Ok i'm confused as to whether I should buy a dxa 8 xlr adapter or a portable mixer...I have a boomsound setup, and a wireless setup, and at times, obviously, both will be used in conjunction. Should I be relying on a beachtek, or the mixer, or both? heres more info on the http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=294571&is=REG
mixer.
The mixer that I showed you has xlr inputs, wouldn't that make the beachtek worthless then?

thanks for any advice!

It depends on your specific camera and how you and your crew work.
I'll assume your camera doesn't have XLR inputs since you're asking about using the DXA-8. It's common to use both a mixer and an XLR adapter in combination if you want to keep the mixer (with its controls and headphone output) further away from the camera but still have a secure and balanced connection between the two. In that case you wouldn't need the extra expense and sophistication of the DXA-8 but could go with a lower model that includes line-level inputs.
If you are only a short distance away, you can use the unbalanced outs of the mixer directly into the unbalanced connections of the camera.
If you're doing run and gun, especially with only one person, then an XLR adapter by itself can be simpler and easier. But you don't have a powerful extra headphone output like you do when using a mixer.

ok, so the xlr adapter is just for the sake of portability then? Would it be ok to buy just that field mixer http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=294571&is=REG

and not a beachtek?I mean, the mixer has xlr inputs, and everything else that i need. Would it work by itself? Or am i making a mistake in this assumption?
ps if it helps, i'm goin to be using a shotty mic, and a lav system

If using the mixer by itself with a camera that has only unbalanced inputs, you'd need to make sure you could make the connection. The mixer's XLR outs are balanced and can be adjusted from line-level down to mic-level. If you use these, you'd have to use adapters or cables for unbalanced and make sure they are set at the correct level for your camera inputs.
If you use the front panel Aux output, that's already unbalanced, but it's probably a hot signal since it's also designed to drive headphones. If you connect it directly to your camera you'd have to be certain the input could handle it. If your camera can't accept a line-level signal while in camera-mode, then you'd have to attenuate this signal.
With either method, you'll need to keep the cables short and secure them from getting yanked on. That's the advantage you'd lose by not having both the mixer and BeachTek.
In addition, you'd need to make sure that the 18-volts of phantom power the mixer supplies is enough for your shotgun or other phantom-powered mics. The BeachTek puts out the full 48-volts that some mics require.

hey Jay thanks for the response. So woudl the best bet be to buy a dxa4, and that mixer i mentioned? or should i opt for the more expensive dxa 8 and combo it with the same mixer?

I would split the difference and get the DXA-6 and the mixer.
The DXA-6 offers phantom power, but is otherwise a passive device similiar to the lower BeachTeks but with a more sturdy build. It would give you the basic functions to work by itself with phantom mics, and would be more suitable when combined with the mixer.
The DXA-8 and the mixer together would be overkill, although it would work.
As I said before, for short distances and stationary positions, the mixer with the correct cables will work. If you want to be further away from the camera with the mixer or you're moving around, the BeachTek is a very good solution for attaching to the camera and receiving signals from the mixer.

Hi Jay, i'm grateful for all the info you have provided, and will take your advice. I had one question though, the beachteks have phantom power, however, the lav and shotgun mic i'm using is running off their own batteries. I'm guessing this could be a problem?

No, it's no problem. Just don't switch on the phantom power. Even if you did, with most* mics and cables it doesn't cause a problem.

*With some it could, mostly if it was a wireless receiver that uses an unbalanced adapter cable, or when you're connected to the mixer outputs. But like I said, just don't switch the phantom on. All the other controls of the BeachTek still work passively when the phantom is off.

Many mics will automatically run with phantom if it's there, even when they have a battery inside. You will get slightly better perfomance when using phantom, but the 9-volt phantom battery in the BeachTek won't last nearly as long as the internal mic battery. Like 3 to 4 hours versus 1200 hours.
Check the manufacturer's website for details on your mics or ones you might buy or borrow in the future for their power requirements.

Ok, i understand now. So, the DXa-6 it is, what about the mixer that i gave a link to, is that up for the job, quality/performance wise? Or do you have a better recommendation for that? I'm personally sold on that price, but I don't know if there are better models for similar prices. Any advice in that aspect would help greatly. Thanks again

It has a good reputation for that price point, I've never personally used one. I don't think there's anything else that's built like a field mixer that can compete with it. There are a few mini desktop mixers that can run on batteries, but they aren't convenient for mobile use. They do have better meters though.
Anything significantly better is going to cost significantly more money.

I'll be getting the beachtek this month, hopefully, but is it realistic to expect audio (whether its shotty, or lav) wi/ absolutely no hiss at all? thats the whole point of the xlr adapter, right?

The amount of noise you'll get in your recordings is much more dependent on other factors besides the BeachTek. The BeachTek can cause noise if it's not set properly or working correctly, but your mics, the mixer, your camera and what you are trying to record have much greater influence.

