Seeking 1D C audio advice/opnions

[CraigM]

I always base and calibrate my digital audio at -20db as so many do and recommend. Easy to do on a traditional camcorder or external recorder by sending tone, not so much with a DSLR. Testing out a 1D C with a Sound Devices MixPre-D for recording audio in camera for run-and-gun work and nat sound when I don't have a audio person handy. I've used JuicedLink products on a 5D and d800 setting manual audio recording to +1 and letting the external pre-amps do the work with good results (they have no tone for calibration).

Now that I have a MixPre-D I thought I would test with tone to see how the 1D C handles audio and where my base with this mixer and camera should be.

If I set the 1D C's manual audio recording to +1 and run tone from the MixPre-D I get a consistent -30db in FCP/SoundTrack Pro. Seems pretty low for a base. If I set the camera to +10 clicks it hits -20db right on the money (where I want to be for calibration) (+20 clicks puts it hotter at -12db).

So I am curious if I am approaching this correctly and what others might do. Go with the +10 clicks for a solid -20db base, or stick with +1 and crank the MixPre-D up some more realizing the pre-amps in the MixPre-D are far superior, but at what cost if I have to go 10db hotter all the time.

On a side note the head phones out of the 1D C for confidence recording via the return on the MixPre-D is pretty weak, useable, but could be much better.

Thanks for any input, no pun intended.

 

[marvinhello]

I would suggest avoid in-camera preamp.

1D C is not a run-and-gun camera in my opinion, C100 and C300 are.

 

[TyFord]

Hi Craig,

I understand the DSLR gain thing and am impressed that you were able to do the shoot, transfer, thing to chek levels in FCP. That's a great approach.

I don't know squat about that camera of it's audio section. My best idea is to continue your experimentation and use your ears to determine if you can hear a difference in quality. Voice is a good test. Maybe also try "the dreaded key jangle test."

The DKJT requires that you shake a set of keys in front of the mic and record that at appropriate levels. Jangled keys have very high transients (very quick, peaky soundwaves) audio sections fall apart very quickly if they can not handle transients. Also listen for the noise floor by having levels set properly at mixer and camera but not recording anything but room tone in a quiet room.

And, let us know how all that turns out.

Regards,

Ty Ford

 

[Sam Mallery]

"...stick with +1 and crank the MixPre-D up some more realizing the pre-amps in the MixPre-D are far superior, but at what cost if I have to go 10db hotter all the time.

Not sure what you mean by "at what cost..". If you can keep the camera's preamps as low as possible by hitting it with more juice from the Sound Devices, this would likely be the best bet. I guess the cost here might be that by cranking up the preamps on the SD, you won't have as much headroom left on the preamps, and you would be limited by how much you coulc potentially boost your signals in a pinch. It's likely a worthy tradeoff.