RCA...?!?! What about XLR?!?

EDV

EDV

Well-known member
I was asked to film a live concert the other day, something I don't normally do. My first reaction was, should I bring an Audio Tech along? A friend of mine told me, no you don't need to, just get a live feed from the mixer straight into the XLR input on the Panasonic HPX170 camera. Only problem there was that the mixing board was a good 20 metres away from where the camera was going to be. I only got a 6 metre XLR cable, but a quick google search showed you could get a 20 metre XLR cable for about $50. I also thought of hiring a Sound Devices 302 Production Mixer, and using a short XLR cable. To cut a long story short, I got to the venue, and the Mxing Board operator tells me he can only provide an Audio feed via RCA. I told him I needed an XLR connection but he insisted RCA was the way to go!

Is this typical or live audio recording?
 
from my few experiences no. i usually try to get an XLR feed. i'm sure other pro's can give you more insight.
 
EDV said:
I was asked to film a live concert the other day, something I don't normally do. My first reaction was, should I bring an Audio Tech along? A friend of mine told me, no you don't need to, just get a live feed from the mixer straight into the XLR input on the Panasonic HPX170 camera. Only problem there was that the mixing board was a good 20 metres away from where the camera was going to be. I only got a 6 metre XLR cable, but a quick google search showed you could get a 20 metre XLR cable for about $50. I also thought of hiring a Sound Devices 302 Production Mixer, and using a short XLR cable. To cut a long story short, I got to the venue, and the Mxing Board operator tells me he can only provide an Audio feed via RCA. I told him I needed an XLR connection but he insisted RCA was the way to go!

Is this typical or live audio recording?
Click to expand...

It would depend on the specific mixer that is in the venue. Some may have XLR outputs, others may only have 1/4 TRS outputs, and still others may have RCA unbalanced outputs. You may encounter any mix of these three possibilities and you might encounter a situation where ALL the mixer's buses and outputs are in use and there's no place for you to tie into at all. Just because the mixer HAS XLR outputs doesn't mean they're not already occupied by feeds to front-of-house sound gear, signals processing devices such as FX units, or stage monitors (which must take priority over your video needs). You can't even count on the RCAs always being available - the band might be making an audio recording of the performance and the RCA outputs from the mixer may be feeding the audio recorder (that's the usual reason they're on the mixer in the first place). One advantage of taking your feed from the RCA outputs is that they are at the right level, the consumer -10 dBv line level that matches the line input rating on prosumer cameras. The XLR outputs may be +4dBu professional line level, a full 12 dB hotter than the camera expects to get. The disadvantage of the RCA's is they are unbalanced and you might pick up electrical noise in the cables with a long cable run.
 
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You never know what the board op is going to be able to give you, so it's on you to be prepared for anything. RCA, 1/4", or XLR; at profession or consumer line levels or perhaps mic level; off an aux, tape out, or possibly mic splits. You should always have the appropriate cables, pad, DIs, etc in your kit so you're prepared for whatever a venue is able to give you.

If you need a feed, contact the venue sound people BEFORE the day of the event. Keep in mind that the venue guy's job is to make it sound good in the venue for the (presumably) paying audience. Providing a feed is a courtesy that they can usually accommodate, but always ask in advance and never assume they're going to pay any attention to your feed during the event.
 
It is very likely the board op had already used up all his XLR outputs. I keep a tackle box with all sorts of connectors and direct boxes to be prepared for any adapter situation.
 
ggrantly said:
Steve,

FWIW, the HPX170 has line and mic level input switching.

Grant
Click to expand...

Sure, but mic level is rarely available from a venue mixer and as for line level, which line level is it, consumer -10dBv or studio +4dBu? I haven't looked it up for the HPX170 but the majority of prosumer camcorders expect the consumer -10dBv line level when the inputs are set to line.
 
Unless you made prior arrangements with the program producers and sound operators, you should say "Thank you very much, sir" and be thankful that you got anything at all. You were not properly prepared to do the job unless you had a collection of adapters, iso transformers, long cables, etc. It isn't your place to judge whether they should give you RCA vs XLR. They know their business (and their limitations) better than you do. It is way out of the scope of their job description to provide you any kind of audio mix.

Furthermore, the house mix from the venue sound desk is NOT a recording mix, and at minimum, you should plan on recording the ambient from the room + audience into your other channel. Even the mic on the camera would be better than nothing. This is the third discussion of recording sound from venue systems that has come through here in a couple weeks. Suggest reading the other discussions also.

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=216969

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/all-things-audio/480953-what-do-you-expect.html
 
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