Is it ok to feed a mixing board to a body pack transmitter? at DVinfo.net

Dan Gonzales · March 24th, 2007, 05:06 PM

I need to feed a mixing board to a Azden 10BT body-pack transmitter. Can I get the monitor out or headphone out? Just don't want to damge the transmitter. Dan.

Bill Davis · March 24th, 2007, 05:43 PM

Sure.

You want to be sure that the mixer output is at microphone level, which is what the bodypack is expecting to see at it's input. Mixers will often be switchable at the output. If all the mixer will output is LINE LEVEL, then that WILL overdrive the bodypack unless it has some kind of trim control on it's input circuit.

The simple and expensive solution is to use an "in line pad" from a catalog like Markertek or TecNec that will drop a line level to mic level - then just feed that properly diminished signal to your transmitter with an XLR to whatever the bodypack wants adaptor.

Bill Davis · March 24th, 2007, 05:44 PM

OOps, typo - that's simple and INexpensive solution...

Scott Brickert · March 28th, 2007, 01:27 PM

How much attenuation? I see M-audio sells a 10dB pad with 1/8" plug for their MicroTrack. Is there a standardized difference between line level and mic level?

Daniel Epstein · March 28th, 2007, 01:59 PM

There are specs for what standard line level and mic level are supposed to be but many manufacturers don't quite follow them

Rohan Dadswell · March 28th, 2007, 04:24 PM

There are a couple of different versions of line level.
With my Lectrosonics transmitters I use a 50db pad to pull down line to mic.
10db is really just for fine tuning the different line levels not pulling it down to mic level.

Michael Liebergot · March 29th, 2007, 10:30 AM

Take a look at either of these Atteuator Pads.

Audio Technica AT8202
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search

or the

Rolls DB Matchbox
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search

Both should pad your signal very well, and are very easy to use. I would pad your signal to 30-40db most likely.

Brett Sherman · April 1st, 2007, 08:06 AM

From my experience, in most situations where a mixer is used they don't output a very hot level. Especially in PA situations where the master output level is used to control the loudness of the PA. If you are controlling the mixer yourself or if you can get a feed before the master fader and the mics are all properly gained then a -50db pad would work well. However, if that's not the case, you'll be cutting down the signal way too much. I tend to use an adjustable pad with -10db, -15db and -20db attenuators. That generally does the trick. I also have a Rolls Matchbox that I occasionally use when I need more attenuation.

March 24th, 2007, 05:06 PM	#1
Dan Gonzales Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Alton IL Posts: 46	Is it ok to feed a mixing board to a body pack transmitter? I need to feed a mixing board to a Azden 10BT body-pack transmitter. Can I get the monitor out or headphone out? Just don't want to damge the transmitter. Dan.

March 28th, 2007, 01:27 PM	#4
Scott Brickert Major Player Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Crested Butte, CO Posts: 576	How much attenuation? I see M-audio sells a 10dB pad with 1/8" plug for their MicroTrack. Is there a standardized difference between line level and mic level? __________________ Scott Shot-By-Scott

March 29th, 2007, 10:30 AM	#7
Michael Liebergot Trustee Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,505	Take a look at either of these Atteuator Pads. Audio Technica AT8202 http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search or the Rolls DB Matchbox http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ughType=search Both should pad your signal very well, and are very easy to use. I would pad your signal to 30-40db most likely. __________________ Michael www.lvpvideo.com

March 24th, 2007, 05:43 PM	#2
Bill Davis Trustee Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Scottsdale, AZ 85260 Posts: 1,538	Sure. You want to be sure that the mixer output is at microphone level, which is what the bodypack is expecting to see at it's input. Mixers will often be switchable at the output. If all the mixer will output is LINE LEVEL, then that WILL overdrive the bodypack unless it has some kind of trim control on it's input circuit. The simple and expensive solution is to use an "in line pad" from a catalog like Markertek or TecNec that will drop a line level to mic level - then just feed that properly diminished signal to your transmitter with an XLR to whatever the bodypack wants adaptor.

March 24th, 2007, 05:44 PM	#3
Bill Davis Trustee Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Scottsdale, AZ 85260 Posts: 1,538	OOps, typo - that's simple and INexpensive solution...

March 28th, 2007, 01:59 PM	#5
Daniel Epstein Trustee Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New York, NY Posts: 1,267	There are specs for what standard line level and mic level are supposed to be but many manufacturers don't quite follow them

March 28th, 2007, 04:24 PM	#6
Rohan Dadswell Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Canberra Australia Posts: 228	There are a couple of different versions of line level. With my Lectrosonics transmitters I use a 50db pad to pull down line to mic. 10db is really just for fine tuning the different line levels not pulling it down to mic level.

April 1st, 2007, 08:06 AM	#8
Brett Sherman Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mount Rainier, MD Posts: 428	From my experience, in most situations where a mixer is used they don't output a very hot level. Especially in PA situations where the master output level is used to control the loudness of the PA. If you are controlling the mixer yourself or if you can get a feed before the master fader and the mics are all properly gained then a -50db pad would work well. However, if that's not the case, you'll be cutting down the signal way too much. I tend to use an adjustable pad with -10db, -15db and -20db attenuators. That generally does the trick. I also have a Rolls Matchbox that I occasionally use when I need more attenuation.