DSLR audio question

[kevinkt]

Consider that I'm using a canon t2i with a juicedlink dt454/beachtek dxa-5da.

1) If I was to use a mixer or pre-amp to deliver a line level input into the beachtek Dxa-5da or juicedlink dt454, would this also send a line input into the camera instead of a mic input?

2) If this is the case would I even need the AGC disable feature because I will be then sending a line level input into the camera?

3) Furthermore, I've read that sending line level inputs overrides the camera's pre-amps, will this happen if I use a pre-amp connected to the DXa-5da to a canon t2i?

4) Also will using a pre-amp override the pre-amp of an external audio recorder like the tascam dr-100 or zoom h4n?

 

[markblasco]

2) - no, because every time you didn't have any sound going, the camera would crank the gain up again. Line level vs. Mic level has to do with the intensity of the sound, but silence is silence, and the AGC does it's job by turning up the gain every time it is quiet, so no matter what with the t2i you will need the AGC disable.

3) - I don't know for sure, but what that could have meant is that if you send a loud enough signal, the camera won't add any gain at all, which makes the preamps much quieter. Again, this doesn't help because of the AGC

4) - If you use a preamp, you could go into an external recorder at a line level (assuming your recorder offers a line level input), which would not use the mic preamps (or use them at their lowest level). Depending on the preamp you are using, it may or may not be quieter and sound better than the recorder, but that would be on a case by case basis.