Wireless Sennheiser - where to put it?
 

Hey Guys!

I just plunked down some money and bought a wireless Sennheiser lavalier mic and receiver to do a wedding. I can put the transmitter on the groom no problem, but I am worried about where the hell to put the receiver box. The GL1 is so compact there's really nowhere to attach the durn receiver box. Have any of you done this before and if you have, do you have any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

Beachtek or Studio 1 xlr pro
 

I want to have good sound on my newly ordered dv camera
the Canon XM1 {in europe} ,so after reading many posts regarding ext mics, which is the best adapter with this camera,
the Beachtek xlr adapter or the Studio 1 xlr pro.mic will be hand held.

Either
 

I have a Beachtek and have had no trouble with it. Some have reported that their Beachtek produces a low-frequency hum. Nobody that I've seen has reported trouble with the Studio One, not to say that it's perfect.

Honestly, I think either will be fine.

There's no pretty, or even convenient, way to mount a wireless receiver on the GL1. Azden has one that mounts to the camera's shoe (on the handle). Clever, but irrelevelant for your purposes.

Depending on the length of the receiver's cable you may be able to mount it to your belt or drop it in your pocket. More likely you'll have to Velcro-mount it to either the camera's handle or the lcd door for handheld shooting.

Likewise, I have used my Beachtek for several years with the XL-1 and the Sony TRV900 with no problems. In fact, I prefer it to the MA-100 since it gives you separate pots for mic and line level inputs plus you can toggle between mono and stereo. I can't speak for the Studio One since I have not used it.

Hum? What hum?

Rebate
 

So I see that the GL-1 now has a $250 rebate. What was it before, I forgot?

According to this (http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1090) thread, $100.

The increase is interesting and would surely add fuel to the argument that they are replacing it with another model.

Hmmm.....

Damn. Wish I could have waited just a bit longer. I bought my GL-1 early March because I needed to shoot some footage around late March. Could have saved some money or waited for a better model.

What's the best way to sell a GL-1? Is there a way to trade that in?

Rebate
 

Don't forget, Canon's rebates look like junk mail when you get them. They come in an envelope labeled "Advertising Bureau" or something like that. It's very easy to toss them in the garbage with the rest of the junk mail you tend to get.

I bought my camera in December and just got it last week.

Many dealers will do trade-ins; e.g., B&H, but you may do better selling it yourself. You effectively split the dealers profit with the new buyer.

With almost all technology products (except Windows - the power of monopoly) prices go down over time. Don't buy until you need it, and be prepared to see a 10% price drop a week or two later.

UMatic to GL1 dub?
 

Hi,

I'll be near the National Archives soon and I've heard that you can view film footage that has been dubbed to Umatic tape. Has anyone tried to dub this to DV via GL-1? I understand that the Umatic viewers have a BNC video out. I don't need 'broadcast' quality or cost. It would be nice if it is good quality. On another note - I also understand that you can view 16 & 35 mm film, would the quality of taping that right off a screen be OK, better or worse that UMatic?

Thanks in advance
Mark

I've done this with good results. I work a TV station, so I had an engineer make adapter cables for me. I went straight from the deck to the camera without a problem.

I've also recorded 16mm film from the projector with so-so results. It took a lot of tweaking bewteen scenes to get it right. That could've just been from really old, deteriorating film.

Hope this helps.

Hi,

Go the tape route. Umatic delivers a good picture. The problem may be with how old the tape is and how its been stored. I would think the Archives would store it properly but who knows. Composite video and line level audio should make for a decent dub. If it's old enough there is probably no sound. Trying to shoot movies off a screen or wall is full of problems. The frame rates are all wrong and the video flickers. The camera also sees the texture to the screen or wall and it makes the film look even grainier. good luck

Jeff Donald

XM1 and it's audio AGC?
 

Hi all. I am almost sold on getting myself an XM1 but I have one more thing someone just brought to light regarding it. Someone told me that the audio on the XM1 has Automatic Gain Control and that I might be in trouble if I used it for anything like filing a short film or movie.

Now, I will be getting a shotgun mic and boom with XLR adapter for it, but from what I hear that will still go through the AGC circuitry so I'll get strange happenings when shooting things like quiet sounds and the like. Is this correct?

Can someone offer some input into this - Whether my concerns are unfounded or a possible solution. I'm thinking that I might have to go to a DAT tape and use a clapper board for syncing or something? Someone even mentioned that I can get a mini-disk recorder and connect a mic to that.

Thanks in advance for the help.
Aaron

A good Sony Mini Disk is a great low cost alternative to DAT. You'll have to get an adapter to go from XLR to 1/8" and make sure you use a mike that is self powering(ie does not require phantom power). You'd have to do this with a DAT to unless you plan on spending around $5000+.

Thanks Adrian. I will look into the mini disk recorders/players I think. Are self powered mics easy to come by? I can't say I've heard of a mic that had a battery, but then again I'm new to all this.

Also, am I right about the audio on the GL1 (XM1)? If I did get an XLR adapter with controls for level adjustment, will the Auto Gain Control still kick in?

The GL1 (XM1) does have a type of AGC on the audio, but it is no where near as intrusive as typical cosnumer camcorder AGC. It operates more like an easyover limiter and acts to reduce gain if the input signal exceeds a certain level (corrresponding to about 12 dB below maximum allowable record level) to preserve haedroom for transients.

Obviously, if you have a very hot mic it will be in AGC much of the time, so it is good to have the ability to manage the mic level. Devices such as the Studio 1 Pro and beachtek do this nicely. Alternatively you can use the MIC ATT setting for a macro lsort of level control.

