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Kona 2 audio to Betacam
Set up for audio: Kona 2 AES to Flying Cow converter. XLR to from flying cow to Mackie board, XLR from mixing board to Betacam deck.
This is the set up I’ve used for years converting AES to analog for Beta (or other analog formats). I’ve always used a reference tone of -12db coming out of digital (fcp) set to 0db on the analog side. My audio peaks on digital around b/w -12 and -6 translates to peaking over 0db on the analog side which gives a good level for beta. This set up has worked for me on several systems, most recently using Aja IO. On the Kona 2 however using the aforementioned set up, in spite of using tone to calibrate the levels, my audio peaks on betacam are signficantly quieter. I’ve looked at every audio related preference in both Kona and FCP. I’ve tried going directly out of Kona rcas, tried a different mixing board, different flying cow, different betacam deck, even different cables. Can anyone explain this? An audio engineer I showed the problem to was totally stumped. Now a friend (not an audio expert) has suggested setting my tone to -18db on the digital side and 0db on analog, which makes sense. But has there been some kind of standards change? Please help! Thanks-
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4 Replies
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I don’t know if this helps or not, but according to the Final Cut manual, if your audio is 16bit, 0db is typically equal to -12. If your audio is 24bit, 0db is typically -18 or -20.
I’m not an audio person so I can’t really explain it.Leigh
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the Beta 1800 audio meters are averaging meters, and will never show proper peak indication. Tone looks correct, but active program ALWAYS LOOKS LOW on the Beta 1800. This is easy to prove by putting a Digi Beta VTR analog audio output into a Beta 1800 analog audio input. The DVW-A500 has peak meters, and peaks all over the place, and the Beta 1800 meters look like they are barely moving, but tone looks correct. So FORGET the Beta 1800 meters, except for tone.
Simply setup your Mackie mixer to read ZERO on the LED meters, make your UVW1800 meters read ZERO (+4dBu), and everything will be fine. You will play back your tape, and say “tone looks ok, but the meters are barely moving in active program” – that’s the Beta 1800 meters. Don’t like it – use a better VTR, with Better meters.
Bob Zelin
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Thanks for the response. It makes sense. But am I screwing up my levels by outputting -18db tone level and setting to Zero on mixer and Beta 1800?
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the whole point of the mixer is to CORRECT for levels – too low – amplify (raise the faders) – too loud, attenuate (lower the faders). I don’t give a crap what is coming out of your source – a too low VHS, or a too hi AJA box – make the mixer read ZERO (or 4 on some cheaper mixers like UB22242FXPro’s), and set your Beta VTR for ZERO VU (using TONE, not average sound level), and you are set. I can assure you of one thing – if you screw with the levels, when your tape goes to a dub house or TV station, they don’t give a crap about your average levels – they care about tone, and if your program does not follow your tone levels, they will complain about your tape. I am sorry that Sony gives us crappy meters on the UVW1800 series VTR’s, but we are stuck with it.
Bob Zelin
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