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Gear / Technical Help => Photo / Video Recording => Topic started by: Visionair on January 20, 2010, 02:10:52 PM

Title: Did anyone of you try this?
Post by: Visionair on January 20, 2010, 02:10:52 PM
Did anyone of you hook up stealth mics to an audio recorder and then go line out to mic in of a camcorder and get a good (video)sound?
I wonder if this can be succesfully done to skip syncing post.

Any input appreciated
Title: Re: Did anyone of you try this?
Post by: stantheman1976 on January 20, 2010, 04:53:01 PM
I think there's some type of mismatch in the impedance maybe?  Guysonic sells a cable that allows you to go line out from a recorder to mic input on a camera.  Send him a message and check on it.  That would allow you to do exactly what you're asking for.
Title: Re: Did anyone of you try this?
Post by: Massive Dynamic on January 20, 2010, 06:33:37 PM
Did anyone of you hook up stealth mics to an audio recorder and then go line out to mic in of a camcorder and get a good (video)sound?
I wonder if this can be succesfully done to skip syncing post.

Any input appreciated
Yes, I have done it using the Sonic Studios cable.
Title: Re: Did anyone of you try this?
Post by: Visionair on January 22, 2010, 12:35:15 AM
Quote
Yes, I have done it using the Sonic Studios cable.

Did it actually work? No distorted audiosignal on the cam?
Title: Re: Did anyone of you try this?
Post by: Massive Dynamic on January 22, 2010, 01:17:08 PM
Quote
Yes, I have done it using the Sonic Studios cable.

Did it actually work? No distorted audiosignal on the cam?
Yeah, it worked great. My video ended up with the same audio track as my audio master, and there was no drift, etc.

I recall that as my record levels approached 0 db, I think I *may* have heard the camera's AGC/limiter kick in briefly, so you may want to experiment to see what the optimum record level would be on your recorder/camera setup so that the camera's limiter doesn't engage.

Other than that, the only real problem I ever had was not getting the plug all the way in to the camera one time - got audio in the left channel only that time  :P. That reminds me, now that I have a computer, that I need to go back to my original audio and video and put that show to DVD.

As long as you're up front, this setup works great. If you're shooting far from the PA/stage, there may be some delay from what you see and when the sound gets to you, but that's just the laws of physics kicking in.
Title: Re: Did anyone of you try this?
Post by: willndmb on January 24, 2010, 09:56:32 AM
i do it all the time now
its 100000000x easier and saves lots of time
i have a -20db cable (from microphone madness) and i go from my fr2le > camcorder
the first few times i had some issues with slight distortion on really loud parts, typically crowd cheering
turned the output of the fr2le down some and been good the last few shows

if you have a fr2le i run around 12:00 for the monitor out and my camcorder is a canon zr800
Title: Re: Did anyone of you try this?
Post by: willndmb on January 24, 2010, 10:00:47 AM

As long as you're up front, this setup works great. If you're shooting far from the PA/stage, there may be some delay from what you see and when the sound gets to you, but that's just the laws of physics kicking in.
its still easier to have the audio on the tape even if you are back far and need to adjust it because you can adjust it once (the whole track) and bam your done
Title: Re: Did anyone of you try this?
Post by: Visionair on January 25, 2010, 01:50:15 PM
Thanks guys for the input this far.
I'm going to give this a try. Before, I synced the seperately recorded audio post. Though this works well I would love to have a clean sound on my camcordervids immediately as well.
Recently moved on from SD to HDV (Canon HV20) and what great pleasure would it be when you return from a show and you can watch your freshly recorded show on your HD tv with audible sound  :laugh:
Besides this the seperately recorded audio is good to use as a back up, if something goes wrong with the cam.
Title: Re: Did anyone of you try this?
Post by: stantheman1976 on January 25, 2010, 02:14:50 PM
Even if the audio needs some EQ or volume boost you can always export the audio track, do your editing, and drop it right back in and you'll still be in sync.  Definitely easier than getting a separate source in sync.
Title: Re: Did anyone of you try this?
Post by: beatkilla on January 25, 2010, 02:20:39 PM
The canon should have a limiter.Are you manually setting your audio levels?Because i am getting great sound with just the canons built in mics.This is only true if you are NOT using the auto mode.You must switch the slider from A to P .A is auto and that means everything is in auto.P is for manual.Set the audio limiter ON,windcut ON.Push the function button once and you should get a mini menu that allows for exposure adjustment and audio.This menu is a little tricky but once you use it a bunch its easy.You have to push up and or down to select exposure or audio.When you select audio you see a green line under the levels which means manual control.Now go to where the loudest sound will be(like standing in front of PA )and set it so the levels are at -12db.Thats it useable audio.Although you may want to boost in post.
Title: Re: Did anyone of you try this?
Post by: Visionair on January 25, 2010, 02:25:18 PM
True, I now use Wavelab for editing (EQ, Stereo Enhance).

Just like you say how I would love to work in the future:
- Shoot vids with clean audio
- Seperate audio from video
- edit audio if needed
- mix back audio with video

Done!
Title: Re: Did anyone of you try this?
Post by: Visionair on January 25, 2010, 02:31:54 PM
@beatkilla
I did that with my Canon MVX35i, did not try it with the HV20 though.
I manually lowered the recording levels, but in all cases the Canon's mic could not handle the loud concerts I taped.
The mic can't stand loud SPL's.
Even my Zoom H4 distorts at low gain when recording loud shows.
That's why I want to move on to a digital recorder with line in/ stealth mics through a battery box and then go line out to mic in from camcorder.
Title: Re: Did anyone of you try this?
Post by: beatkilla on January 25, 2010, 02:37:06 PM
Try with the HV 20 i've recorded extremely loud concerts and it was fine.
Title: Re: Did anyone of you try this?
Post by: Visionair on January 25, 2010, 02:40:59 PM
Thanks for the advice. Will certainly try this.
I will send you a pm with some more questions about the HV20 settings.