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Home: Video University Forums: Canon All Camcorders:
How to get XL1s "stereo" sound from a mic?

sszeto
Novice

Jul 18, 2005, 6:25 PM

Post #1 of 10 (1793 views)
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How to get XL1s "stereo" sound from a mic?	Can't Post

Currently, I have an MA-100 hooked up to the XL1s. The groom is wired up with a wireless microphone that goes into the XLR of the MA-100. At this time, the XL1s is recording the groom only on the left channel. In order for me to make it so that it's "stereo-like" on both the left and right channel, I have to export it to Quicktime 7 (I'm using a dual Mac G5 2.0), work some magic in Quicktime, export it again, and then re-import it back.

I think this is becoming a pain...with so much unnecessary post-production and a waste of so much time when it comes to the audio.

Is there a way for me to record the wireless mic sounds into the XL1s in "stereo" sound so that it does come out in both the left and right channels? There was an old thread that I searched for about this topic but that didn't seem to work out for me.

smitty
User

Jul 18, 2005, 11:43 PM

Post #2 of 10 (1791 views)
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Re: [sszeto] How to get XL1s "stereo" sound from a mic? [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'm not familiar with the mac ,maybe someone will chime in.However it seems quite easy in most NLE's to turn the single track into a 2 channel.Just copy and paste or some do a conversion.
The XL1S doesnt allow you to mix the channel during recording, only on output using 12bit 4 channel so I think that is not an option
If you use a "y" adapter you may have to do some testing as the level may be too low.and a splitter may take up camera space.
I think trying to make it easier to do with your NLE would be best.Can you drop a copy in a second audio track?

sszeto
Novice

Jul 19, 2005, 4:29 PM

Post #3 of 10 (1772 views)
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Re: [smitty] How to get XL1s "stereo" sound from a mic? [In reply to]	Can't Post

How would the Y-Adapter be connected to the back of the XL1s?

Anyway, I normally export the audio out onto Quicktime 7. Then, I encode it to where it splits the mono sound to mono L and mono R. Hence, it gives it a quasi-stereo sound. Then I export the altered audio file out, and import it back into the software (right now, I'm using iMovie until I can afford something else). Then, I replace the new altered audio file to replace the original mono audio.

Copying and pasting will only just increase the audio level, it doesn't switch off from L or R.

I just want to get rid of the extra post-production steps to get this going. So, if I had 25 guests talking into the mic for a mono only sound, that's another 25 exported out files to alter and re-import back in...WAY too much unnecessary work.

Edward
Veteran

Jul 19, 2005, 4:34 PM

Post #4 of 10 (1771 views)
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Re: [sszeto] How to get XL1s "stereo" sound from a mic? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Here's how I normally do this. First of all, I set the XL-1 to 4-channel audio mode. I then leave Stereo 1 as the on-board mic.

The wireless mic is connected to the XLR adapter. On the side used (either left or right) I place a "Y" adapter. I then plug both sides of the "Y" into the Stereo 2 inputs on the side of the handle. This gives me both channels filled. When I capture, I capture video+stereo 1 into the AVI file while capturing stereo2 into a WAV file (I'm on a PC instead of Mac). Then I just drag both files to the timeline.

If you want to use only stereo 1, plug the "Y" into the proper wire on the XLR adapter and plug the other end of the "Y" into both left and right on the back of the handle.
Edward Troxel
JETDV Scripts & Newsletters @ www.jetdv.com

Waldemar
Enthusiast

Jul 19, 2005, 8:35 PM

Post #5 of 10 (1765 views)
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Re: [sszeto] How to get XL1s "stereo" sound from a mic? [In reply to]	Can't Post

The simple answer is to "Y" your audio connection so the audio signal goes directly into both channels. This is valid ONLY for the the MA-100 back XLR inputs, Note: The MA-100 incorporates a signal impedance adjustment that boosts the signal strength of the XLR input to the RCA (line) inputes that are built into the camera body. If you bypass the MA-100, be prepared to be disappointed with regard to audi quality unless you are using an external audio mixer.
Apple Computer's "Final Cut" applications automatically default any mono audio input to evenly balance on both left and right channels. In this application, it is a simple matter to hghlight th audio tracks and adjust left/right balance to your needs. That is not much of an imposition in post. There is no reason to export audio to QuickTime, process, and re-import. I am not familiar with other video editing applications for the MAC platform.

To record in stereo in any situation, you need two microphones, or one mic designed to record in stereo. Canon's standard on-camera mic for the XL1S is a stereo microphone. Any other microphone used alone MUST use a mini-plug mono-to-stereo adapter to record stereo on tape (cheap Radio Shack thing), IF you use the front mic input.

However, if you choose to use the XL1S four channel capabilities, realise that you must initially open your video project to recognize 12 bit/ 32k audio. And also realise that you MAY have to capture your audio in two passes. I feel like I spend more time trying to stay on top of what application updates mean than I do trying to earn a living.
G5 1.8. Final Cut/QT Pro/iMovie/Still Life. GL1. XL1-s

smitty
User

Jul 19, 2005, 11:49 PM

Post #6 of 10 (1757 views)
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Re: [Edward] How to get XL1s "stereo" sound from a mic? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Ed , You said you use 4 channel.Do you find a hit in quality doing that?Also do you only use that for vocals?

Edward
Veteran

Jul 20, 2005, 10:37 AM

Post #7 of 10 (1747 views)
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Re: [smitty] How to get XL1s "stereo" sound from a mic? [In reply to]	Can't Post

I haven't heard a quality hit but use that mainly when using the wireless mic for weddings (vows, message, etc...) and events (i.e. speakers at a podium).

When picking up ambient music, I still can't really tell the difference. After all, it's been bouncing around the room by the time it gets to the camera. Now if I was getting a direct feed from the board, that might be a different story. I do understand that the quality will be slightly less, though.
Edward Troxel
JETDV Scripts & Newsletters @ www.jetdv.com

smitty
User

Jul 20, 2005, 6:38 PM

Post #8 of 10 (1734 views)
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Re: [Edward] How to get XL1s "stereo" sound from a mic? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks Edward.I think I'll do a bit of testing.

Vidiot Tech
Enthusiast

Jul 26, 2005, 9:05 AM

Post #9 of 10 (1657 views)
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Re: [sszeto] How to get XL1s "stereo" sound from a mic? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Why all the cut & paste in an audio editor? Most NLE's allow you to pan one track (L or R) to "center", allowing your mono sound to play back on both L & r outputs... I do it all the time in Avid & I've heard from others who use Vegas, etc. who do the same thing. Much easier & quicker than duplicating channels...

Steve Godsey, CLVS

Silence is golden. Duct tape is silver.

alolei
User

Jul 28, 2005, 8:11 AM

Post #10 of 10 (1630 views)
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Re: [sszeto] How to get XL1s "stereo" sound from a mic? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi,

I have a GL2 and I imagine that following solution would work with the XL1:

I simply switch the audio OUTPUT to L/L (Left/Left)when I send footage to the computer.
This means that the left audio-signal will be send to both channels (left and right). As a result you have a mono signal on two channels.

OTHER SOLUTION:
If your footage is already in your computer and your editing prg does not allow to copy audio channels, simply edit the sound file with audacity.http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

Good luck,

Greetings,

Laurent

(This post was edited by alolei on Jul 29, 2005, 5:19 AM)