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Home: Video University Forums: Sony DV and DVCAM Forum:
Beachtek problem

Rich
Novice

Mar 30, 2006, 3:34 PM

Post #1 of 11 (3194 views)
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Beachtek problem	Can't Post

I am using a Sony DVX2000 and just got a Beachtek DXA-4 and an AT4073A shotgun mike. I am pretty new at this. If I am using two mikes, won't I need some kind of mixer or field recorder in order to adjust the incoming audio? Thanks. Can't afford much.

MLiebergot
Veteran

Mar 30, 2006, 5:40 PM

Post #2 of 11 (3186 views)
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Re: [Rich] Beachtek problem [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

The main problem you are going to experience is that the Beachtek DXA-4 doesn't supply phantom power to mics whcih your AT4073A will need. So this setup won't work if you plan on using your AT4073A with your BT DXA-4.

As for needing a mixer, no you wouldn't need one nomally.
Your onboard shotgun mic like the AT4073A will be mono, so that goes into an XLR plug on the Beachtek (lets say channel 1) and records to right channel only. Then you place you wireless receiver in XLR (channel 2) and records to left channel.
If you use a stereo mic like the AT825 or AT822 than you need to have a stereo XLR Y cable that plugs into both XLR channels and send signal to left and right tracks on your tape.

You can just have a Mono mic only on attached to your Beachtek, and just switch the DXA-4 to mono recording and it will send teh mono signal to both left and right.

Tut as I said the mic you have AT4073A is phantom power and not batter powered, and the DXA-4 doesn't supply phantom power to mics. For a mono shotgun mic (which almost all shotguns are mono only mics), you want to look at either the (for At mics) AT897 (a fan favorite), AT835B, or AT815B.

If you want to use your AT4073A then you need to swap out your DXA-4 for a DXA-6 or a DXA-8 which supplies phantom power.
The thing you have to look out for with phantom power is that some mics that are battery powered can't take a phantom signal or the might overload and feedback to the mic, hense damaging your mic. And the DXA-6 and DXA-8 only supply phantom power to both channels, so check to make sure that your wireless receiver and shotgun mics can accept phantom power or both battery or phantom.

You would use a mixer if you were sending 2 shotgun or stereo mics to be mixed down first and recorded to tape/disk or sent wirelessly to your camera. Either way the DXA-4/6/8 would be attached to your camera, not to your mixer.

Michael

Cameras: I do use them.
Audio: Yes, it does come with audio if you like.
Software: I am learning...
Support: I need all that i can get.
Computer: MAC BABY!

(This post was edited by MLiebergot on Mar 30, 2006, 5:44 PM)

Rich
Novice

Mar 30, 2006, 6:32 PM

Post #3 of 11 (3177 views)
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Re: [MLiebergot] Beachtek problem [In reply to]	Can't Post

Michael,
I forgot to mention that I know I need to get 48V phantom power for the AT4073A mike I bought. That's a given.
I got a little lost on your explanation. The goal is to be able to capture audio from 2 mikes at once. The Sony does not tell me what the audio level is from each channel. That is a shortcoming of the camera. Instead, it averages the two signals . So I can adjust the level of each signal via the Beachtek, however I need some way to measure each signal independently, such as a mixer or field recorder. Is that not true? I am a novice at this. If this is true, do you know what would be a good device to do it? There must be some device that supplies phantom power and also lets me measure the signal output level. Something affordable. Thank you.

MLiebergot
Veteran

Mar 30, 2006, 9:03 PM

Post #4 of 11 (3170 views)
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Re: [Rich] Beachtek problem [In reply to]	Can't Post

Rich sorry for the long post. I can get a bit long winded.

You are right about the level meter on the VX2100 being weak and hard to gauge each channel.
What I would recommend from Beachtek would be the DXA-6 VU, that has phantom power ane independent level reading for each channel.
Here's Beachteks site info on it:
http://beachtek.com/dxa6vu.html

and here's the price at B&H:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=418508&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

This should aleviate your problem about monitoring levels when being recorded.

I personally use the DXA-4 with VX2100's and haven't had any problems with the 2 audio channels, as I always monitor the cameras audio with the level meter, and monitor my mix with headphones while recording.
This is why I don't mind the averaged audio in the VX. I let my ears determine how the mix sounds.

