Problem with FX1 and Beachtek DXA-4X at DVinfo.net

Rick Miller · September 13th, 2006, 08:50 AM

Hello,
I recently ran into an unusal problem with my cam and BT mixer. The Beachtek is about four years old, and I used it with my VX-2000 all the time with no problems. Then purchased the FX1, and used it with the mixer about four times with no problems.

Last Friday, I was shooting at a home, and ran into the following problem. Anytime I plugged the mixer into the mic input, I would get interference noise (kinda like snow noise) just on the right channel. I could hear it in the headphones, and on the audio display on the viewfinder, I could see the level almost maxed. It was very consistent.

This happened with or without any mics plugged into it. All settings on the mixer were correct. I tried powering the camera with the battery, then with power supply, same result. I unattached the came from the tripod to see if that would help, but nope. Then went to all the different rooms in the house, same issue.

At that point, I had to get the interview shot, so I made due by plugging my wireless mic directly into the mic input. No problem there, and that told me that the problem was with the mixer, and not the mic input.

When I got back to my office, I tried plugging in the mixer to my cam again. No problem, no interference, perfect sound. I tried jiggling the cable, unplugged it a couple times, but could not duplicate the problem.

I decided to go back to the house to see if I could duplicate the problem there, and low and behold, I couldn't! I'm stumped, and somewhat concerned because now I have no idea what the problem was, and I certaintly don't want it to happen again.

Anyone ever had this type of issue? Any suggestions for troubleshooting?

Chris Barcellos · September 13th, 2006, 09:25 AM

I have the exact same set up as you.. from VX2000 to the Beachtech to the FX1. Never had that issue....Strange, but maybe some kind of problem with a short in the minijack ?? Sounds like what happens when you plug stereo mini into a/v minjack plug....

Ben Winter · September 13th, 2006, 10:25 AM

I had the same problem with my Beachtek and FX1. I traced it to a bad XLR cable.

Mark Utley · September 13th, 2006, 03:05 PM

Was your camera running on battery or AC power?

Last year, my friend (who ran a small local music venue) had an aux send running out of his sound board and into his laptop which was causing a buzz in the PA! He eventually realized it was because his laptop was running off AC power and it was probably getting dirty power. Switching to batteries eliminated the buzz.

(although if your buzz was only coming through the right channel, my explanation doesn't really make sense)

Rick Miller · September 14th, 2006, 07:58 AM

I thought of that while I was shooting. One time, years ago, I learned the hard way on the how ac power can introduce noise. Dumb me, just starting out, had no battery power, and the outlet introduced all sorts of noise, but I was stuck. Ruined the entire shoot.

Getting back to last week's shoot - the sound was very similiar to the ac power noise. I did try with just the battery, but with same problem.

I'm thinking there is maybe a short in the beachtek box, and if it happens again, I'm gonna purchase the new box that is just for the FX-1.

Jeff Zimmerman · September 25th, 2006, 09:32 AM

I had a very similiar problem on a shoot. Our sound guy had looped through my camera so he could hear what kind of feed he was giving me. At first we had alot of distortion and problems getting a clean feed through the Beachtech. After calling around and changing some settings we actual found out the volume of the headphones jack of the FX1 was causing the problem. It was turned all the way up creating the distortion. Once we turned it down the problem went away.

I'm think the volume had been turned all the way up to preview some footage on the camera without headphones. Just something to consider when troubleshooting.

September 13th, 2006, 08:50 AM	#1
Rick Miller Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: stuart, florida Posts: 76	Problem with FX1 and Beachtek DXA-4X Hello, I recently ran into an unusal problem with my cam and BT mixer. The Beachtek is about four years old, and I used it with my VX-2000 all the time with no problems. Then purchased the FX1, and used it with the mixer about four times with no problems. Last Friday, I was shooting at a home, and ran into the following problem. Anytime I plugged the mixer into the mic input, I would get interference noise (kinda like snow noise) just on the right channel. I could hear it in the headphones, and on the audio display on the viewfinder, I could see the level almost maxed. It was very consistent. This happened with or without any mics plugged into it. All settings on the mixer were correct. I tried powering the camera with the battery, then with power supply, same result. I unattached the came from the tripod to see if that would help, but nope. Then went to all the different rooms in the house, same issue. At that point, I had to get the interview shot, so I made due by plugging my wireless mic directly into the mic input. No problem there, and that told me that the problem was with the mixer, and not the mic input. When I got back to my office, I tried plugging in the mixer to my cam again. No problem, no interference, perfect sound. I tried jiggling the cable, unplugged it a couple times, but could not duplicate the problem. I decided to go back to the house to see if I could duplicate the problem there, and low and behold, I couldn't! I'm stumped, and somewhat concerned because now I have no idea what the problem was, and I certaintly don't want it to happen again. Anyone ever had this type of issue? Any suggestions for troubleshooting?

September 13th, 2006, 09:25 AM	#2
Chris Barcellos Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Elk Grove CA Posts: 6,838	I have the exact same set up as you.. from VX2000 to the Beachtech to the FX1. Never had that issue....Strange, but maybe some kind of problem with a short in the minijack ?? Sounds like what happens when you plug stereo mini into a/v minjack plug.... __________________ Chris J. Barcellos

September 13th, 2006, 10:25 AM	#3
Ben Winter Trustee Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 1,675 Images: 1	I had the same problem with my Beachtek and FX1. I traced it to a bad XLR cable. __________________ BenWinter.com

September 13th, 2006, 03:05 PM	#4
Mark Utley Major Player Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Posts: 479	Was your camera running on battery or AC power? Last year, my friend (who ran a small local music venue) had an aux send running out of his sound board and into his laptop which was causing a buzz in the PA! He eventually realized it was because his laptop was running off AC power and it was probably getting dirty power. Switching to batteries eliminated the buzz. (although if your buzz was only coming through the right channel, my explanation doesn't really make sense) __________________ Mark Utley

September 25th, 2006, 09:32 AM	#6
Jeff Zimmerman Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Brighton, Colorado Posts: 386	FX1 and Beachtech Sound Issue I had a very similiar problem on a shoot. Our sound guy had looped through my camera so he could hear what kind of feed he was giving me. At first we had alot of distortion and problems getting a clean feed through the Beachtech. After calling around and changing some settings we actual found out the volume of the headphones jack of the FX1 was causing the problem. It was turned all the way up creating the distortion. Once we turned it down the problem went away. I'm think the volume had been turned all the way up to preview some footage on the camera without headphones. Just something to consider when troubleshooting. __________________ Jeff Zimmerman • Love what I do • Colorado + North America www.m3films.com

September 14th, 2006, 07:58 AM	#5
Rick Miller Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: stuart, florida Posts: 76	I thought of that while I was shooting. One time, years ago, I learned the hard way on the how ac power can introduce noise. Dumb me, just starting out, had no battery power, and the outlet introduced all sorts of noise, but I was stuck. Ruined the entire shoot. Getting back to last week's shoot - the sound was very similiar to the ac power noise. I did try with just the battery, but with same problem. I'm thinking there is maybe a short in the beachtek box, and if it happens again, I'm gonna purchase the new box that is just for the FX-1.