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Adam Lawrence · April 22nd, 2002, 09:58 AM

curious question...

I was shooting at a concert last week and on some points the sound was too hot due to the giant amplifier next to the camera.

is it possible to ruin the audio input in the XL1 by recording hot sound or
capturing sound next to a high sound source?

Joe Redifer · April 22nd, 2002, 10:13 AM

Good question! Though I would be more worried about my ears. Just be sure to lower the audio level of the XL1. I was at a wedding recently and was standing next to the lousy DJ's loud amp and of course the audio was completely distorted. I then reduced the recording level on my XL1 by an incredible amount and the audio layed down on tape sounded great. Don't know if repeated exposure would blow up the microphone (so to speak) or not. I don't think the XL1 itself or anything other than the mic can be damaged.

Adrian Douglas · April 22nd, 2002, 10:29 AM

Joe,

was the DJ's music still distorted? I would think that if the source is distorted then lowering the imput level would just make for quieter distorted audio.

Adam Lawrence · April 22nd, 2002, 12:38 PM

right..

i did lower the levels and it did sound good!

though before i lowered the sound level it was very hot and hope i didnt
damage anything, kinda like when you can burn your CCD by shooting
directly into the sun.

Don Palomaki · April 22nd, 2002, 01:21 PM

Extremely loud sound might hurt a mic, but your ears would be toast too, so that is not likley to be an issue. Loud output from a otherwise working mic is unlikely to damage the XL1 mic preamps.

If you are in loud venues consider using the MIC ATT setting. This will reduce the chance of overloading the mic preamps (could cause clipping) The preamps are ahead of the manual gain controls.

Joe Redifer · April 22nd, 2002, 05:34 PM

Adrain-

No the sound was distorted on the tape because I was standing next to a very loud amp. The level meters on the XL1 were topped out the entire time. I turned the level down on the XL1 until the meters had quite a bit of movement to them again and suddenly the audio was super clean.

April 22nd, 2002, 09:58 AM	#1
Adam Lawrence _redone_ Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 224	audio curious question... I was shooting at a concert last week and on some points the sound was too hot due to the giant amplifier next to the camera. is it possible to ruin the audio input in the XL1 by recording hot sound or capturing sound next to a high sound source? __________________ Adam Lawrence eatdrink Media Las Vegas NV www.eatdrinkmedia.com

April 22nd, 2002, 10:29 AM	#3
Adrian Douglas Trustee Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Chigasaki, Japan. Posts: 1,660	Joe, was the DJ's music still distorted? I would think that if the source is distorted then lowering the imput level would just make for quieter distorted audio. __________________ Adrian DVInfo.net Search for quick answers Where to buy? From the best in the business...DVInfo.net sponsors

April 22nd, 2002, 12:38 PM	#4
Adam Lawrence _redone_ Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 224	audio right.. i did lower the levels and it did sound good! though before i lowered the sound level it was very hot and hope i didnt damage anything, kinda like when you can burn your CCD by shooting directly into the sun. __________________ Adam Lawrence eatdrink Media Las Vegas NV www.eatdrinkmedia.com

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April 22nd, 2002, 10:13 AM	#2
Joe Redifer Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 290	Good question! Though I would be more worried about my ears. Just be sure to lower the audio level of the XL1. I was at a wedding recently and was standing next to the lousy DJ's loud amp and of course the audio was completely distorted. I then reduced the recording level on my XL1 by an incredible amount and the audio layed down on tape sounded great. Don't know if repeated exposure would blow up the microphone (so to speak) or not. I don't think the XL1 itself or anything other than the mic can be damaged.

April 22nd, 2002, 01:21 PM	#5
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,487	Extremely loud sound might hurt a mic, but your ears would be toast too, so that is not likley to be an issue. Loud output from a otherwise working mic is unlikely to damage the XL1 mic preamps. If you are in loud venues consider using the MIC ATT setting. This will reduce the chance of overloading the mic preamps (could cause clipping) The preamps are ahead of the manual gain controls.

April 22nd, 2002, 05:34 PM	#6
Joe Redifer Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 290	Adrain- No the sound was distorted on the tape because I was standing next to a very loud amp. The level meters on the XL1 were topped out the entire time. I turned the level down on the XL1 until the meters had quite a bit of movement to them again and suddenly the audio was super clean.