302 techniques with XH-A1
 

Someone who should know said that when using the Sounddevices 302 mixer with an XH-A1 Canon camcorder to put the output on the 302 to tape and set the camcorder inputs to mic rather than line in.


Does this make sense and why?

I have a Canon H1 (not an A1) and a 302. You can set the 302 to mic or line level out. Make sure you monitor w headphones. The first time I used the 302 I had it set to line and didn't monitor the signal w phones. The levels looked good, so I didn't bother. When I got home the audio was all distorted.
Bruce S. yarock
www.yarock.com

302
 

3 x XLR input, 2 x XLR output, TA3 Tape Output, TA3 Mix In, 1/8" Return, 1/8" hp

...copied from the mfg's website. TA3 Tape Output..........I haven't actually used one yet but apparently you can use this, according to one of the sound device techs.

Level wise, it's supposed to be between the line out and mic out, if I understood the tech correctly.

What he was referring to it that he says the line level input on the XL-H1 is low, so you have to crank up the input gain on the camera. But not too much as you would with line out. Since the idea is to attempt to minimize the lower quality input from onboard camera sound amplification and resultant distortion, you can use the tape output from the 302 into the mic level input on the camera. Then you are able to lower the gain or volume levels on the camera thereby lowering the on camera distortion and use more of the mixer's quality.

He said he thinks all the Canon HDV cameras work the same way audiowise. I can't say, because I only have the XH-A1 (which by the way now has a $250 rebate) and no mixer, except for a beachtek. That will change.

Their specs say the TA3 line out is stereo unbalanced with a nominal level of -15dBV, a little cooler than the normal consumer equipment 'line level' of -10dBV jacks but should work fine.