sound devices 302 mixer needs to be cranked max with max gain?! low levels?! at DVinfo.net

David Aviv Nussbaum · July 9th, 2011, 05:47 AM

Hi, so we were filming with a sound device 302 mixer to capture audio and we had to turn it ALL the way up AND GAIN ALL THE WAY UP just to barely get in the sweet spot between -18 and -12. None of us are pros with audio and we are a bit confused. We had a senheiiser mkh416 and surely we are doing something wrong? We do not know the proper settings. The audio turned out find and can be boosted in pro but surely it shouldn't have to be cranked up all the way with gain all the way when just 3 feet from the actor?

oh, and yes we did a 1k tone to match the audio recording devices sweet spot!

Daniel Epstein · July 9th, 2011, 07:46 AM

David,
What camera or recorder where you using? Sound Devices line output can be a bit low for some cameras. There have been plenty of discussions about this using Canon XLH1 cameras. You might want to search there to get your answers.

Steve House · July 9th, 2011, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Aviv Nussbaum

Hi, so we were filming with a sound device 302 mixer to capture audio and we had to turn it ALL the way up AND GAIN ALL THE WAY UP just to barely get in the sweet spot between -18 and -12. None of us are pros with audio and we are a bit confused. We had a senheiiser mkh416 and surely we are doing something wrong? We do not know the proper settings. The audio turned out find and can be boosted in pro but surely it shouldn't have to be cranked up all the way with gain all the way when just 3 feet from the actor?

oh, and yes we did a 1k tone to match the audio recording devices sweet spot!

As was said in the other forum, 3 feet is too far away from the subject for good dialog recording. 18 to 24 inches and aimed right at the talent's mouth is more like it. Has the mixer's output level been adjusted in it's menu away from the factory default line level?

July 9th, 2011, 05:47 AM	#1
David Aviv Nussbaum Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: United States Posts: 32	sound devices 302 mixer needs to be cranked max with max gain?! low levels?! Hi, so we were filming with a sound device 302 mixer to capture audio and we had to turn it ALL the way up AND GAIN ALL THE WAY UP just to barely get in the sweet spot between -18 and -12. None of us are pros with audio and we are a bit confused. We had a senheiiser mkh416 and surely we are doing something wrong? We do not know the proper settings. The audio turned out find and can be boosted in pro but surely it shouldn't have to be cranked up all the way with gain all the way when just 3 feet from the actor? oh, and yes we did a 1k tone to match the audio recording devices sweet spot!

July 9th, 2011, 07:46 AM	#2
Daniel Epstein Trustee Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New York, NY Posts: 1,267	Re: sound devices 302 mixer needs to be cranked max with max gain?! low levels?! David, What camera or recorder where you using? Sound Devices line output can be a bit low for some cameras. There have been plenty of discussions about this using Canon XLH1 cameras. You might want to search there to get your answers.