New Beach Tek DXA8 at DVinfo.net

Bryan Beasleigh · March 7th, 2004, 01:42 AM

I posted this in a thread below tonight and didn't want the info buried, so i'll put this in it's own thread.

I've had the oportunity to do a test on the BeachTek DXA-8 and it could be what you're looking for. It's $370 at B&H has -10 to +15 db of gain with two XLR inputs, each with with 48 volt phantom and limiters. Output is to 1/8 stereo right angled mini jack.

It's a lot smaller than the mixers we talked about and will mount to the tripod pad under your camera. There is a tripod mount under the Beach so it can still be mounted as a complete assembly. It's pretty heavily built and operates on one 9 volt battery. It output a mic level only at -35 db.

I've tested it with an AKG D230 dynamic, a schoeps, Oktava MC012 and the ME66. For the Oktava and Schoeps I needed 50 - 55% gain on the Beach and 20% on my VX2000. The Dynamic needed 75% gain on the Beach and 40% on the VX2K.

It's not a Sound Devices mixer but it certainly delivers all it advertises.

Dave Largent · March 7th, 2004, 02:51 PM

Hi Beas,
So you feel the +15 dB is adequate for most all
situations?
It's about time someone came out with something
like this. It's really not that bad a price for
what it offers.
How's the weight on that? Does it seem light or does
it seem heavy?
Any specs on the limiters?

Bryan Beasleigh · March 7th, 2004, 04:40 PM

The weight is 16oz and the limiters are fast. With my gain set so the signal hits -12 the limiters didn't even kick in.

Aaron Koolen · March 7th, 2004, 05:44 PM

Bryan, have you tried the PSC DV Promix 3 by any chance and if so how do you think it compared? I understand it doesn't fit under the camera, but I'm sure something could be made for it.

My sign video adapter has got one channel all buggered and of course it doesn't preamp, so I'm looking around for a possible replacement.

Cheers
Aaron

Bryan Beasleigh · March 7th, 2004, 07:53 PM

At 2 lbs and 10"X6" X1 1/2" , you want to strap that where??????????????

There is a price to be paid for size and convenience. It takes engineer skill and it cost's more to miniaturize something.

The Mix pre is $200 more built like a brick outhouse and 5.5"X3 1/2X1.7"

The Beach is more basic but is 5.25"x 3.25"x 1.25" and it screws to the bottom of your camera. This is not a discussion of apples to apples here.

It boils down to convenience and what would you like to pay for it.
If someone doesn't want to pay the premium they don't have to .

They can strap a full size Rolls, Art or Behringer to their backs and trail a long extension cord. No one will ever convince me that you can buy a mix board with that many pots and sliders and jacks, for that little and still have the same quality. (We are talking low end DJ mixers)

There again this is my opinion only'

Dave Largent · March 7th, 2004, 09:12 PM

The MixPre is how much?

Aaron Koolen · March 7th, 2004, 09:18 PM

I understand the size thing, it's twice the size of the Beach (And 1 lb according to their manual), but still, with a mounting bracket I don't think it'd be that much of a hassle for still stuff like interviews etc and not huge like a music mixer. Handheld, agreed, wouldn't go near it unless it was in a bag or belt. It seems to have good audio specs, metering, monitoring and provides both line and mic level out. And of course 3 audio inputs.

Anyway, topic was the BeachTeck I guess.

Aaron

Bryan Beasleigh · March 7th, 2004, 09:27 PM

Dave, that was a typo. Should have read $200 more. It's $700 vs $500 for the PSC. Sorry about that.

Aaron
I can send you clips of the beach vs the 302 vs direct to VTR through the 302.

edit: I have sent you 3 clips

Frank Granovski · March 7th, 2004, 10:01 PM

Here's the Beachtek link for the DXA8:

http://www.beachtek.com/dxa8.html

Aaron Koolen · March 7th, 2004, 10:17 PM

Bryan. Thanks for those. By direct to VTR, what do you mean? Into your modified camera, through the VTR inputs?

Aaron

Douglas Spotted Eagle · March 7th, 2004, 11:04 PM

But what happens with the gain set to turn over at -6? Seems like there would be a lot of noise, if it's only -15dB worth of gain? No sense in throwing that many bits away if you don't have to...
I'd surely like one to review for DV and DMN, Videocamera, and Pixel....Harry, hint, hint..

Bryan Beasleigh · March 7th, 2004, 11:09 PM

My camera isn't modified yet. Recording through the VTR audio terminals (RCA's), all of the camera preamps are bypassed. That's what the BBC mod does.

Bryan Beasleigh · March 7th, 2004, 11:11 PM

Douglas
You can bet it was mentioned. I'll copy you on a followup email.

What do you mean "gain set to turn over"?

