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View Full Version : How's Your Headphone Level? Cool Tool...


Chadfish
08-20-2009, 11:49 AM
Hi

Thanks to some tips from Basspig we have a good Trim Setting / Rec Level to get relatively noise free audio using only the EX1's XLR inputs. However I have noticed that the headphone level is not as loud as I would like on the EX1. Up 'till now I have been using a modified VX2100 (Greg Winter Mod) that takes line level audio into the RCA inputs from the XLR outs from a Sound Devices MixPre. What is cool is my MixPre is also modified to allow for attaching it to the bottom of the camcorder, and to a quick release plate for a tripod.

Here's an example: http://precisionintermedia.com/chadsVX2100pics/

I have found a little unit that will boost your headphone volume 40db, which will help you resist the desire to turn the recording levels up on the EX1, and introduce unnecessary noise. With just a little bit of Velcro you can have it secured to the camera reasonably well.

Here's the "Radio Shack 3-Way Headphone Volume Booster"
http://www.buzzillions.com/reviews/radio-shack-3-way-headphone-volume-booster-reviews

And here's how I have attached it:
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/picture.php?albumid=244&pictureid=1609
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/picture.php?albumid=244&pictureid=1606
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/picture.php?albumid=244&pictureid=1613
And with the NT4 / SM5:
http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/picture.php?albumid=244&pictureid=1611

It doesn't get the volume to the level I'm used to with my MixPre, but it helps.

If anyone has any other monitoring suggestions I would love to hear them. I am still tempted to attach my MixPre for it's awesome performance, great limiters, 2 kinds of low cut, more handy switching of Left-Right-Center on each channel, and 60db of gain. But it's a pain to attach as I need to unscrew about 7 little screws to take the shell off, then attach the shell to the camera, then put the unit back together. Not to mention the added weight and bulk. If you're working on sticks it's not an issue. So the Radio Shack Vol Booster is helpful in getting a little more monitoring level AND there are 3 jacks, so you can have a boom person plug in too.

Anyone else have any cool pieces if kit along these lines?

Chadfish

FrankC
08-20-2009, 10:51 PM
Totally thank you for this one... Just what I've needed for a long time.
PS... I missed Bass Pigs tips... Might want to re-post them. Thank you so much.!!

Chadfish
08-21-2009, 09:06 AM
Totally thank you for this one... Just what I've needed for a long time.
PS... I missed Bass Pigs tips... Might want to re-post them. Thank you so much.!!

Here are Basspigs tips. Keep in mind that they are modified later in the thread after newer firmware came out that made the EX1 audio even bettter.

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=132249

Chadfish
08-22-2009, 10:53 AM
I forgot to mention that those volume boosters are only about 25$. If anyone knows of something similar that boosts more than 40db I would like to know.