Splitting Signal ? at DVinfo.net

Denny Kyser · March 7th, 2008, 12:18 AM

I have a question about splitting a signal and not sure if it can be done, or advised against.

When using my Sennheiser G2 ew100 transmitter and receiver can I split the signal coming from the receiver with a y cable and let both my camera and my Sony PCM D-50 both capture the audio from the handheld mic attatched to the SKP100G2 plug-in transmitter.

I dont know if there would be any loss of sound quality, or chance of doing harm to any of the equipment.

Steve Oakley · March 7th, 2008, 12:22 AM

there will be a 6db loss in signal level.

you won't harm the gear. the question is if you wiil still have good S/N ratio. basically if you are getting a good strong level, you will be fine, if you are not, it won't be so good.

Denny Kyser · March 7th, 2008, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Oakley

there will be a 6db loss in signal level.

you won't harm the gear. the question is if you wiil still have good S/N ratio. basically if you are getting a good strong level, you will be fine, if you are not, it won't be so good.

Thanks Steve, I wouldn't do this often but to be honest I feel the sound quality of the Sony PCM-D50 is better than that of the Canon XH-A1 and for really important audio parts, nothing wrong with having a back up. I will pick up a splitter tomorrow and try it, just didn't want to fry any of my gear, not on a Friday with a wedding to do Saturday.

Daniel Epstein · March 7th, 2008, 11:25 AM

Just be careful that you monitor the sound of both units because the different devices might give you sound problems on both by being connected with the Y Cable. The XHA1 camera you are using has XLR inputs but the Sony PCM D-50 seems to have stereo mini inputs so there will likely be impedance mismatches between the camera input and the Sony PCM D-50 input. Test it out before you get in the field.

Thomas Barthle Jr. · March 8th, 2008, 08:27 AM

Also, in the menu on the receiver unit is an option to change the output level. It is called AF OUT and you can go up to +18dB.

A. J. deLange · March 8th, 2008, 03:54 PM

You probably won't have as much loss as 6 dB. The wireless output is proably relatively low impedance and the camera and recorder relatively high. Supposing the receiver output impedance to be 10K and the camera input to be 47K, 82% of the source voltage would appear across the camera input resistor. Paralleling another 47K load across this would lower the developed voltage to 70% of the source voltage. This is a reduction of 1.4 dB

March 7th, 2008, 12:18 AM	#1
Denny Kyser Major Player Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Warren, Pa Posts: 785	Splitting Signal ? I have a question about splitting a signal and not sure if it can be done, or advised against. When using my Sennheiser G2 ew100 transmitter and receiver can I split the signal coming from the receiver with a y cable and let both my camera and my Sony PCM D-50 both capture the audio from the handheld mic attatched to the SKP100G2 plug-in transmitter. I dont know if there would be any loss of sound quality, or chance of doing harm to any of the equipment. __________________ 2 Canon XF305's Kyser Photography www.kyserphoto.com

March 7th, 2008, 12:22 AM	#2
Steve Oakley Trustee Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: United States Posts: 1,158	there will be a 6db loss in signal level. you won't harm the gear. the question is if you wiil still have good S/N ratio. basically if you are getting a good strong level, you will be fine, if you are not, it won't be so good.

March 7th, 2008, 11:25 AM	#4
Daniel Epstein Trustee Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New York, NY Posts: 1,267	Just be careful that you monitor the sound of both units because the different devices might give you sound problems on both by being connected with the Y Cable. The XHA1 camera you are using has XLR inputs but the Sony PCM D-50 seems to have stereo mini inputs so there will likely be impedance mismatches between the camera input and the Sony PCM D-50 input. Test it out before you get in the field.

March 8th, 2008, 08:27 AM	#5
Thomas Barthle Jr. Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 86	Also, in the menu on the receiver unit is an option to change the output level. It is called AF OUT and you can go up to +18dB.

March 8th, 2008, 03:54 PM	#6
A. J. deLange Major Player Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: McLean, VA United States Posts: 749	You probably won't have as much loss as 6 dB. The wireless output is proably relatively low impedance and the camera and recorder relatively high. Supposing the receiver output impedance to be 10K and the camera input to be 47K, 82% of the source voltage would appear across the camera input resistor. Paralleling another 47K load across this would lower the developed voltage to 70% of the source voltage. This is a reduction of 1.4 dB