The Beach acts as a booster and at mic level. Properly setup there shouldn't be any noise. For the Oktava which is 10 mv/pa I set the VX2000 at 20% gain and the beach at 55% (average -12db) with limiters on the signal never reached 0 db

March 7th, 2004, 01:42 AM	#1
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	New Beach Tek DXA8 I posted this in a thread below tonight and didn't want the info buried, so i'll put this in it's own thread. I've had the oportunity to do a test on the BeachTek DXA-8 and it could be what you're looking for. It's $370 at B&H has -10 to +15 db of gain with two XLR inputs, each with with 48 volt phantom and limiters. Output is to 1/8 stereo right angled mini jack. It's a lot smaller than the mixers we talked about and will mount to the tripod pad under your camera. There is a tripod mount under the Beach so it can still be mounted as a complete assembly. It's pretty heavily built and operates on one 9 volt battery. It output a mic level only at -35 db. I've tested it with an AKG D230 dynamic, a schoeps, Oktava MC012 and the ME66. For the Oktava and Schoeps I needed 50 - 55% gain on the Beach and 20% on my VX2000. The Dynamic needed 75% gain on the Beach and 40% on the VX2K. It's not a Sound Devices mixer but it certainly delivers all it advertises.

March 7th, 2004, 05:44 PM	#4
Aaron Koolen Trustee Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 1,727	Bryan, have you tried the PSC DV Promix 3 by any chance and if so how do you think it compared? I understand it doesn't fit under the camera, but I'm sure something could be made for it. My sign video adapter has got one channel all buggered and of course it doesn't preamp, so I'm looking around for a possible replacement. Cheers Aaron __________________ My Website Meat Free Media

March 7th, 2004, 09:18 PM	#7
Aaron Koolen Trustee Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 1,727	I understand the size thing, it's twice the size of the Beach (And 1 lb according to their manual), but still, with a mounting bracket I don't think it'd be that much of a hassle for still stuff like interviews etc and not huge like a music mixer. Handheld, agreed, wouldn't go near it unless it was in a bag or belt. It seems to have good audio specs, metering, monitoring and provides both line and mic level out. And of course 3 audio inputs. Anyway, topic was the BeachTeck I guess. Aaron __________________ My Website Meat Free Media

March 7th, 2004, 10:17 PM	#10
Aaron Koolen Trustee Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 1,727	Bryan. Thanks for those. By direct to VTR, what do you mean? Into your modified camera, through the VTR inputs? Aaron __________________ My Website Meat Free Media

March 7th, 2004, 11:04 PM	#11
Douglas Spotted Eagle VASST Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stockton, UT Posts: 5,648	But what happens with the gain set to turn over at -6? Seems like there would be a lot of noise, if it's only -15dB worth of gain? No sense in throwing that many bits away if you don't have to... I'd surely like one to review for DV and DMN, Videocamera, and Pixel....Harry, hint, hint.. __________________ Douglas Spotted Eagle/Spot Author, producer, composer Certified Sony Vegas Trainer http://www.vasst.com

March 7th, 2004, 02:51 PM	#2
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	Hi Beas, So you feel the +15 dB is adequate for most all situations? It's about time someone came out with something like this. It's really not that bad a price for what it offers. How's the weight on that? Does it seem light or does it seem heavy? Any specs on the limiters?

March 7th, 2004, 04:40 PM	#3
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	The weight is 16oz and the limiters are fast. With my gain set so the signal hits -12 the limiters didn't even kick in.

March 7th, 2004, 07:53 PM	#5
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	At 2 lbs and 10"X6" X1 1/2" , you want to strap that where?????????????? There is a price to be paid for size and convenience. It takes engineer skill and it cost's more to miniaturize something. The Mix pre is $200 more built like a brick outhouse and 5.5"X3 1/2X1.7" The Beach is more basic but is 5.25"x 3.25"x 1.25" and it screws to the bottom of your camera. This is not a discussion of apples to apples here. It boils down to convenience and what would you like to pay for it. If someone doesn't want to pay the premium they don't have to . They can strap a full size Rolls, Art or Behringer to their backs and trail a long extension cord. No one will ever convince me that you can buy a mix board with that many pots and sliders and jacks, for that little and still have the same quality. (We are talking low end DJ mixers) There again this is my opinion only'

March 7th, 2004, 09:12 PM	#6
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	The MixPre is how much?

March 7th, 2004, 09:27 PM	#8
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	Dave, that was a typo. Should have read $200 more. It's $700 vs $500 for the PSC. Sorry about that. Aaron I can send you clips of the beach vs the 302 vs direct to VTR through the 302. edit: I have sent you 3 clips

March 7th, 2004, 10:01 PM	#9
Frank Granovski Outer Circle Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hope, BC Posts: 7,524	Here's the Beachtek link for the DXA8: http://www.beachtek.com/dxa8.html

March 7th, 2004, 11:09 PM	#12
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	My camera isn't modified yet. Recording through the VTR audio terminals (RCA's), all of the camera preamps are bypassed. That's what the BBC mod does.

March 7th, 2004, 11:11 PM	#13
Bryan Beasleigh Trustee Join Date: May 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,922	Douglas You can bet it was mentioned. I'll copy you on a followup email. What do you mean "gain set to turn over"? The Beach acts as a booster and at mic level. Properly setup there shouldn't be any noise. For the Oktava which is 10 mv/pa I set the VX2000 at 20% gain and the beach at 55% (average -12db) with limiters on the signal never reached 0 db

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