How to display Ch 3/4 levels in Viewfinder? PDW-700

[George Griswold]

Hello All,

With my PDW-700 I am trying to show the small level indicator for CH 3/4 in the VF display. I see CH 1/2 regardless of the MON switch position on the side of the camera. Audio output is following the switch correctly, but VF does not display 3/4, just 1/2. I have gone through the most excellent Vortex field guide that I have, but no clues there.

Any ideas? Must be really obvious, or some arcane menu selection. Need it for Monday 6AM shoot to ride levels on a spare wireless set. Quick plug--The Vortex field guide for the PDW-700/ 800 is one of the best pieces of technical writing/ explanation I have ever had the pleasure to use. If you have been putting off getting one, do it soon, you won't be sorry. End of plug.

Thanks,
George

[Uli Mors]

hi George,

I am doing PDW700/F800 trainings in Germany - but never have seen ch3/4 on the XDCAM HD cameras VF.

If there is no hidden feature I´ve never heard of before, the only way of metering 3+4 is the side display.

Be aware that there is a way to switch 3+4 to fix or manual level by disengaging AGC 3/4 (Stereo - Mono - OFF).

Best regards

Uli

[Doug Jensen]

George,

Uli is correct, you can't display CH3 and CH4 in the viewfinder. You can see them on the LCD panel or output them to a field monitor, but you can't show them in the VF.

Vortex Media's XDCAM Field Guides

[David Issko]

Exactly the same goes with the PMW350. One of the first tasks I did when I took delivery of the camera was to locate the Ch 3 & 4 vf display option button/switch, but alas there is none (at the moment anyway).

[Daniel Larson]

I have the F335 and it seems that audio channels 3 and 4 are set for automatic gain. I've gone into the Maintenance Menu under Audio -1, AU CH34 AGC Mode and see that there are options for stereo, mono, and off.

Using the camera mic as a source (front) I don't see any control difference on the audio meter when switching between stereo, mono, and off within the maintenance menu, Audio-1, AU CH34 AGC Mode. All selections seem not to have any effect and auto gain for channels 3 and 4 remains.

Is there a way to manually control audio channels 3 and 4 on a F335?

Dan

[Simon Denny]

I have the F350 and the audio for channels 3 & 4 are auto gain which is great sometimes but a problem other times. What I do if I'm using two lav mic's is plug the on camera light into channel three and use channel 1 & 2 for lav's so I have control over gain.

[Doug Jensen]

Originally Posted by Daniel Larson

Is there a way to manually control audio channels 3 and 4 on a F335?
Dan

In Vortex Media's F800/700 Field Guide I describe the necessary steps to manually control CH3/4 audio on those cameras. So I pulled out my F350 yesterday afternoon for the first time in a couple of years to see if the same thing could be done on that camera. Unfortunately the necessary menus are not included on the F350. As far as I can tell, you can't do it.

[Daniel Larson]

I usually use channels one or two for a boom or wireless mics and 3&4 for nats. Earlier this year I recorded guitar music for a DVD I produced and used the F335 camera and stereo mic on 3&4 to get an easy stereo recording onto a disc and it sounded great - no isses with the auto gain. I purchased a 20 foot 5 pin audio cable that gave me the length to get a good placement of the mic on the guitar. I also used Soundtrack Pro to add some reverb. It would have been nice if Sony provided level control over 3&4.

Dan