As to which external mic to use, depends on what you are recording. For stereo on a budget and a 3.5mm stereo connector check the AT-822 or Sony ECM-MS957. They also will work with MiniDISC recorders.

Thanks Don, I think I will go with the GL1. For mics I'm mainly doing scenes for short films and movies, with the occasional interview for hobbyist videos (Drag racing etc). The mic's that I normally see hanging off booms are Shotgun ones right? The usual silver sigar shaped ones that you see with fluffy covers around them sometimes..

Cheers

Does the GL1 not have a manual audio mode like the XL1?

Don, does the AGC circuit on the XL1/S function in the same manner as you describe for the GL1?

Ed, the XM1(GL1) doesn't have a manual sound mode.

BUMMER!

I have not compared the XL1/s AGC to the GL1 AGC, but the GL1 is advertized as being 'smart'. I gues folks wiht good ears shoud try both and see whihc they prefer. Note that the XL1 mic preamps are better than the preamps in the GL1 (substantially lower noise floor)

XM1 Accessories, where to buy?
 

Hi all

I became an XM1 owner today after a month of lurking around this forum trying to decide which camera to buy.
A BIG thanks to all that takes their valuable time to answer peoples questions on this forum. It has helped me a lot.

Now I'm in the need of some assistance. I plan to buy lots of accessories to my XM1 such as lenses, tripods, a steadycam thingie and maybe a microphone.
I've done my homework and browsed around the web searching for the most "bang for the buck" equipment out there but I'm not sure I've covered all the manufacturers.
I would be forever greatful for links to different manufacturers of these accessories:

* Lenses

* Tripods (and heads)

* Firewire card (that's known to be reliable with the XM1, PC)

* Cases (hard body, big enough to take the smaller accessories)

Thanks in advance.

Update,

I've been able to find the info I wanted for the lenses and tripods so disregard those. I still need some input though, about the remaining two.

I'm able to borrow a sound card from Creative Labs that's supposed to have firewire built in. Hopefully it'll work without any glitches but I'll have to see later this week. It feels as if I'm in for some troubles...

Best regards

i see you're in europe ..have you looked at the CEVEL IM2 made in france ?
has excellent spec's ..phantom power, bass roll off,

http://www.cevl.com/im2/im2.html

Check out Technical tab at Finding Electra
 

The people at Finding Electra are using the BeackTek on their GL-1. Check http://www.findingelectra.com

Nathan Gifford

Does the XM1 (GL1 PAL) seriously underscan?
 

I have noticed when I import my footage from the Canon XM1 (a GL1 PAL) into iMovie that there is a huge amount of area imaged that is not viewable in either the LCD screen, or the CRT view finder, and parts of the final frame that have no image at all.

I created a down and dirty 'chart' and marked off what could be seen by the LCD screen and the CRT viewfinder. What worries me the most are the two black bars on either side that seems to be completely unimaged.

Can anyone shed any light on this phenomenon?

http://www.privateerpictures.com/gl1/xm1.jpg

You lose about 8 pixels on each edge. They are in the underscan area of normal TV and Broadcast Video. They will show up on overscan monitors, full frame/field grabs, and in computer graphics systems that do not understand underscan.

This seems like the same problem that there is with the Xl1s. It has black lines of pixels on it's image also.

Does anyone know if this is a problem with all Canon DV cams? Do the sony's have it too?

They had a story on those Sony Nightshot cameras on Tech TV's Cyber Crime. People could use the night shot mode in full daylight to get voyeur pictures through some clothing. If I remember correctly, many states have outlawed the use of these cameras for that reason. As a result, these cameras are no longer being manufactured.

Believe that Sony added a filter. Actually, it was not a true x-ray vision. One coud see outlines of undergrments if the outer wear was of a fabric that was relatively transparent to IR (e.g., some synthetics). The few samples I saw posted were not impressive. If that is one's thing, better to visit the nearby adult video store, buy a tape that fits one's kinks, capture desired footage into the NLE, and filter it to give the "night-vision" look.

XM-1 (GL-1) inputs
 

I am almost about to buy the XM-1 here in Singapore, but am wondering if the camera has an RCA jack input? I'd like to copy footage from a VHS tape onto DV and put it in my computer. I've heard there are no such inputs, which I find hard to believe.

If not, how can I get this VHS footage onto DV? There must be a way with this camera.

Thanks

PATRO

From what I've heard only the NTSC GL-1 can convert analog-in to dv, not the PAL XM-1. Strange...very strange...

The PAL version don´t have analog-in because of the EUC Tax-policy at the time XM1 arrived.

Kjeld

BUT SINGAPORE'S NOT IN THE EU!!!!

So what solution is there if I need to get some VHS footage into my computer? I guess I have to have a capture card with analog inputs.

Can anybody offer any other solutions?

Thanks,

PATRO

Hi Patro,

Take a look at The Son of Watchdog GL1-411.com. I think one had made changes to his XM1 in some way.
You could get a Dazzle Holywood DV Bridge Analog/Digital Converter or
JVC HR-DV s3(0) MiniDV-VHS deck.

Kjeld

Thanks a lot.

Would a more cost-effective solution be just to buy a capture card with not only the firewire plug but analog inputs?

In other words, what extra capabilities would I gain from buying a Dazzle Holywood DV Bridge Analog/Digital Converter or
JVC HR-DV s3(0) MiniDV-VHS deck (that I wouldn't get with a capture card with both digital and analog inputs).

-PATRO

XM-1...
 

How much do u pay for the Canon Xm-1 in Singapor??
In $.....

Used XM-1?!
 

Hello, Im looking for a used Canon Xm-1 or broken if can be fixed easy.
I pay all shipping to Norway, no stress:)
Also have stuff to trade....

I posted an answer to this in the PAL and NTSC thread.