audio settings questions

G

gazillion

Member
I'm using a Sennheiser 416 with a Shure mixer with my Panasonic DVX-100. I want to make sure I'm connecting it correctly and making the right settings. Do I plug the mic into Input 2, set that from line to mic, select CH1 Select as Input 2 and CH 2 Select as Input 2? Go into RECORDING SETUP, set MIC GAIN 1 to -50 dBU and set MIC GAIN 2 to -60 dBu. Set MIC ALC to OFF.

Is this all correct? Am I missing anything?
 
Can someone please confirm if this is correct? I'm renting the mic and mixer and I won't have time to test this on location.
 
I'm not sure if i've understood your queery correctly, but this is the usual set up.




Have you read the instruction manual for the recording set up procedure for the DVX-100?

why don't you connect the mic into input 1 on the mixer?

If your mixer outputs are going to the camera the channel 1 should be set to input 1, and channel 2 should be set to input 2. all on line level with phantom off. Its the MIXER which accepts mic level for the 416, and supplys the phantom.

yes ALC should be off, if you are controlling the levels with the mixer.
As for the level, usually you send tone from the mixer and set level to -20dB
 
Thanks, ScoobySounds. The DVX-100 manual says, "To supply the signals from an external mic to CH1 and CH2, connect the external mic to the INPUT 2 jack, and set both the CH1 SELECT and CH2 SELECT switches to the INPUT 2 position." So are you saying this is wrong or am I misreading this? I assume I'm supposed to connect the mixer to INPUT 2, right?
 
line level from 367 into line in on the dvx
0dbu tone - 20-18 dbfs on dvx ( the 3rd wite )
check the limiter position on 367 and open it ( internal setting - calibrate it for +8 dbu( the next one is +16 so it might be to hot)
leave the alc on as another protection ( it on digital side and will work only you will reach the the -6dbfs )
mix that the nidle will go to 0+1 on uv at max
buy external high pass filter , the internal cuts in 150 hz range ( 80-100 hz is good enouth)
 
Thanks, Exile. I don't quite understand, why do you set line level from the 367 to line level on the DVX and not mic level on both?
 
why did you buy the mixer first place ?

(as alwais we Jews are answering the question with a question :-)
 
the mixer has preamps, which convert mic level to line level. line level is the OUTPUT of the mixer.. so if the output of the mixer is going to the camera, then ignore everything it says in the manual about connecting a mic. those instructions are for if you aren't using a mixer, and you wanted to connect a mic for audio on CH1 and CH2. you ARE using a mixer so you will need to use line level on the camera, CH1input1, CH2input2, phantom off.

unlike Exile I would set ALC to off, but this is only because I am unfamiliar with the camera and am unsure exactly when the Auto-level-control kicks in. It is standard to turn this off as a sound recordist and use the limiters on your equipment, but i'm sure oleg knows that leaving it on is a safe thing to do for this camera.
 
there is no auto level on dvx , that is a hard limiter only on digital side, starts at -6 dbfs -enss on -4.5 , no problem to work and prevent brick walling
 
But why bother with it?

i don't understand.. why you would keep it on.

if a sound clips on your mixer, then it clips on your tape. if it limits on your mixer then it limits on the tape. the job of a recordist is to make sure the sound is right in the 1st place.

Sometimes i turn the limiters off because they sound awful, for things like zippo lighters closing for example, sound MUCH better with the limiter off than on. yes it clips, but its about how it sounds, and its not a distorted clip. with ALC on, i imagine you wouldn't have control over these kinds of things oleg, no?
 
scooby, with most doc/eng stuff i do, i prefer the safety blanket of the ALC... even though it doesnt ever even activate - my 302's limiters catch stray peaks.
 
right i see, its interesting to know these things, i've never actually used a DVX (am i still welcome here :)) the only panasonic i've used have been those old shocking DVCPro ones, so I don't know if the system is different to, say, the sony's, with which i am more familiar, but i've always had it solidly built into me that anything on the camera menu that reckons it can improve your sound, won't, so turn it off. wind controls, gain control, any crap like that.

a drama i'm doing end of august is using a DVX so i might have a listen to this ALC. though i'll probably still turn it off :)
 
its actually pretty handy, although serious pro's prob wont need to use it... oleg? i just usually leave it on, and i dont think it actually affects me for better or worse quite honestly. what i like is that if something goes horribly wrong on my end im covered on the camera end.
 
i leave it off for 90% the jobs, mostly only as a camera mic protection
 
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oh yeah, i forgot to say that - when shooting two cam, if sound is feeding to a cam A type setup, with camera B running on cam mics and shooting B-roll type stuff, then the ALC should definately be turned on on that camera so there's no worries from camera operator induced stupidity. :)
 
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