fx1 + beachtek

Jamie Walshe · November 27th, 2007, 07:21 AM

ive recently got a beachtek for my fx1 (dxa-4) and have just got around to playing about with it, but im having a bit of trouble setting it up correctly. i have the audio settings on manual on the camera (dial is at around 4) and with the beachtek on 'mic' sounds appear to be very quiet and weirdly recorded. when i switch to line mode everything is fine (bar a hissing, which i would imagine isnt recorded and due to the headphones) and the audio levels are good both in playback and whilst recording. im using a rode ntg2.

should i be using line mode or mic on the beachtek? can anyone give me any maintenance tips on making sure my beachtek stays in decent shape?

thanks a lot

Chris Barcellos · November 27th, 2007, 10:23 AM

I shoot with a ME66, with the Beachteck, and FX-1. I set the Beachteck to mono, so it feeds both tracks, and set plug the mic into either XLR port. I set the dials on the mic Beachteck around 8, and then adjust the camera input to a point where the speakers loudest voice keeps things still under
0 db (doesn't go into red). You have to have manual selected on the audio input and be sure display is set to on to see the sound bars.

Tony Neal · November 27th, 2007, 03:33 PM

Don't forget that you have to set the FX1 to EXT MIC otherwise the sound is going to be very thin.

I've had an FX1 and a dxa-4 for nearly three years and the maintenance regime for the Beachtek is ...

1. Use it
2. Throw it into your camera case/equipment bag till next time.
3. Repeat 1 & 2 a hundred or so times.
4. Think about spraying the sockets and plug with some WD-40

Its the perfect piece of kit - no moving parts, no power supply, no microprocessor - it should last forever.

Jamie Walshe · November 28th, 2007, 02:52 AM

yeah its set to ext mic, and i figured maintenance could be as easy as that!

i was just wondering what setting the switch on the beachtek should be on, mic or line? line sounds much louder (and the levels are much higher), but im not sure what the difference would be.

Chris Barcellos · November 28th, 2007, 02:54 AM

Setting on beachtek should be mic.

Jamie Walshe · November 28th, 2007, 05:28 AM

thanks chris

Serena Steuart · November 30th, 2007, 12:23 AM

The thing is that the BeachTek is a passive device (no gain, no amplifier) and can only attenuate the signal. If the recording situation would require 6 on the camera to get a good recording, then setting that on the camera will require your Beachtek setting to be at maximum. Similarly, it must be set to "mic" for a microphone input.

November 27th, 2007, 07:21 AM	#1
Jamie Walshe New Boot Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 5	fx1 + beachtek - settings? ive recently got a beachtek for my fx1 (dxa-4) and have just got around to playing about with it, but im having a bit of trouble setting it up correctly. i have the audio settings on manual on the camera (dial is at around 4) and with the beachtek on 'mic' sounds appear to be very quiet and weirdly recorded. when i switch to line mode everything is fine (bar a hissing, which i would imagine isnt recorded and due to the headphones) and the audio levels are good both in playback and whilst recording. im using a rode ntg2. should i be using line mode or mic on the beachtek? can anyone give me any maintenance tips on making sure my beachtek stays in decent shape? thanks a lot

November 27th, 2007, 10:23 AM	#2
Chris Barcellos Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Elk Grove CA Posts: 6,838	I shoot with a ME66, with the Beachteck, and FX-1. I set the Beachteck to mono, so it feeds both tracks, and set plug the mic into either XLR port. I set the dials on the mic Beachteck around 8, and then adjust the camera input to a point where the speakers loudest voice keeps things still under 0 db (doesn't go into red). You have to have manual selected on the audio input and be sure display is set to on to see the sound bars. __________________ Chris J. Barcellos

November 28th, 2007, 02:54 AM	#5
Chris Barcellos Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Elk Grove CA Posts: 6,838	Setting on beachtek should be mic. __________________ Chris J. Barcellos

November 27th, 2007, 03:33 PM	#3
Tony Neal Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Fareham, UK Posts: 160	Don't forget that you have to set the FX1 to EXT MIC otherwise the sound is going to be very thin. I've had an FX1 and a dxa-4 for nearly three years and the maintenance regime for the Beachtek is ... 1. Use it 2. Throw it into your camera case/equipment bag till next time. 3. Repeat 1 & 2 a hundred or so times. 4. Think about spraying the sockets and plug with some WD-40 Its the perfect piece of kit - no moving parts, no power supply, no microprocessor - it should last forever.

November 28th, 2007, 02:52 AM	#4
Jamie Walshe New Boot Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 5	yeah its set to ext mic, and i figured maintenance could be as easy as that! i was just wondering what setting the switch on the beachtek should be on, mic or line? line sounds much louder (and the levels are much higher), but im not sure what the difference would be.

November 28th, 2007, 05:28 AM	#6
Jamie Walshe New Boot Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 5	thanks chris

November 30th, 2007, 12:23 AM	#7
Serena Steuart Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Studio Alnitak, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Posts: 640 Images: 3	The thing is that the BeachTek is a passive device (no gain, no amplifier) and can only attenuate the signal. If the recording situation would require 6 on the camera to get a good recording, then setting that on the camera will require your Beachtek setting to be at maximum. Similarly, it must be set to "mic" for a microphone input.