Another sound question at DVinfo.net

Bill Pryor · September 24th, 2004, 10:24 AM

We've all heard about the non-line level input of the XLRs...but, there is the possibility that is wrong. Yesterday I spoke with a friend of mine who has regular contact with a Canon rep because the organization has ordered several XL2s. He brought up the audio issue to the rep, who checked on it. The rep claims that the camera detects automatically whether there is mic or line level coming in. If it's line level, ie., from a mixer, the camera will switch over automatically. That's what he said. I only have this second hand and don't know if it's true. I know my friend is a pro and reliable. Could be the rep is full of it, doesn't know, or it is true. I'm wondering if somebody with an XL2 and a mixer might check this out. Should be a simple thing to do...just hook up a line from the mixer to a camera XLR, flip on tone from the mixer and see what happens.

Greg Milneck · September 24th, 2004, 01:55 PM

This has been fully tested and is not correct. The XLR inputs are MIC level only.

See thread for extensive info on this subject.

Chris Hurd · September 24th, 2004, 11:31 PM

You don't have to tell Bill to see that other thread. He started that other thread.

Bill Pryor · September 25th, 2004, 08:44 AM

Yeah, i started it and I'm still in the dark about it. I don't recall seeing anything about anybody actually doing a test to see if maybe the camera does really take a line feed after all. I didn't think of it either till I got this second hand info from the Canon rep. I really would like to know if it's true or not. My natural inclination is to not believe anything any salesman says till I check it out for myself. When I first heard about no line level switches, I was incredulous, thinking it had to be a mistake. So it does make sense that the camera might take care of the issue internally and automatically. That would be very cool if it did. So far, the XL2 is very close to being a terriffic camera for the money.

Chris Hurd · September 25th, 2004, 12:04 PM

Agreed. I have serious doubts about the "automatic sensing" claim, but I'd really like somebody to try recording a mic-level source and then a line-level source through those XLR jacks and tell us what really happens.

Greg Milneck · September 25th, 2004, 02:43 PM

Sorry, I didnt realize that.
I tested the input....it is MIC level input, not LINE level. I thought I stated that clearly in the earlier thread, but I guess I didnt.

Besides, I have never seen a camera that auto switches between line/mic. It is always a physical switch....I dont see how it could auto detect and switch this.

Regardless, it is MIC LEVEL only!

Greg Milneck · September 25th, 2004, 02:45 PM

BTW Bill,
The camera will take a LINE input, but only thru the (unbalanced) RCA connector.

Bill Pryor · September 25th, 2004, 02:59 PM

Yeah, I'm aware of the RCA line inputs. Weird to have it on unbalanced but not where you need it. I keep hoping the rep was right.

Robin Davies-Rollinson · September 25th, 2004, 03:39 PM

Since there is a switch in the XLR inputs from MIC to ATTN, wouldn't this drop the input level down to LINE?

Robin.

Greg Milneck · September 25th, 2004, 04:59 PM

No, the XLR input is MIC LEVEL ONLY!
The ATT switch is a simple mic attenuator and doesnt even come close to allowing a Line level input.

Let this rest....the XLR input can NOT accept a LINE level without external help.

I own the XL2 and have personally tested this.

Evan Fisher · September 25th, 2004, 07:26 PM

I know we are trying to figure out if we have a "line in" and according to the manual (which seems to have some omissions and errors) there is no mention of one. There is mention of a "line out" which I have a question about.

In the audio setup mmenu, there is a setting "AUD. M. SET". And the choices are, "NORMAL" or "LINE OUT".

Page 28 of the manual mentions this setting and references to page 53 for an explanation. However, ther is no mention on page 53 or anywhere else for that matter.

This being the 2nd un/poorly documented item in the manual, no doubt there are more.

Any insight on what this setting is about would be helpful.

Thanks.

Chris Hurd · September 26th, 2004, 09:17 AM

Evan

Look at the very bottom of page 53, the last paragraph. This setting simply selects whether or not you want to hear the audio delay when you're monitoring with external gear (audio is always synced to video on the DV cassette).

Evan Fisher · September 26th, 2004, 10:29 AM

Oops, User error.

Thanks Chris.

Rick Step · September 27th, 2004, 11:03 AM

Don't some mixers allow you to switch between line and mic...if you have one such mixer, this wouldn't be an issue. Is that correct?

Lauri Kettunen · September 27th, 2004, 12:13 PM

Rick, mixers may have a switch between line and mic on input but not on output.

