Really basic Shotgun Mic Problem

B

bobhope

Well-known member
Hey...so I got my first Mic for my DVX recently. An AT897 with a windscreen. The guys at Samy's really reccomended it...

Anyway,

So I mount it on the camera, use an XLR cable, plug it in to Input 2, and in the Audio Controls setting set both channels to Input 2.

Then I plug in my crappy headphones, and start taping some stuff....Only I don't hear anything! Nothing!

I crank up the input levels, I play with turning phantom power off and on (although the mic has a battery AA battery in it), I play with the input selectors.....

Nothing.

I finally notice that if I put the mic realllllly close to my mouth and sing or whistle I get a slight signal, but its obviously not doing what its supposed to do.


So what am I doing wrong???
 
did you try turning the volume up on the headphones? is there a meter reading at the bottom of the LCD screen? When I had a ME66 you could still have a battery in it and run it off phantom not sure if the 897 is like this.
 
Just did some more tests, and its responding a little better now. I still only get a meter reading at the bottom of the LCD screen unless I am holding the mic just an inch from my mouth. And I turned the volume up all the way, but I'm not sure if that affects the Earphones or Mic level.....

It still seems too quiet.
 
Look on the front of the camera and make sure the input 2 switch is set to MIC and not LINE.

Then, as Matt said, make sure the mic has power, either through phantom or through a battery. I'm pretty sure the 897 can run off phantom, so make sure phantom power is on.
 
remove the battery from the mic. its one or the other with the 897.
phantom without battery or battery without phantom.
 
Thanks Barry- I just had a lesson in humbleness, I can't believe I forget to switch it from LINE to MIC.

And I was all ready to take the Mic back to Samy's.....

Thanks guys, problem solved
 
bobhope - (what a comedian) - you made me laugh.

You did exactly what I did when I first got my shotgun mic.

hahahahaha........
 
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