line in question on the PD-170
 

Can anyone tell me if going "line in" vs "mic in" makes in difference in sound on the Sony PD-170?
In other words does it bypass the camera preamps going through line in?

Thanks
Ben

I don't think there's any difference - the line in is just a padded-down mic in. My memory's hazy though, hopefully someone else can back me up.

Thats kinda what I was thinking, but one thing that I dont undestand is Beachtek claims on the DXA-6HD that it "Connects to the camcorder in LINE-IN mode to bypass the internal camcorder preamplifiers for exceptional audio performance". I know that this unit is designed for the FX1, but If there is not a seperate connector (and there is not on the FX1 or the PD-170) how can it be bypassing the camera preamps?

You have to go in the XLR's and the line in is as mentioned just a pad. No point using it. Better to go in at mic level. The BBC did a mod on the PD series where by the output phonos (if I remember right) where rewired to go straight to the line in amps thus bypassing the noisey pre amps. That is the only way to get the darn things sounding good.

So I'm now thinking that using an external low noise pre amp, say one built in to a mixer is the best way to go into the camera, even though it still goes through the preamps in the camera I will be able to keep the in camera level low thus minimizing the noise from the camera preamps. The nosie I have noticed so far from the camera preamps can be filtered out in post. Its an extra step but I think its easier that trying to keep in sync with an external recorder.

I would use a mixer for sure and set level at -18 (UK style) Aim to peak no more than 8 db higher, ie at -10 dbfs. The PD150 is very unforgiving of being driven too hard. These standard levels are if anything too hot for the PD150. Monitor from the headphone jack on the camera so as to know if you get cracking which is how they sound when they get too much level. Very unpleasant.

If you need high quality sound then a second recorder, if it's any good, is not a bad idea. Maybe just run a back up and see how you get on in your first day.