September 24th, 2004, 10:24 AM	#1
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	Another sound question We've all heard about the non-line level input of the XLRs...but, there is the possibility that is wrong. Yesterday I spoke with a friend of mine who has regular contact with a Canon rep because the organization has ordered several XL2s. He brought up the audio issue to the rep, who checked on it. The rep claims that the camera detects automatically whether there is mic or line level coming in. If it's line level, ie., from a mixer, the camera will switch over automatically. That's what he said. I only have this second hand and don't know if it's true. I know my friend is a pro and reliable. Could be the rep is full of it, doesn't know, or it is true. I'm wondering if somebody with an XL2 and a mixer might check this out. Should be a simple thing to do...just hook up a line from the mixer to a camera XLR, flip on tone from the mixer and see what happens.

September 24th, 2004, 01:55 PM	#2
Greg Milneck Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 145	This has been fully tested and is not correct. The XLR inputs are MIC level only. See thread for extensive info on this subject. __________________ www.digitalfx.tv

September 24th, 2004, 11:31 PM	#3
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	You don't have to tell Bill to see that other thread. He started that other thread. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

September 25th, 2004, 12:04 PM	#5
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	Agreed. I have serious doubts about the "automatic sensing" claim, but I'd really like somebody to try recording a mic-level source and then a line-level source through those XLR jacks and tell us what really happens. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

September 25th, 2004, 02:43 PM	#6
Greg Milneck Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 145	Sorry, I didnt realize that. I tested the input....it is MIC level input, not LINE level. I thought I stated that clearly in the earlier thread, but I guess I didnt. Besides, I have never seen a camera that auto switches between line/mic. It is always a physical switch....I dont see how it could auto detect and switch this. Regardless, it is MIC LEVEL only! __________________ www.digitalfx.tv

September 25th, 2004, 08:44 AM	#4
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	Yeah, i started it and I'm still in the dark about it. I don't recall seeing anything about anybody actually doing a test to see if maybe the camera does really take a line feed after all. I didn't think of it either till I got this second hand info from the Canon rep. I really would like to know if it's true or not. My natural inclination is to not believe anything any salesman says till I check it out for myself. When I first heard about no line level switches, I was incredulous, thinking it had to be a mistake. So it does make sense that the camera might take care of the issue internally and automatically. That would be very cool if it did. So far, the XL2 is very close to being a terriffic camera for the money.

September 25th, 2004, 02:45 PM	#7
Greg Milneck Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 145	BTW Bill, The camera will take a LINE input, but only thru the (unbalanced) RCA connector. __________________ www.digitalfx.tv

September 25th, 2004, 02:59 PM	#8
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	Yeah, I'm aware of the RCA line inputs. Weird to have it on unbalanced but not where you need it. I keep hoping the rep was right.

September 25th, 2004, 03:39 PM	#9
Robin Davies-Rollinson Trustee Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Gwaelod-y-garth, Cardiff, CYMRU/WALES Posts: 1,215	Since there is a switch in the XLR inputs from MIC to ATTN, wouldn't this drop the input level down to LINE? Robin.

September 25th, 2004, 04:59 PM	#10
Greg Milneck Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 145	No, the XLR input is MIC LEVEL ONLY! The ATT switch is a simple mic attenuator and doesnt even come close to allowing a Line level input. Let this rest....the XLR input can NOT accept a LINE level without external help. I own the XL2 and have personally tested this. __________________ www.digitalfx.tv

September 25th, 2004, 07:26 PM	#11
Evan Fisher Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Los Angeles, Ca. Posts: 137	I know we are trying to figure out if we have a "line in" and according to the manual (which seems to have some omissions and errors) there is no mention of one. There is mention of a "line out" which I have a question about. In the audio setup mmenu, there is a setting "AUD. M. SET". And the choices are, "NORMAL" or "LINE OUT". Page 28 of the manual mentions this setting and references to page 53 for an explanation. However, ther is no mention on page 53 or anywhere else for that matter. This being the 2nd un/poorly documented item in the manual, no doubt there are more. Any insight on what this setting is about would be helpful. Thanks. __________________ Fisher Media Productions

September 26th, 2004, 09:17 AM	#12
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	Evan Look at the very bottom of page 53, the last paragraph. This setting simply selects whether or not you want to hear the audio delay when you're monitoring with external gear (audio is always synced to video on the DV cassette). __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

September 26th, 2004, 10:29 AM	#13
Evan Fisher Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Los Angeles, Ca. Posts: 137	Oops, User error. Thanks Chris. __________________ Fisher Media Productions

September 27th, 2004, 11:03 AM	#14
Rick Step Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Virginia, USA Posts: 62	Don't some mixers allow you to switch between line and mic...if you have one such mixer, this wouldn't be an issue. Is that correct?

September 27th, 2004, 12:13 PM	#15
Lauri Kettunen Major Player Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Kangasala, Finland Posts: 445	Rick, mixers may have a switch between line and mic on input but not on output.