel in FCP.
Mixer has levels set and channel to C. I’m assuming C is for Center from L C R. MixPre runs off 2 batteries power is set to INT and switch to TAPE not RTN. “
OK… Yes, C for center (orsending to both MixPre outputs. The normal way to do this is to have a two channel cable with an audio return for headphones. So, two XLRs from mixer to camera. there’s a male mini 1/8″ plug that goes into the camera headphone jack.
There’s a male mini 1/8″ plug on the other end of the camera cable that goes into the headphone return jack. RTN. You can togle back and forth from mixer to camera return by throwing the Tape Return switch back and forth. I usually ALWAYS listen to the camera return instead of the mixer out. That way I am sure the audio is at least getting to the camera.
switch the 1Khz tone switch to throw tone to your camera. set the inputs at -20 dB on the camera. The meter on the MixPre should read 0 dB of tone. Turn off tone. You can run levels on the Mixpre up to +20 dB (fullscale) on its meters and that will result in your camera levels being 0 dB, just below clipping. That’s how you calibrate the mixer to the camera. Now you don’t have to look at the camera meters.I normally try to peak at -6dB.
The MixPre Limiters are your friend. Read the manual.
Limiters
The MixPre has two built-in peak responding limiters, one for each input channel. The three-position
LIMITER switch on the input panel activates both channels limiters. Each limiter in the MixPre is a twostage
circuit; the fi rst stage keeps the input gain stage from clipping; the second stage limits the variable
gain stage to the level set by the Limiter Threshold control. This unique two stage topology limits the
gain stage directly after the mic input transformer, to make the front end virtually “unclippable”, but
does not change the input impedance as other “at the mic” limiters do. The circuit enables the MixPre
to limit, when necessary, in excess of 50 dB, making it very diffi cult to clip the unit no matter the gain
setting.
The three-position Limiter switch can be set to operate in either dual mono or stereo linked operation.
Dual mono operation (ON switch position) allows each input to limit independently, responding only
to its input signal. Stereo linked operation (LINK switch position) connects both limiters, ensuring that
the limiters control both channels identically. This linking is important for stereo operation to maintain
a proper stereo image. When the limiters activate, the Peak/Limiter LED on the front panel illuminates
amber in proportion to the amount of limiting for each channel.—-Regards,
Ty Ford
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Watch Ty play guitar -
Oh, I now see what the TAPE RTN is for. Duh. So the way I have it set up is monitoring the incoming mic audio vs. your method monitors the mic audio but through the camera. Sound right? One thing though, our 1/8″ jack on the camera is spotty at best. We need to send it in for repairs. You have to wiggle the jack to get it to work and even then your lucky if you do. So I think, as long as it works, I’ll have to stick with the set up I’m using. Does that sound about right? I mean, it works, but probably not ideal according to your recommend above, to create that loop with the TAPE RTN.
I guess as long as I’m seeing the meters on the camera bounce I SHOULD be ok for now, until we can get that fixed. I can still monitor through the mixer.
Thanks for your help. Much appreciated.
OS 10.6.3, Mac Pro 2 x 2.66 ghz quad-core intel xenon, 16 gb ram, with BM Intensity Pro card
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Ok Ty, I’ve just tried everything you mentioned. Mic input into mixer, 2 XLRs out from mixer and into camera. 1/8″ headphone jack from camera to TAPE RTN on mixer. Everything sounded good and normal. But the kicker is that it didn’t sound any different than the original set up I used, with only 1 xlr going to camera. That way I was able to turn 1 ch down and 1 ch up in case one was hot in post. This was I was recording to both ch’s at the same level. I’m sorry this is all getting to be a bit much and over my head. I just can’t comprehend all this. I just don’t fully understand the connections.
No matter what connection set up I use, its like the camera audio dials are the end all be all. Am I not able to turn 1 ch up and 1 ch down on the mixer? The ch 2 dial on mixer does diddly squat. Maybe I’ll ask one of our vendors to just show me the set up. I’m more of a visual learner anyway.
thx again.
OS 10.6.3, Mac Pro 2 x 2.66 ghz quad-core intel xenon, 16 gb ram, with BM Intensity Pro card
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Matt,
Bouncing meters only mean the lights are working.
Think it through. If you’re not hearing camera audio, you can screw yourself up.
When that day happens, you’ll remember this thread and me saying, “ALWAYS, ALWAYS LISTEN!Regards,
Ty Ford
Want better production audio?: Ty Ford’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide
Watch Ty play guitar -
Thats just the thing. Even without the 1/8″ headphone jack, I’m still hearing the audio with the mixer on RTN.
OS 10.6.3, Mac Pro 2 x 2.66 ghz quad-core intel xenon, 16 gb ram, with BM Intensity Pro card
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move the switch. With nothing plugged into the headphone return, you will hear nothing.
With the proper cable plugged into the camera headphone output and the RTN jack on the mixer you will hear camera input audio.Ya might want to re-read the manual. 🙂
Regards,
Ty Ford
Want better production audio?: Ty Ford’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide
Watch Ty play guitar -
Really beautiful….beautiful….
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Life is here to enjoy.
Dual 1.8 GHz PowerPC G5 1.8G; Mac OS X (10.4.11) 2GB RAM; STP v2.0.2; FCP 6; AE 8
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