[Thaxter Clavemarlton]

How do you KNOW the output from the Mackie is actually “Zero”? (How did you test it?)
You also posted (on the Audio Professionals Board) that you have had “distortion” problems and unequal channel output with the Sound Devices 302.

Now, since Mackie and Sound Devices are just about the most dependable and trouble-free audio units going, and you seem to be having trouble with BOTH of them at the same time…
It would help if you posted more SPECIFIC information about your testing procedures, connections, and settings information.

Even though I have been doing these kinds of hook-ups for over 30 years, it gets pretty hard to diagnose from out here in the “dark”.
It could be anything from a bad cable, to a wrong connection, or bad hardware, or miss-installed (or poorly-adjusted) software.

So my best advice is to hire a local “audio pro” to come and check your system.
Sorry, but we can’t do it from this end, at least without more VERY SPECIFIC info.

[Thaxter Clavemarlton]

Sounds like you have the cable(s) connected wrong on the SPEAKER end.

Make sure you have the cable(s) into the right input(s) on the back fo the speaker(s).

There can be no setting or connection on the MAC end that would make the on-speaker controls stop working.

[Thaxter Clavemarlton]

There are several way to make Color footage into B&W.
One of the most direct routes is:

Effects > Video Filters > Image Control > Desaturate

Add that filter and the color is gone.

[Thaxter Clavemarlton]

Whoa there, I can’t just let all of this go by without some further technical explaination.

These units record with VERY lossy mp3 compression (from what I have read elsewhere, they are limited to 96 kB in the analog record mode.)

In the past, audio professionals have complained loudly that even MD’s ATRAC compression is “too lossy” for serious use.
Whether you agree with the whether MD is “too limited” or not, the iRiver units (and all mp3-type recorders) audio is much MORE compressed and frequency-limited.

I’m assuming that a principle use for additional recorders is to actually place ON a participant for, say, recording the vows or a “special reading” but, unless you use a miniature mic preamp (costing about as much as the iRiver itself) to raise the levels enough to plug into the LINE input, you must ONLY use the iRiver’s built-in MIC. This means you need to mount it nearly IN VIEW on a tux or gown so as to allow proper mic pick up without too much clothing noise.

Even with all of this, the iRiver audio sounds good… and is “better” and more versatile than MD?

[Thaxter Clavemarlton]

[scott] “How do I summon the yak? I could not find anything on it. “

Beware, ’tis “bad luck” to ASK about this.

The Yak can be found if one searches for him.

[Thaxter Clavemarlton]

[Nancy Avery] “I have heard that the JVC miniDV/VHS tape deck eats tapes made on Canons”

There would be no reason for THIS to be true.

For instance, take 2 identical new miniDV tapes, shoot one in a Canon and the other in a Sony.
Play the Sony-recorded tape in the JVC deck, its OK.
Play the Canon-recorded tape in the JVC deck, and it gets “eaten”.
I doubt THAT would be the case.

There are decks in all formats that get “hungry” for a tape now and then, but its not due to what camcorder they went through first (unless that camcorder physically damaged the tape).

But as to your bigger question…

Canon has a reputation that leans toward of INCOMPATIBILITY with other gear.
Its not so much that their tapes get “eaten”, its that Canon-recorded tapes have playback “problems” when played on other decks/camcorders.

But it appears to be a problem that varies from individual unit to unit.
I have a GL1 which makes tapes that play just fine on my Sony and Panasonic DV decks/camcorders.
(But we won’t talk about its lovely center-screen HOT PIXEL.)

I also have used an XL1 whose tapes will ONLY play on THAT XL1 (even after Canon service.)

[Thaxter Clavemarlton]

I see you still are re-posting this.

Exactly HOW are you connecting the Mackie to the Blackmagic’s input.
If you are using the RCA “Tape Out” jacks, they are likely too low for “0” on the input card.
But the Mackie’s balanced/unbalanced LINE-LEVEL outputs should be MORE than adequate to feed your inputs.

(I[Ed Stevens] “I don’t want to raise the mixer vol
it will distort.”

Don’t sweat THAT.
Mackie is quite capable of sending levels well above “0” on the meters with no added distortion.

Post back with more info. on how you have your outputs and inputs connected.

[Thaxter Clavemarlton]

Page 19 of the AG-DV2000 manual says to use the remote control to set this:

OSD Mode (On Screen Display)

1. Press MENU, and then select PTION SETUP 1

2. Select OSD MODE

3. Select “ON”

4. Press MENU twice to exit the OSD

This should give you a “bunch” of on-screen info, one line of which is your TIMECODE reader.
On consumer decks like these you will usually have to accept that a lot of info will need to be on the screen along with the TC.

BTW, like for so many items, I simply downloaded the complete User Manual in PDF by finding your deck on Amazon.com and clicking the download choice.

[Thaxter Clavemarlton]

On larger Sony decks there is an switch on the front (or a choice in a menu) that allows you to display the “Characters” over the video.

On smaller Sony decks and camcorders this menu choice is called “Display”.

Don’t know if Panasonic has these choices, but I would think they would be similar.

[Thaxter Clavemarlton]

Set the DSR to the FW input.