I once voiced over using a recording made with the on-board XL1 mike, captured that into Premiere, dumped the video and just used the .WAV file. Worked fine for me.

Help with mic set up
 

I am using the ma-100 with an Azden 500 wireless system. I can get the wireless system working fine along with the supplied mic. Here is my question.. Can I also add a wired handheld mic through the other xlr connection on the ma-100.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Dane

Dane,

Sure can, here is a link that may help
http://www.dvinfo.net/canon/articles/article71.php

Wow, Kingsland! Thats a hoppng place!

The main trick will be balance between the source. Best if you can set the wireless and handheld mic to hve about the same output level.

Can you shoot at 24-25 fps on the xl1?
 

I was curious to see if that can be done? If not, I guess you would have to make the adjustments on a NLE program?

You can shoot 25fps on a PAL XL1. Otherwise the answer is no.

Dylan is correct!

- don

purpose of mixer?
 

Please forgive my ignorance but I'm a complete beginner to digital filmmaking with the Canon XL1. I'm trying to pick up as much as I can from all the insightful and knowledgeable posts here.

With that warning aside, what's the purpose of a microphone mixer? From what I've been able to gather from the posts, a mixer can 1) give the mic the phantom power it needs, 2) give a boost to diminished sound caused by long cables.


By the way, any pointers to FAQs on any subjects related to digital filmmaking (particularly with the XL1) would be much appreciated. Thanks!

A mixer allows mixing the audio from several soruces, independently adjusting the level, equalization (with better mixers), and pan (left/right) of each input. It also provides a preamplifier and phantom power which may be needed for some mics.

Often is overkill for use with a camcorder, but very useful in more complex audio siturations.

XL-1 video input
 

I've had the XL-1 hooked up via firewire to the AVID trying to record a piece to tape. The camera recognizes the 'dv input', but in VCR mode the screen stays blue. Is there a way (menu?) to change the video input on XL-1 ?

-Don

FireWire is bidirectional and there is no need for a switch (hence, no switch). Your problem is else where, bad cable, bad FireWire port, software is set wrong, user error, etc. My best guess is the software needs to be set-up differently (change a setting, preference etc.).

I know you're anxious for an answer, but no need to double post. I deleted your other post. Thanks

Do I have pixel problems?
 

Canon XL 1 Camcorder Problems. Please help!
When I use my Canon XL1 camcorder at concerts set with normal stage/light set up (multiple lights with diff. colour) and sound coming from all directions the picture get shattered with pixel dropout and some kind of a smear effect. And it gets worth if I move the camera around.

Is that normal? and if not, what could be the problem?

Please help me out here.

Is the camera image normal for other venues?
Is so, what kind of concert?
And where is tha camera relative to the sound sources?

Sorry for not being around. Me and my family had to go to the mountains for the Easter holidays.

Well, the camera seems to work all right in normal situations - daylight and lowlight, indoor or outside.
So the problem is quite strange and the two times the problem has arise was:

1. time I should shoot at a revue theatre and had placed the camera close to the theatres sound system/mixer. All actors was using wireless microphones. The camera did not have any connection to the sound mixer (sound was recorded to DAT and dub. later). The stage was lit well and the camera was operating in manual mode with a -3db.
When I saw the footage with pixel dropout on every frame I was sure it had to be some kind of electronic disturbances from the sound mixer system effecting the camera.

2. time only a few days ago I had to do a music concert (indoor) and the same problem arise. This time I had to moved the camera around - and when I did, the picture got even worth. Like when a camera needs a good clean. As last time the default microphone was used and the camera was not even close to the sound mixer this time, but to the stage.

So to be quit honest I have absolute no idee if it has something to do with the sound or the stage light or simply just too much electronics flying around in the room.

Only a year ago I had to change the CCD chip because of a burnout pixel ($ 1.000,-) If the camera had this problem before the repair, I don’t know. All I know is this - it is quit embarrassing telling the people that hired you, sorry for the inconvenient and please call me again. This I now the third time I have experienced this.

And when watching the Canon Watchdog web site a question comes to mind - is this camera reliable enough to be used professionally?

So before shipping the camera of to Canon Norway for a second repair within a year, it would be nice to know what to tell them and what to expect.

Thank you for responding .

Mic for Reception
 

I'm trying to solve a wedding video problem...

The on-board mic just doesn't work well for a wedding reception. Unless I am very close to the subject, I get way too much background noise, making the audio close to unusuable.

Any suggestions for mic that will be better for this situation, but won't break the bank? I'm guessing I need a hypercardiod or unidirectional, but I don't know too much about brands.

Thanks a ton.

Annie C