Analog signals can go over 0 db without catastrophic effects, but digital recorders clip at any reading above zero, so be careful.
IMAGE MIXER FOR CAMCORDER MANUAL
In general, green is safe, orange or yellow is near clipping, and red is clipping, but be sure to check the manual for your mixer so you know what you’re looking for. this may be an array of lights, a digital readout, or a single indicator with multiple colors. Leave it in that position.Ī key component of any field mixer is the ability to monitor your audio levels. If it’s not clear, check your manual or contact the manufacturer to find out the ideal position for peak performance.
This may be labeled as u or the knob may even click into position. If your mixer has this, you’ll want to determine what the detent or unity position is.
It’s important to note that some mixers have a dedicated “master” fader to control the outgoing level of your signal. Okay, you’ve got your audio source into the mixer, you’ve got the input selector and phantom power set properly, and now it’s time to dial in your input levels.
Many mixers adjust the signal level coming into the mixer accordingly to get a proper level into the mixer. It’s extremely important to match the switch position to the type of input that’s coming into the mixer. On these types of mixers, you should choose dynamic for any mics that don’t require phantom power, and condenser or phantom to send phantom power to any mics that do require power. Other mixers may have a three way switch that has a label like mic, line, and phantom or maybe even dynamic, line, condenser. Most mics use 48V, while a limited number of older mics use 12. Some mixers will also have a switch to select 48V or 12V for phantom power. The switch should be to on for standard condenser mics or hard wired lavalier mics without their own source of power. This should be set to off for dynamic mics, and condenser mics that get phantom power from a dedicated battery or wireless transmitter. With a two way MIC/LINE switch, you’re likely to find a dedicated switch to turn phantom power on or off for each individual input. The settings we discuss in this tutorial will refer to mic signals coming into the mixer. The line switch would be used for a feed from and audio mixer being fed at line level, or other audio devices that produce a line level signal. In this case, the mic setting should be used for any microphone you connect. Some mixers will have a dedicated switch labeled mic and line. These can accommodate mics with 1 / 8 " outputs, such as wired lavaliers or wireless systems.Įach XLR or 1 / 8 " input will have important switches associated with them that you need to set properly, and the configuration may vary from mixer to mixer. You may also find mixers with 1 / 8 " inputs. You’ll find mixers with as few as one and as many as 6 inputs. The most typical way to get audio into a field mixer is using XLR inputs.
IMAGE MIXER FOR CAMCORDER HOW TO
The key to maximizing your audio quality, is knowing how to use a field mixer properly, so lets start at the beginning, and talk about getting your audio sources into the mixer.
IMAGE MIXER FOR CAMCORDER FULL
If you have the luxury of a dedicated sound operator, a field mixer gives them full control over recording and monitoring the audio without hindering the cinematographer. A quality field mixer will have better pre-amps and more control options that give you better quality sound. A field mixer is a must if the number of audio sources you need to record exceeds the number of recording inputs you have available. Even the best DSLR cameras typically have 1 audio input, and camcorders typically have 2. A field mixer is a great tool to increase the number of inputs you can record. Using a field mixer effectively can ensure that the audio on your next project, really shines.īefore we dive into field mixers, you might be asking yourself, do I actually need to use one. In this training video, you’ll learn all about field mixers, and we’ll show you how to get audio in, set input levels, route your signal, get audio out, properly calibrate a mixer and recorder, and monitor your signal to ensure great results. Whether you’re shooting with a DSLR with sub par audio controls, or you need to use more inputs than your camcorder has, a field mixer can help expand your audio possibilities, and get you better quality audio. But utilizing the right tools can give you versatile options for capturing great sound that really enhances your video.
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