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  • Sony SX Betacam audio levels

    Posted by Chris Savill on August 9, 2008 at 12:13 pm

    Hi everyone,
    I am wondering if anyone knows how to work out the audio recording level for the Sony SX betacam?
    I am using my 302 Sound devices mixer and send the 1kz tone to the camera (0db on the mixer level indicator)….if it reads 0db on the mixer, do I set the camera audio recording level to roughly -20db? so the audio does not distort or sound crappy?

    Thanks everyone!

    Chris.

    Ty Ford replied 18 years, 1 month ago 2 Members · 3 Replies
  • 3 Replies
  • Ty Ford

    August 9, 2008 at 6:52 pm

    Hello Chris and welcome to the Cow Audio Forum,

    Make sure you are sending line out to a line level input, or mic level out to a mic level input.

    The 302 has a menu switch that lets you choose either mic or line level out. The default is line level.
    If you calibrate your camera with its input set to Mic instead of Line, tone will look fine on the meters but the audio will be very distorted.

    If you send mic level from the mixer to a line level input on the camera, you won’t get enough level.

    As I say in my book, ALWAYS MONITOR WITH HEADPHONES. When? ALWAYS!

    Regards,

    Ty Ford

    PS: Did I mention you should ALWAYS monitor with headphones?

    Want better production audio?: Ty Ford’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide
    Watch Ty play guitar

  • Chris Savill

    August 10, 2008 at 4:06 am

    Hi Ty,
    Thanks for the info, I understand that aspect of it…..the part I was really wanting to know was what level to set the camera audio too when my mixer tone registers at 0db on the mixer. I have heard that you set the SX betacam to -20db and was just looking confirmation for this. Thanks. I think the camera recording levels are slightly different though depending where you are in the world!

    PS. Im interested in your Book….how much is it? and postage to Australia?

    Chris.

    Audio Producer

  • Ty Ford

    August 10, 2008 at 2:39 pm

    -20 for tone and make sure your meters are set to read peak.

    $25 USD.

    Regards,

    Ty Ford

    Want better production audio?: Ty Ford’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide
    Watch Ty play guitar

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