external mic connection
 

Hi
I bought a beachtec for my XL1S so that I can use an external mic when shooting interviews, etc. Try as I may i cannot get the external mic to work. What am i doing wrong? I have read and reread the lousy instructions that came with the camera and have followed the set up to the letter. If I go into VCR set up and select audio 1 as my input, I plug my RCA cables into the back of the camera and nothing happens. Not even a slight peak on the UV meter. I then tried to set it up for 2nd Audio in, plugged the cables into the second audio port near the top of the camera, went into VCR set up and selected 2nd audio, and still no sound. However, if I plug in the mini plugs of the mic that came with the camera, viola, the sound is great. So how come I can't get sound in from the external mic? BTW I do unplug the mini plugs from the mic that came with the camera when attempting to plug in the external mic. Any insight will be greatly appreciated.
Fred

Hello Fred,
Good to yet another Chicago-area member!

What mic are you trying to connect? It needs to be a dynamic mic (ie. battery-powered), since the camera cannot provide phantom power.

Did you set the toggle switches (line/mic) on the Beachtek to mic?

Did you set the XL1S' audio switch (behind the side panel door) for Audio 1?

Also, Audio 1 input may default to line level, not mic level. Be sure it is set to the appropirate input level for the mic youare using.

Note that some mic have a relatively high internal impedance and may not perform well with the Beachtek.

I know Harry from Beach Tek is more than happy to get involved in any setup problems. his number and email are on the site.
http://www.beachtek.com/

Fred,
Any success yet? Please check-in when you get a chance.

BTW, for those interested in helping Fred, through earlier email correspondence we established that he is using the correct model of BeachTek for the XL1S. He's using a Sennheiser mic (model unknown) and has made sure that the mic was on.

Thanks for all the feedback from everyone and to answer your question, Ken - no luck yet. I did order the Canon MA-100 - maybe that will serve me better -although I hate having just spent all that money on a new Beach Tek and not being able to use it. I will give Beach Tek a call tomorrow. See what they recommend. Thanks
Fred

Fred,

Is your microphone a condenser model?

Condensers require a voltage to operate a small amplifier circuit inside the microphone. This voltage is provided by a battery that goes inside the mic, a battery that goes inside an in-line "poer module" or Phantom Power. Phantom Power is a voltage sent over the mic cable. It is supplied by the mixer or an external supply. the Cannon XL1s' XLR mic adapter does not supply it.

If you mic is a Dynamic model, it should work well with your Beachteck Adapter.

Cheers

On the MA-200 there is a little plug for power. Does that serve for just a little power in signal transfere or slight changes? Or what??

That just provides a small amount of power from the camera to the MA-200.