Is there a small external Pre-amp for camera's?

Jon Fairhurst · November 19th, 2011, 04:26 PM

That said, providing a hot signal to a cheap camera preamp can make the audio competent. Using a mic straight into a cheap camera preamp is a recipe for noise.

Using a juicedLink into a 5D Mark II reduces noise levels down to the limits of 16-bit recording. For best results, use Magic Lantern, which allows the analog gain in the camera to be reduced. On the other hand, using a passive XLR-in preamp into the 5D Mark II gives really noisy results.

I've had similar results with a crummy M-Audio Microtrack II recorder. It has no analog gain control, and the digital control simply reduces dynamic range, so you really need to leave the gain levels fixed. If the signal is weak, you boost it in post and get horrible noise. Add a juicedLink upstream and you can ensure a strong signal. Even though the unit supports balanced inputs and phantom power, the JL improves its performance, but it's still not as good as a 5D2 with a JL and ML firmware. But the JL makes it usable.

Anyway, a hot signal into a cheap preamp is always better than a cold signal into a cheap preamp. Lots better! But there are still limits. You can go from bad to good, but it's unlikely that you can go from bad to great.

Bram Corstjens · November 21st, 2011, 07:21 AM

Thanks for all the feedback! My EX1R seems to be pretty good at the -20 or 30 dBu setting, so adding that Mixpre-D in that scenario does have a positive effect compared to the 'normal' 50 or 60 dBu on the EX1R

Not worlds apart, but that's also due to the law of diminishing returns :) Don't know yet if it's worth the money. 90% of the audio I need comes from the Sennheiser Wireless sets which are great anyway and don't need another amplifier.

Only when recording live events with normal mic's and not using the wireless sennheisers would benefit from this MixPre-D, and it would only be critical to use this setup when the application demands it. Like recording a music performance like classical guitar (without amplifiers) or violin etc... No my usual day to day business.

November 19th, 2011, 04:26 PM	#16
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	Re: Is there a small external Pre-amp for camera's? That said, providing a hot signal to a cheap camera preamp can make the audio competent. Using a mic straight into a cheap camera preamp is a recipe for noise. Using a juicedLink into a 5D Mark II reduces noise levels down to the limits of 16-bit recording. For best results, use Magic Lantern, which allows the analog gain in the camera to be reduced. On the other hand, using a passive XLR-in preamp into the 5D Mark II gives really noisy results. I've had similar results with a crummy M-Audio Microtrack II recorder. It has no analog gain control, and the digital control simply reduces dynamic range, so you really need to leave the gain levels fixed. If the signal is weak, you boost it in post and get horrible noise. Add a juicedLink upstream and you can ensure a strong signal. Even though the unit supports balanced inputs and phantom power, the JL improves its performance, but it's still not as good as a 5D2 with a JL and ML firmware. But the JL makes it usable. Anyway, a hot signal into a cheap preamp is always better than a cold signal into a cheap preamp. Lots better! But there are still limits. You can go from bad to good, but it's unlikely that you can go from bad to great. __________________ Jon Fairhurst

November 21st, 2011, 07:21 AM	#17
Bram Corstjens Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Netherlands Posts: 126	Re: Is there a small external Pre-amp for camera's? Thanks for all the feedback! My EX1R seems to be pretty good at the -20 or 30 dBu setting, so adding that Mixpre-D in that scenario does have a positive effect compared to the 'normal' 50 or 60 dBu on the EX1R Not worlds apart, but that's also due to the law of diminishing returns :) Don't know yet if it's worth the money. 90% of the audio I need comes from the Sennheiser Wireless sets which are great anyway and don't need another amplifier. Only when recording live events with normal mic's and not using the wireless sennheisers would benefit from this MixPre-D, and it would only be critical to use this setup when the application demands it. Like recording a music performance like classical guitar (without amplifiers) or violin etc... No my usual day to day business.