phones levels low! at DVinfo.net

David Slingerland · October 23rd, 2002, 05:22 AM

one thing i have noticed about the xl1 is that listening while recording to sufficient audio levels is terrible difficult. Even on maximum it is low. But when i listen to xl1 standard mic i hear well but not anything i plug in to the ma-100. As a standard i try to keep the levels to a reading of 12 on the camera anymore seems to deform. The automatic level controller seems to actually record a little to loud. But using the alternater takes away most of my readings anybody have any idea why listen to anything coming from the ma-100 is so difficult? i am forced to record on manually most of the time, very difficult while shooting ,and requires a good interview style from the reporter.
And they most of the time forget to hold the mic well!

Don Palomaki · October 23rd, 2002, 06:17 AM

Do you have the MA-100 connected to the Audio 1 input?

Did you set the Audio 1 input to the appropriate level (MIC, MIC ATT, or lINE). It defaults to (consumer) LINE level input which will result in low levels if using a mic.

David Slingerland · October 23rd, 2002, 02:53 PM

yes Don, i have done all that but still it sounds very different from what i get from standard mic.

Don Palomaki · October 23rd, 2002, 06:29 PM

Which make/model external mic are you using with the MA-100? Some mics are not very sensitive or may have a high output impedance taht results in poor performance with the MA-100.

Note that with AGC mode, the camcorder attempts to keep the average audio level at around -12. During quiet passages the gain will increase and may result in a higher oveall average level they you are likley to get using manual level control. That is the price of preserving the dynamic range of the sound source.

Not your situation, but one other item some folks have run into is that some earphones are not very sensitive and the XL1 will have difficulty driving them to a hgh output level. Then it would not mattter which mic you are using.

Murray Wilkinson · October 23rd, 2002, 06:30 PM

i have found the same thing
its damn inconvenient, especially in noisy situations
I was interviewing a big-name band in australia, for TV and i could hardly hear what was being said.

Jacques Mersereau · October 23rd, 2002, 06:40 PM

What headphones are you using?

I would recommend buying some Sony 7506. They
are pretty efficient, so unless I'm doing
a rock gig, I can hear everything fine.

I've used other brands with results like those you
report.

Jeff Donald · October 23rd, 2002, 06:48 PM

The least expensive fix is a headphone amp. If you search Google >headphone amp you will find hundreds, also plans for kits. Most are in the $30 to $50 range. Some companies like Sound Devices http://www.sounddevices.com/products/mm1master.htm combine headphone amps with mic preamps.

Jeff

Don Palomaki · October 24th, 2002, 06:13 AM

Just a thought to consider: An external headphone amp is one more thing to lug about, feed with battries, manage cords, etc. It becomes somewhat a question of convenience vs. cost.

Mike Avery · October 24th, 2002, 07:53 AM

Radio Shack has a cheap fix for the low headphone level. It's a small amp that's powered by a couple of AA batteries.

It cost just twenty bucks.

I velcro'd it to the side of my camera, it's lightweight and doesn't get in the way. I don't even notice it's there.

It does boost the phone level considerably, in fact I run the gain only about halfway up.

mike avery

October 23rd, 2002, 05:22 AM	#1
David Slingerland Major Player Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Soest ,Holland Posts: 307	phones levels low! one thing i have noticed about the xl1 is that listening while recording to sufficient audio levels is terrible difficult. Even on maximum it is low. But when i listen to xl1 standard mic i hear well but not anything i plug in to the ma-100. As a standard i try to keep the levels to a reading of 12 on the camera anymore seems to deform. The automatic level controller seems to actually record a little to loud. But using the alternater takes away most of my readings anybody have any idea why listen to anything coming from the ma-100 is so difficult? i am forced to record on manually most of the time, very difficult while shooting ,and requires a good interview style from the reporter. And they most of the time forget to hold the mic well!

October 23rd, 2002, 02:53 PM	#3
David Slingerland Major Player Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Soest ,Holland Posts: 307	yes Don, i have done all that but still it sounds very different from what i get from standard mic. __________________ D.Slingerland director/cameraman http://www.slingerlandproductions.nl

October 23rd, 2002, 06:40 PM	#6
Jacques Mersereau Trustee Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 1,334	What headphones are you using? I would recommend buying some Sony 7506. They are pretty efficient, so unless I'm doing a rock gig, I can hear everything fine. I've used other brands with results like those you report. __________________ Jacques Mersereau University of Michigan-Video Studio Manager

October 24th, 2002, 07:53 AM	#9
Mike Avery Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Michigan Posts: 87	Radio Shack solution Radio Shack has a cheap fix for the low headphone level. It's a small amp that's powered by a couple of AA batteries. It cost just twenty bucks. I velcro'd it to the side of my camera, it's lightweight and doesn't get in the way. I don't even notice it's there. It does boost the phone level considerably, in fact I run the gain only about halfway up. mike avery

October 23rd, 2002, 06:17 AM	#2
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,487	Do you have the MA-100 connected to the Audio 1 input? Did you set the Audio 1 input to the appropriate level (MIC, MIC ATT, or lINE). It defaults to (consumer) LINE level input which will result in low levels if using a mic.

October 23rd, 2002, 06:29 PM	#4
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,487	Which make/model external mic are you using with the MA-100? Some mics are not very sensitive or may have a high output impedance taht results in poor performance with the MA-100. Note that with AGC mode, the camcorder attempts to keep the average audio level at around -12. During quiet passages the gain will increase and may result in a higher oveall average level they you are likley to get using manual level control. That is the price of preserving the dynamic range of the sound source. Not your situation, but one other item some folks have run into is that some earphones are not very sensitive and the XL1 will have difficulty driving them to a hgh output level. Then it would not mattter which mic you are using.

October 23rd, 2002, 06:30 PM	#5
Murray Wilkinson New Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Melbourne AUST Posts: 12	i have found the same thing its damn inconvenient, especially in noisy situations I was interviewing a big-name band in australia, for TV and i could hardly hear what was being said.

October 23rd, 2002, 06:48 PM	#7
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	The least expensive fix is a headphone amp. If you search Google >headphone amp you will find hundreds, also plans for kits. Most are in the $30 to $50 range. Some companies like Sound Devices http://www.sounddevices.com/products/mm1master.htm combine headphone amps with mic preamps. Jeff

October 24th, 2002, 06:13 AM	#8
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,487	Just a thought to consider: An external headphone amp is one more thing to lug about, feed with battries, manage cords, etc. It becomes somewhat a question of convenience vs. cost.