Sony A7S2 recording audio level for Sound Devices Mix Pre-D???

N

Nicholas Natteau

Veteran
Hello everyone,

Just wondering if anyone knows what the audio recording level should be on the Sony A7S2 when recording audio via Sound Devices Mix Pre-D from a Sennheiser 416 shotgun mic.

The youtube video below recommends setting your DSLR camera to -20 db lower than whatever the camera manufacturer states. But I already checked out the A7S2 user's guide and Sony doesn't specify anywhere what the recording level should be. I know that the default A7s2 audio recording level is 26 db so I dialed it down to 6 (-20). But then I had to turn the mic 1 audio recording knob on the Mix Pre-D nearly to the max to hear the sound. Am I doing the right thing? Thanks very much in advance for feedback

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=td11bn54aEo
 
I would start by using the MixPre-D's built-in 1 kHz test-tone to set the proper recording level in your Sony A7S2 camera. With my GH4 I set my camera so that this test-tone shows at -12 dB, which is the lowest audio setting for the GH4. Once this is properly done your Sony camera is now calibrated for the MixPre-D input signal, and then it's up to you to adjust the MixPre-D mic gain to obtain a good recording with your mic.

I use -12 dB for the GH4 because the camera's noise-floor is -72 dB RMS, so I am guaranteed at least 60 dB of dynamic range in my recording.

You can use your MixPre-D to determine the actual noise-floor of your Sony A7S2 camera by calibrating your camera with the 1 kHz test-tone, then make a recording with your camera where you start with 10 seconds of the 1 kHz test-tone, then with NO MIC attached to your MixPre-D turn off the test-tone while your camera continues to record for another 20 seconds. Once done, bring your recording into either your NLE or an audio editor and see where the -12 dB test-tone sits and where the audio levels sit when the test-tone is shut off. ( I would be curious to know what the noise-floor of the A7S2 actually is )
 
Just a quick question. I'm only hearing audio out of one ear cup on my Sony MDR-7506 headset when I connect it to my MixPreD. I checked the LCR switch and it's set to "C" which I presume means "center". Do you know how to resolve this? Thanks very much in advance.
 
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