Hi All, this is my first post, but I've found a solution to an audio for video problem that I researched here on DVXUser. A while back I read a lot of threads of how the combo of the DR-40 and NTG-2 didn't give enough gain to get good audio from a boom 3 feet out while avoiding hiss from the Tascam input volume needing to be turned all the way up. I read these because that is the combo I happen to have, and not a lot of budget to replace gear. I did tests and the noise was there with the boom 3' from actor. I first tried getting an inexpensive Pre amp: the ART USB Dual Pre. The amount of phantom power was the same as the DR-40, so I didn't get any more gain. But running the mic with the AA battery in it, XLR to the Pre (with the phantom power turned off), 1/4" out and into the DR-40 using the "Line" input. While I got no more gain, the signal was cleaner. It took the hiss out at the low end, and added a warm tone to the audio. Since then I have found a better solution. There is a somewhat rare in-line pre amp out there called the FetHead from the English company Triton Audio. It adds 20db of gain to the signal! I connect the pre to the mic (XLR) [with the battery in the mic to provide phantom power for the mic], then XLR cable into the DR_40 with Phantom power on, to provide phantom power for the Pre. The sound was big! The FetHead added the gain as advertised. I could turn the recording level down on the Tascam to 20-30% instead of 90%+. Since I had the Dual Pre anyway, I ran it through it also and this gave me a additional way of adjusting the gain. Mic with battery - to FetHead- XLR to Dual Pre (w/ phantom turned on) - 1/4" to DR-40 using "Line" input. This gave me the same levels and quality, but I could adjust the gain with the dial on the input for the Dual Pre as well as on the recorder. This gave me a little more control. I now get big audio without the noise. I tested the mic on a boom 4' away from the dialog. It was clean and big! There are few people who carry the FetHead. The one place I found was ZenAudio in North Carolina. Nice people, really prompt and helpful. It's $99.
Tascam DR-40 + Rode NTG-2 Problem Fixed!
- Thread starter captglvr
- Start date
Noiz2
Sound Ninja
Good solution, though adding the ART would be a bit klunky for many.
But I wanted to correct a few things.
Preamp gain is not tied to the voltage of Phantom power. There is on some mics a somewhat hotter output with Phantom VS in mic battery, but not always.
Also the mic never supplies "phantom power". Putting a battery in your mic just powers it there is no "phantom" involved. Phantom power is a way to send power down a mic cable that will be "invisible" to the sound and thus a "phantom".
3 feet is a long way away to be micing and four is Very far. It's not a telephoto lens, it's a mic and it wants to be close as in within a foot and a half if possible.
But I wanted to correct a few things.
Preamp gain is not tied to the voltage of Phantom power. There is on some mics a somewhat hotter output with Phantom VS in mic battery, but not always.
Also the mic never supplies "phantom power". Putting a battery in your mic just powers it there is no "phantom" involved. Phantom power is a way to send power down a mic cable that will be "invisible" to the sound and thus a "phantom".
3 feet is a long way away to be micing and four is Very far. It's not a telephoto lens, it's a mic and it wants to be close as in within a foot and a half if possible.
Just a hint for new people in audio recording, the mic (normally shotgun) should NEVER be further than an arm length from the person talking....... In other words the person talking should be able to touch the mic, if they can't the mic is to far away for 'useable' audio.
Thanks for the info. Appreciated. So Scott, are you saying the gain dial on the Dual Pre input doesn't moderate the level of sound going into the recorder? I noticed less noise when I turned down the gain on the Pre. I suposed I could try turning down the recorder input more than 25% and just going straight into the Tascam via XLR...
Noiz2
Sound Ninja
No not at all, that knob is adjusting the preamp gain, it has nothing to do with the Phantom power voltage. I was correcting this statement.