Topic: Signvideo XLR-PRO: small low-cost mic>line gain device?!

[sunjan]

Another posting about Signvideo lead me to find this, I don't think it has been reported here on TS.com before:
http://www.signvideo.com/xlr-pro_xlr_adapter-audio-mixer.htm

Retailing at $160, is that OK considering the small footprint?!
No phantom though, so it'd only be useful for self-/battery powered mics (perhaps something for Nak CM-100/300?).

Anybody here used it yet?

Inputs:   2 XLR audio connectors
          2 1/8" mono jack connectors
Input Impedance:        Nom. 600 ohms, suitable for 150 to 600 ohm input
Outputs:        Approx. 13" cable with stereo mini-plug
Gain:        Adjustable from  0 to unity. No insertion loss.
Max. Input Voltage Level:        880mV - Mic, 10V - Line
Line Level Attenuation:        Varies with camera input - approx 54db
Power:        None. XLR-PRO™ is a passive device.
Frequency Response:        20Hz - 20KHz (+/- 1dB Max)
Enclosure:        Aluminum, black, 5.25"x2.75"x1.25", 13.5 oz.

[oleg]

it is not preamp , just attenuator which get mic and attenuate it   or  line  level and convert it to mic level

[sunjan]

it is not preamp , just attenuator which get mic and attenuate it   or  line  level and convert it to mic level

OK, I get it, thanks Oleg. Since it only adds gain up to unity, not above, right?!
So what should you call this device? It's not really a battery box either, since it doesn't provide power to the mics?

I'll change the subject header...

[Ken Kaiser]

It's really an audio interface designed primarily for camcorders.  It provides xlr and 1/8" mini inputs for mic or line level inputs.  Most consumer camera's don't have inputs other that 1/8" mini so can't accept mic inputs, nor can they usually accept line level inputs such as from a mixer.

I use these on my Panasonic camera's and they work great.  The real nice part is that you can adjust the level during recording.  On my cameras the audio level adjustment is buried in a menu, and there is no way to adjust it once you start recording...you have to stop, go into the menu to change it, and start again (not very nice...)  With this interface, you can just turn the knob a bit if need be on the fly!