Topic: Frustrated with channel drop out

[in2blues]

Please, I could use some advice. I have a Sony D50, Church Battery box and church ca-14's. Here's my problem:
If I plug Ca-14's into battery box then into the Line in jack with switch clicked to line in I get crap.
If I click switch to Mic. and plug Ca-14's into line in I record from Sony built in mic's, not the Ca-14's.
I plug Ca-14's into battery box then into Mic. jack and click switch to Mic. I get great recording...but after a bit the left channel drops out.
This happened while I was recording. I had ca-14's into battery box into sony D50 and left channel dropped out. I had brand new battery and new cords. Got pissed so I unplugged mics. from battery box, went into Sony D50's menu and clicked yes to power mics. then plugged ca-14's directly into mic. plug on Sony D50 (Switch clicked to mic.) With mics. direct into Sony D50 I got a great recording.
1.So if cords are good then is most likely cause for loss of one channel the battery box?
2. And most important If I got nice recording without battery box do I really need the battery box???

[rhinowing]

that doesn't make much sense. mics > box > line in should work fine. maybe the battery you have in the box is dead....

[Patrick]

1.So if cords are good then is most likely cause for loss of one channel the battery box?

This is a wild assumption.     The problem sounds like a definite cable issue.  Check all of them separately, wiggle them around a little bit and find the one that is being intermittent.  It could also be the input connectors on either of the two inputs.  Lots of connections in this signal chain that could fail at any point.  "The chinaman [battery] is not the issue here."

[fmaderjr]

And most important If I got nice recording without battery box do I really need the battery box???

You definitely need the box if you record anything very loud. The D50 does not have high enough plug in power voltage to properly power CA-14's. Problems may not be audible however until you record something that is quite loud. I would always use a box between CA-14's and most recorders to be safe.

[in2blues]

I reconnected everything and tested each link, the problem seems to be the battery box as when I squeeze the box the channel drops out. another squeeze it comes back on for a bit. Plugged different cords and changed battery, same problem. I have a few shows coming up real soon so until I get box fixed or replaced will go with ca-14's directly into sony and keep fingers crossed.  I had hoped that if Sony had power to power built in mics. then could power ca-14's.
Part 2: When I plug into "Line in" the levels are REAL low even with rec.level turned way up. I seem to get better levels and sound through mic plug. What am I doing wrong?
Thanks for all the Help, one of these days I'll get things right.

[fmaderjr]

You cannot go line in to any recorder without a battery box (or preamp). There is nothing powering the mics.

You can go mic in and hope for the best, but you're likely to have problems if the show is loud.