Correct Levels. Just checking.

[Brian Petersen]

O.K. So i've read a big long thread and I think I'm doing things right, but I thought I'd just check one last time. I'm trying to figure out what levels to keep my audio at. I'm a newbie at this. Here's my set up:

Sound Devices 302
2 Senheiser lavs mixed down to Left Channel
Senheiser ME-66 boom on right channel
Then running that mix from the mixer directing into the HVX

From what I've read people say to keep my levels at around -12 with my peaks being around +6 or +8. I've also heard opinion on doing the levels at -20 with peaks at 0. But I will be editing this myself on FCP so some say that I'll be fine with the -12 route. Does all this seem right?

Thanks,
Brian

 

[timapter]

yup, that seems about right. most simple advice I can give is run tone from 302 to a -20 on the camera. then run peaks on the SD at around +6/+8, this usually puts the RMS levels at around -2/0dB, and I find works well for me. All this translates to a recorded range of -20dB to around -8dB on camera audio, depending on where your limiters are set.

im open to be corrected on this by more experienced folks, this is just how im running things at the moment on a hdv-z1.