BEachtek DXA8 or sound devices mixpre at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > The Tools of DV and HD Production > All Things Audio

All Things Audio
Everything Audio, from acquisition to postproduction.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old February 5th, 2006, 11:28 PM   #1
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 66
BEachtek DXA8 or sound devices mixpre

The price difference is about $300 more for the mixpre (as well as the weight and size). Now my question. I was badly burned with clipping the first time i used my senheiser G2. People started screaming and audio started to clip. I tried to fix in post with FCP but i only got distortion.

I'm already biased towards the beachtek for price and weight/size. Before I buy though I'd like to ask for opinions as to how much quality I will be missing from not having the mixpre. Obviously my main interest in either is the availability of the limiter.

BTW, this is for documentaries, run and gun, but i'd like to get the best possible sound.

Thank you all. This si a great forum (especially for novices like me)

Maximo
Maximo Salaberry is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 6th, 2006, 06:52 AM   #2
Trustee
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Sydney Australia
Posts: 1,570
None of this may fix your problem with the G2!
It's very easy to get the transmitter side of the G2 to clip and nothing you do further down the chain will help. Set the input attentuation to at least -10dB on the transmitter, if they're really shouting loud or likely to walk in front of a foldback monitor you might need to go to -20dB.
At the receiver end you can turn the output level down to stop the recording device (I assume a camera) from overloading. Obviously this only helps if that's what's clipped, first you must get the transmitter level right, don't use too much input attentuation or the noise floor will get you.
By the way to fix clipping try Clipped Peak Restoration in Sound Forge, I've fixed many such problems. One tip though, you have to get the clipping to be hard digital clipping for the FX to do its thing, usually that means adding 1 to 3dB of gain first then apply the Clipped Peak Restoration. I've managed to pull back material that was at least 10dB clipped this way, not a pristine result but acceptable for speech.
Bob Grant is offline   Reply With Quote
Old February 6th, 2006, 09:27 AM   #3
Major Player
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 613
Geez, Maximo, what documentaries are you doing? "When Earthquakes Attack"? Why are people screaming? LOL

But seriously, Bob hit the nail on the head with this one. If his solution isn't working for you, there's always the option of a different microphone and yes, a mixer of some sort. The Beachtek DXA8 is a fine mixer and then you have your selection of external mixers if need be, the Tascam HD-P2 recorder seems pretty interesting, but it's $1,200 or something like that.

However, as Bob has said, the problem seems to stem from your microphone, the G2. Sounds like it's a microphone-specific problem so I'd think about that first before anything.
__________________
"Babs Do or Babs Do not, there is no try." - Zack Birlew
www.BabsDoProductions.com
Zack Birlew is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > The Tools of DV and HD Production > All Things Audio

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:00 PM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network