Dear Spike,

I highly recommend the DXA-8 BeachTek.

The limiters are great, but the most important item is that the preamplifiers are very quite (in your words: no hiss at all).

I use an XL1s which has noisy mike preamplifiers. With the gain turned up I have hiss. When I use the DXA-8 and set the gain by the DXA-8 (and set the gain on the XL1s to a low level), I have great sound and no hiss at all.

The extra money for the DXA-8 is well spent (in my opinion).

Spike, are you still going to get the mixer too or only going with a BeachTek?
If you have low-sensitivity mics, and you aren't going to get the mixer you were originally talking about, then the DXA-8 has the advantages that Dan mentioned.
If you're using mics that have a fairly high output or you're still going to get the mixer as well, then I'd still say the DXA-6 would be a better match.
Plus your long-term plans for keeping the XL-1 camera come into play. How long before you change to a camera with XLR inputs?
Whatever you get, BeachTeks are easily re-sold if you change cameras.

Hi Jay, to clear up a few things, heres the list of equipment that I have and will be working with. A sony vx2k, a at55 (wil be getting at897 but lets just say AT55 for now), a sennheiser ew100 G2 series lav system...
The AT55 is battery powered btw and so is the senny lav. My shooting regiment will include stationary shots, along with on the go footage. Now that you have an idea of the equipment, please go ahead and tell me what you think I should get (even though the past few posts did do that! lol) Thanks a lot btw.

I don't know why I thought you had an XL1. At any rate the VX2000 needs hotter mics or preamping even more than the XL1 does.
The G2 wireless receiver can be set for a wide range of output from normal mic-level to almost line-level output. So it's very flexible.
The ATR55 is way down the list of mics. Get that AT897 as soon as you can. It's a great mic for the money. However it does have only a moderate sensitivity level. It's very clean but works well with cameras like the DVX100a that have very sensitive mic inputs.
Since it doesn't sound like getting the mixer is all that important to you anymore, the DXA-8 would be worth it when combining the AT897 with the VX2K.
However, if that extra cost made you put off replacing the ATR55, then I'd re-evaluate. It will be like night and day when comparing the two mics but you have to work within your budget. So you still have some deciding to do.

I'm really thinking about getting the AT897 but am unsure as of now, because I want to get other "accessories" such as a monopod and shoulder stabilization etc.. Plus, we are also getting a XL-1S onto our arsenal...
my question to you is, when would a mixer come in handy? Lets say we take the vx2k and the dxa-8 and go around shooting, would there be a need for a mixer at al, if we only plan to use the mentioned lav and shotty for all shoots..?

I'm coming to this one late, so forgive me for butting in, Jay...
Spike, you won't need a mixer at all if you're just using a lav and a shotgun. The Beachtek will manage the two inputs just fine.
While you're out buying accessories, toss a pair of Sony MDR 7506 headphones into the basket, don't ever turn on a camera without headphones connected.

i hear you, i got a pair of studio production headphones that i'll be putting to good use... Just curious, when would a person need a mixer then? for inputs >2?

You need a mixer when:
You have more than 2 mics and your cam only takes 2
or
you need to blend a CD player, tape deck, or other device in with the microphones you're recording
or,
you are using outside recording gear and need to control levels
or
you have lots of mic feeds and need to feed a cam AND recording gear

And a few other instances. But for run n' gun, you don't need a mixer. It's just additional gear.

A quick summary:
This thread started out with the main question being "3-channel mixer or BeachTek?" Then it moved to "you need both to cover everything". Then progressed to "which BeachTek?" And then, "which BeachTek if you don't get the mixer?" Following with "the mics need to be upgraded" and "the VX2K would greatly benefit from preamps like in the DXA-8 or the field mixer."
It seems like now run and gun seems more important than more stationary interview type situations. If that's the case, I would go with the DXA-8 for your specific camera, but you really need to get the AT897 as quickly as you can. It will be the single biggest improvement in your sound versus the ATR55.
So, all the info has been good info, you just need to focus on your budget and the specific activities you're recording. And don't forget one other thing that hasn't been discussed, wind protection.

Thanks for all info and the patience. I'll definitely take your advice regarding the AT microphone. We're planning on using the lav most of the time, but we're not sure which/ or what sort of mic to use to capture ambient background noise that'll be mixed in... I'm guessing a shotgun with it's directional pick up is not a good thing for this case? What other sort of mics should I look at if I want to pick up environment sounds..

It depends on the situation. Sometimes a shotgun is appropriate when you still want some isolation and the acoustics of your location are suitable for a shotgun. Other times a hypercardioid or cardioid mic is better suited when you want wider pickup, or the reverb of a small, lively room makes a shotgun sound strange. Still other times need a stereo mic attached to a separate recorder to get an interesting ambience.
Search the threads here, there are plenty of discussions of hypercardioid and cardioid mics that are suitable for on and off-camera use.