So with this being said, make sure you are always monitoring your audio even with 2 seperate level meters, as you can always get accurate levels.
Monitoring your audio also makes sure that your signal is good. Becuase you never know if the signal feed is clear or noisy by looking at meters.

Michael

Cameras: I do use them.
Audio: Yes, it does come with audio if you like.
Software: I am learning...
Support: I need all that i can get.
Computer: MAC BABY!

(This post was edited by MLiebergot on Mar 31, 2006, 10:02 AM)

nik3
Novice

Apr 6, 2006, 12:19 AM

Post #5 of 11 (2924 views)
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Re: [MLiebergot] Beachtek problem [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Michael, I dont have a DXA yet and reading your thread makes me want to buy it NOW. Anyway, how do you monitor the audio level? Is this found in the VX2100 or the DXA?

MLiebergot
Veteran

Apr 6, 2006, 7:43 AM

Post #6 of 11 (2916 views)
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Re: [nik3] Beachtek problem [In reply to]	Can't Post

I have teh DXA-4 which has no level meters.

I monitor the audio by having a good set of headphones pplugged into the headphone jack on the VX2100. And I also switch the mic level control in the menu from automatic to manual.
Then I just monitor the audio levels on the lcd screen or viewfinder. There is a button on the back of the vx2100 for viewing and adjusting the audio, just push the button to do so. Be aware though that if you don't push the button again after adjusting your audio levels, then you won't be able to adjust exposure or anything else if you have to.

This is why it's good to adjust levels in camera first and then use the input knobs on the beachtek the rest of the time.

Michael

Cameras: I do use them.
Audio: Yes, it does come with audio if you like.
Software: I am learning...
Support: I need all that i can get.
Computer: MAC BABY!

nik3
Novice

Apr 6, 2006, 9:35 PM

Post #7 of 11 (2898 views)
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Re: [MLiebergot] Beachtek problem [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks. That's a big help. :-)

I usually cant get a good audio coz I only have the built-in mic. With the zoom mic mentioned earlier in this thread, can it give a reduced-noise, clear and audible audio? I also heard about capturing the audio from the speakers??? O heck, i just want a good audio during the church ceremony and reception. Unsure

Nikky
stealshotsvideo.multiply.com

Rich
Novice

Apr 6, 2006, 10:22 PM

Post #8 of 11 (2897 views)
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Re: [Rich] Beachtek problem [In reply to]	Can't Post

Another question: I've gotten contradictory advice about what to do with the beachtek audio level adjustment dials when you are only using one mike, say in stereo. Do you turn the second channel off?
And what about if you are in mono?

I tried testing it just by ear and it was inconclusive, except that it seems to be louder if the unused channel is also turned up to 10.

MLiebergot
Veteran

Apr 6, 2006, 10:34 PM

Post #9 of 11 (2893 views)
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Re: [Rich] Beachtek problem [In reply to]	Can't Post

"Do you turn the second channel off?"

Rich, no leave both channel pot up fully. While recording, even when the Beachtek is in Mono, the signal is split to both L/R channels independantly. So if you turn the pot down on one of the channels, then that channel will reduce in volume.

If you want to only use 1 mic with the Beachtek, then you just switch the switch on the front to mono, and the signal is now sent to both left and right channels. This is of course if you are using a mono shotgun mic, which most shotguns are.

If you are using a stereo mic, like a AT822 or AT825, then you need to send a signal to both the left and right channel.
So you will need a 3-Pin XLR to 2 3-Pin XLR Male Y-Cable. Something like this.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=134134&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

Michael

Cameras: I do use them.
Audio: Yes, it does come with audio if you like.
Software: I am learning...
Support: I need all that i can get.
Computer: MAC BABY!

(This post was edited by MLiebergot on Apr 6, 2006, 10:39 PM)

Rich
Novice

Apr 6, 2006, 10:41 PM

Post #10 of 11 (2887 views)
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Re: [MLiebergot] Beachtek problem [In reply to]	Can't Post

I see, so you would not turn off the second channel. The mono signal would go through both.

MLiebergot
Veteran

Apr 6, 2006, 10:43 PM

Post #11 of 11 (2884 views)
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Re: [Rich] Beachtek problem [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

I see, so you would not turn off the second channel. The mono signal would go through both.

Correct, as long as there's only 1 mic plugged in to the Right XLR.

Michael

Cameras: I do use them.
Audio: Yes, it does come with audio if you like.
Software: I am learning...
Support: I need all that i can get.
Computer: MAC BABY!