Info on BeachTek Website for new adapter
 

What's the price going to be, Bryan? It looks like a nice unit.

$399 US list

Are you getting one? How much better is it than the one you already have?

I have a Sound Devices 302 mixer, which is a whole lot better than this unit. One thing that my 302 doesn't have is this degree of portability though. This attaches to the bottom of any camera.

Carlos has a similar unit that is available for the same money. I posted a link to that one earlier in the week. Carlos is a gentleman, in that he doesn't use this site to push his wares. If you ask him, i'm sure he would give us a blurb on his product. Rumor has it that he would also offer a discount to Forum members. He already offers a healthy discount to students and teachers.

If you're comparing it to a basic beachteck (which i still have) it's a whole new ball game. With preamps, limiters and phantom you can use pretty well any mic with better results. The preamps in this rig are most likley head and shoulders above those in a consumer / prosumer video camera.

Thanks, Bryan. I had no idea Carlos had mixers for sale. I'll look for that thread.

Is this the thread? http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...threadid=18872

This product has mic level outputs, I assume. And the gain adjustment is +/- 12 dB. This seems pretty limiting. The gain range is really 0-12 dB. The sensitivity of dynamic and condenser mics is wider than that. Also, if you wanted to plug a line level device into the XLR inputs (like the output of a wireless receiver or a field mixer) there isn't enough attenuation to reduce the line-level to mic voltages. With the other Beachteks, like my DXA-6, there's 50dB of pad to run line levels into the mic level cam inputs.

Am I missing something?

Dan , i see your point, a dynamic can be at -55db while a hot condenser can be as high as -30 db. Harry Kaufman is no fool and talks to Jay Rose and others to get a better feel for the market. There is a notice on the site that specs are forthcoming ASAP. Harry did say that the output was -35db.

Call him and ask how this unit will handle a line level input. Bear in mind that in some instances I have to pad the output of my $1100 Sound Devices unit. There is no such thing as a unit that will do everything. Pads are cheap.

I meant no criticism, just a newbie curiousity question based on my limited studying and thinking about "good" audio into MinDV cams. I agree that the Beachtec DXA-6 is a fine product and fills a real need out here (at least it does for me). If Beachtec thinks there is a market for this new product, I believe them. I'll be interested in reading the specs.

On the other hand, my next cam will have dual XLR inputs with 48v, line level inputs, and plenty of selection, gain and control options.

Dan, Don't appologize, you were right to mention that. I kinda thought it but said , "nah" they must've meant somthing else. I certainly hope they meant something else.

It's interesting that the photo on their website shows the DXA-8 attached to a PDX-10. The PDX-10 has its own XLR block with phantom power, although it isn't on the camera in this picture. It connects through the hotshoe which presumably offers some advantages to using the miniplug. PDX-10 owners are an unlikely market for this product since its audio is already highly regarded; I wonder why they don't show it on a VX-2100?

Perhaps the VX2100 isn't available in Canada yet? (Always answer a question with a question, which leads to more questions.)

:-))

It's available in Toronto at the store where I bought my GL2 this week...

<<<-- Originally posted by Frank Granovski : Perhaps the VX2100 isn't available in Canada yet? (Always answer a question with a question, which leads to more questions.)

:-)) -->>>

Rainer
Welcome to the group, I'm up the highway another 20 minutes.

Harry was in a hurry to get something on the web site. I don't think it matters what camera it's on.

Where did you buy from, Vistek, Dvshop , Merkle or Henry's. That's pretty well all we have here.

Henry's. I checked Vistek, Merkle, and Henry's. Henry's had GL2's on sale until Dec 31...

Their website shows them having VX2100's in stock in their Toronto store.

I spoke with harry Kaufman, owner of BeachTec and asked him about the 12 db gain.

His attitude is that the unit will just preamplify a mic enough so that the onboard preamp will be able to be set below 40-50% gain. He does have a point that boosting the output to line level is a waste since the mic attenuate circuit just drops the signal to miv level anyway.

The big plus for me will be a unit with phantom and enough preamplification so I don't over drive my onboard pre , that can actually screw onto the camera. The limiters will be a another big plus.

Anyone have a release date for this product?

Thanks

Sorry I just noticed on the website available in Feb.

I do know of one similar product if anyone is
thinking about going down this road. It is the
PSC Mjr. I considered the Mjr at one point
myself, but I did a mock up of it, and the size
of it seemed a bit much for hand-held work.
Quality of the PSC is probably as good
or better than BeachTek.

http://www.raycom.co.uk/psc/mjr2.html

There's always this one as well
http://www.preciseaudio.com/brochure.html

I think Carlos mentioned a discount for DVINFO. NET members

Preamp discount
 

<<<-- Originally posted by Bryan Beasleigh : There's always this one as well
http://www.preciseaudio.com/brochure.html

I think Carlos mentioned a discount for DVINFO. NET members -->>>

Yes, we are making things easier for DVinfo members. If people identify themselves as such, the preamp price will be $300.

The leather pouch is an optional, but we can also make a special price for it.

Please check with my sales manager by mail or phone:

305 776-0732

sales@preciseaudio.com

Thanks!



Carlos E. Martinez
PRECISION AUDIO PRODUCTS INC.

Carlos,
How is that preamp usually used? At the operator's side with belt clips? In the leather pouch, while the pouch is belt clipped?

It looks small enough to be camera mounted.
Carlos, is there a bracket or any way of attaching the unit to a camera?

<<<-- Originally posted by Dave Largent : Carlos,
How is that preamp usually used? At the operator's side
with belt clips? In the leather pouch, while the pouch
is belt clipped? -->>>

Dave,

It was designed to use in the leather pouch, across the shoulder or held from your belt.

We also thought of adding a belt clip on the box itself, which might be eventually provided if we have enough requests.

You may also hot glue a velcro piece on the bottom, say 2" x 3", and attach it somewhere, like onto a bracket, where you should glue the other velcro part.

The reason we designed it for leather pouch use was to leave the camera more balanced and so it could hold a portable recorder, like a DAT or MD. As you should know I am an advocate for double system sound.

There's a pocket up front. You can use it for DV tapes, which I do myself when shooting single-system video.


Carlos

<<<-- Originally posted by Bryan Beasleigh : It looks small enough to be camera mounted.
Carlos, is there a bracket or any way of attaching the unit to a camera? -->>>

It certainly can be attached to a camera, like using a bracket like this one:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=284435&is=REG

A 2" x 3" velcro piece hot glued on preamp and bracket should do the job.

Even if it's against my belief, as I think it's much better to use it on your shoulder or belt, a bracket provides a good way to know what your settings are.

To those not having XLR inputs, please provide a camera-secured cable. If necessary I can suggest some additional tips on how to go about it. Of course you do not need to buy the preamp to get the tips.

Do go to our site and read my tutorial.

If you have any questions please ask today and tomorrow, as I will be out until February 2.



Carlos E. Martinez