Canon GL1 noise

J

jzucker

Active member
Using the mic input on my camera(s) and coming from the tape output on my mackie mixer, I'm getting a big noise floor. i don't hear any noise when I record into my computer's soundcard from the mackie. is there some kind of level mismatch going on here? It happens on both cameras (GL1 & Optura Xi) so it's not a problem with the camera.
 
Last edited:
jzucker said:
Using the mic input on my camera(s) and coming from the tape output on my mackie mixer, I'm getting a big noise floor. i don't hear any noise when I record into my computer's soundcard from the mackie. is there some kind of level mismatch going on here? It happens on both cameras (GL1 & Optura Xi) so it's not a problem with the camera.
Click to expand...

Tape Out is a -10dB consumer line level, camera mic in is, well, mic level, usually about 40dB lower. You need to add some pads in the line between mixer and the camera. Turning on the camera's Mic Att pad will give you a 20dB cut so an inline pad for another 20-25dB would put you in the right ballpark.
 
Thanks steve but I don't see how that has anything to do with the noise levels. In fact, I didn't have to attenuate the mic input on the Canon. The level controls easily lowered the signal to acceptable levels. The noise sounds like ground noise or RF hum. I'm wondering if the cable I'm using is not grounded or perhaps the coollights I'm using are inducing RF hum into the mic input.
 
jzucker said:
Thanks steve but I don't see how that has anything to do with the noise levels. In fact, I didn't have to attenuate the mic input on the Canon. The level controls easily lowered the signal to acceptable levels. The noise sounds like ground noise or RF hum. I'm wondering if the cable I'm using is not grounded or perhaps the coollights I'm using are inducing RF hum into the mic input.
Click to expand...

Sounds like AC pickup from something and the lights would be a good guess. Tape Out is unbalanced so it's always a danger.
 
I think it's an impedance mismatch between the line outs on the mackie and the 1/8 stereo mic input on the camera. I ordered a beachtek passive box to test the theory.
 
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