Question about using a mic properly.

about the gains for the mic: watch for "line level" and "mic level" and "-10dB pad".

Then, it reach 0dB but it doesn't clip ? Can be... there's mostly about 3db "safety" in the digital recorders. And hearing a clipping is not easy... most of the people want hear it.. it will just pass by.
if it are short clippings...not a constant distorted sound like.
 
Okay thanks. All I know is the level, that goes up from numbers 48 to 3. Could you be a little more specific on which level is which? And I'm not sure about the 10db pad, but I'll check.
 
http://www.fostexinternational.com/docs/downloads/pdfs/fr2le_owners_manual.pdf

and then go to page 55.

1: put it on auto controll off or try limiter on.
3: phantom power for a "handheld" mic it's off, for a shotgun it's on but it can be on all the time if you use proper XLR cables, so those who are made for mic's, where the 3 pins are connected inside...
4: recording source: INPUT
8: monitor: L/R

Oh, and be sure to use an XLR connector. Not a jack connector.

Then about the levels... Well DO NOT look at the colors...and don't be afraid of "the orange color". A "normal voice" can be between 12 and 6. For TV stuff, they push everything, so that would be around... 6 with some "pushes" to 0.

And then the thing is to anticipate when someone is yelling. That's why they're soundguys.....




 
Just for the record, I'll say that dre83's advice is not what most sound professionals would agree with. "some clipping" is not OK, this "3db safety margin" is not something that can or should be relied on, phantom power should be used only where appropriate and whether a mic is "handheld" is not the determining factor. With digital audio you always want to err on the side of levels too low, not push them as high as possible. There is graceful degradation on the low side, catastrophic on the too high side. And with today's equipment, you have a lot of margin for low levels.

Sorry to have to step in with a strong response like this, but the advice is problematic.
 
I've never said the goal is to try to reach the 0dB... What I said was that the number 0 on the scale COULD be that at that point there's still some "space" before it clips. So that this could be the raison the guy didn't hear clipping in the headphones.

I said "handheld" because I had another topic in my mind... Where a guy was using a handheld mic (or was going to), so that's why I refered to handheld..
But the "determine" factor is 48phantom or not... But as all handheld mics are dynamic, they don't need phantom..
Leaving the phantom on will not damage the mic.

The part of "for TV they push everything to 0", I ment when they do the editing and broadcasting. During recording they leave some headroom so that it doesn't suddenly clip. But it's also the goal to anticipate. For TV it's ok when there's a small clipping when someone suddenly yells... But then you have to anticipate by lowering volume or have the boom a little higher. For film you know what's going to happen, so you can more easely anticipate.
 
dre83 said:
I've never said the goal is to try to reach the 0dB... What I said was that the number 0 on the scale COULD be that at that point there's still some "space" before it clips. So that this could be the raison the guy didn't hear clipping in the headphones.

I said "handheld" because I had another topic in my mind... Where a guy was using a handheld mic (or was going to), so that's why I refered to handheld..
But the "determine" factor is 48phantom or not... But as all handheld mics are dynamic, they don't need phantom..
Leaving the phantom on will not damage the mic.

The part of "for TV they push everything to 0", I ment when they do the editing and broadcasting. During recording they leave some headroom so that it doesn't suddenly clip. But it's also the goal to anticipate. For TV it's ok when there's a small clipping when someone suddenly yells... But then you have to anticipate by lowering volume or have the boom a little higher. For film you know what's going to happen, so you can more easely anticipate.
Click to expand...

Sorry but once again you are mistaken..... NOT all handheld mics are dynamic, and phantom power can damage certain mics.

And as for TV... there are very strict guidelines in place for audio levels.

You might want to double check your facts before you give advice on these subjects.

All the Best!

Dave
 
No offense Dre but as the others have mentioned you seem to have some facts mixed up. Tv does not push levels to 0. David is right when he says there are very strict guidelines in fact.
Not quite sure why you think its ok in TV to have clipping if someone yells. Just because the end product is different whether its reality/doc/narrative obviously it's never "ok" to clip.
 
The term "ok" as in "ok..it happened once in 75 years...." So not that good, but the earth is still turning...
 
dre83 said:
http://www.fostexinternational.com/docs/downloads/pdfs/fr2le_owners_manual.pdf

and then go to page 55.

1: put it on auto controll off or try limiter on.
3: phantom power for a "handheld" mic it's off, for a shotgun it's on but it can be on all the time if you use proper XLR cables, so those who are made for mic's, where the 3 pins are connected inside...
4: recording source: INPUT
8: monitor: L/R

Oh, and be sure to use an XLR connector. Not a jack connector.

Then about the levels... Well DO NOT look at the colors...and don't be afraid of "the orange color". A "normal voice" can be between 12 and 6. For TV stuff, they push everything, so that would be around... 6 with some "pushes" to 0.

And then the thing is to anticipate when someone is yelling. That's why they're soundguys.....
Click to expand...

Okay thanks. I was told that you select the Auto Level Control though, that that causes hissing. I read this on another site having to do with sound recorders, and that it's a no no for movies. Not sure if all recorders hiss from that though of course.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top