Hello from Orange County, California
 

Ahhh, I can finally post! Seemed like forever to get processed! Seriously though, I'm an "A-type" so things are never fast enough. I just got an XH-A1 and had hoped to be able to communicate on the board in time to get some input for a concert that I'm shooting tonight. My family foundation has a scholarship program for string instrument players. So I end up filming a lot of recitals, auditions, concerts, etc. One of the musicians that lived with us, a pianist, came up with the idea of putting on a concert featuring some of our past and present scholars. Chapman University Conservatory of Music graciously offered to provide a venue. So there you have it.

Most of my questions related to audio. And, I must say, I did find a wealth of information on this forum. I learned quite a bit in a few days. Question: Is it safe to say that the XH-A1 doesn't have a clipping indicator? Personally, I think that would be a helpful feature. I'm using a Rode small diaphram stereo mic placed in front of the audience from which I feed a mixer that splits the audio to the XH-A1 and an Endirol digital recorder (allowing me to get a 24 bit 96kHz audio file).

My biggest concern, of course, was to have sufficient gain without clipping. Listening through the XH-A1's monitor was a passable solution, but I was concerned that the XH-A1 had issues regarding the sturdiness of the 1/8" monitoring jack (corrected in the S1). I toyed with the idea of connecting a portable dual trace oscilloscope so I could avoid excessive cable movement and actually observe the clipping, but that had another set of problems. I ordered a Rane Gain Test Set, but Guitar Center won't have it for me until next week (sounds like a nice unit and it's only $80-100, depending on how you get it -- will let everyone know if it works well).

One last thing. I read a suggestion somewhere on this board that local musicians could be used for background music, etc. Well, if that's something any of you in the LA / OC area need, please feel free to contact me. No guarantee of course, but we have gotten to know all sorts of musicians, choirs, orchestras, etc., etc. and one of my Ukrainian "daughters" is marrying a conductor (who's going to end up living with us too). Also, one of our current scholars, a fellow from Austria, is in film school at Chapman University ... all sorts of possibilities for mutual benefit there.