Need help with Wireless mic setup!! at DVinfo.net

Joe Hanna · June 7th, 2008, 12:31 PM

Ok here's my problem. I just got a Azden WMS PRO Wirless mic system. I have a Canon xl-2. I have hook it all up but I get little or no sound on my recordings. Batteries are good so I know it not that. I can hook a radio into the camera and get good sound from that so I know its not the camera's ability to recieve sound to the audio 1 jacks.

Azden has a mini 1/8 jack out of the reciever, so I had to get a 1/8 to 1/8 barrel adapter then hook up a 1/8 to stereo mono cabel then into the audio 1 on the camera. this does not seem to work or I just get very low sound?

As I said before I can hook up a small transister radio through a 1/8 mini out of the radio into the audio 1 port on the camera via a 1/8 to mono cable an sound is good.

Any ideas what my problem may be or is the Azden not compatable with the XL-2?

Chris Swanberg · June 7th, 2008, 12:35 PM

It sounds very much like you have selected Line level for the camera inputs instead of Mic level. The earphone jack of a transistor raadio will output a much hotter signal than a mic level.... which is why that works.

Joe Hanna · June 7th, 2008, 01:04 PM

Thanks Chris for the reply. Please bear with me on this because I,m new to this setup and Camera, can I change the input from line level to mic level and how do I do this on the camera? through the menu on the camera? and do you think this will work.
thanks again

Chris Swanberg · June 7th, 2008, 02:19 PM

You might check in the forum for your camera on this site. I am unfamiliar with that camera but I am sure that is where you might find the selection of line vs mic. That's the case on most prosumer and pro cameras. I think that is your problem candidly and once you figure out how to select mic you will be a happy camper.

Joe Hanna · June 7th, 2008, 04:08 PM

Still stuck here does anyone use the Azden wms pro with the xl-2 and how is it set up. please have patience, newbie at this and it has spun me around a bit.
I'm missing something but I can't figure it out.

Joe Hanna · June 8th, 2008, 09:44 PM

I have been able to get the mic to record sound and Chris was right it was a line setting on the camera. Although I can get sound I have to set the mic level all the way to max and in post set that level to max I can get sound that is just ok at best.

I will try to tweak it some more but any suggestions will help. I was wondering if I get a xlr adapter and try that if it would boost up the signal any.

Please any input is welcome

Rainer Listing · June 9th, 2008, 01:25 AM

I use this setup and it works fine. I don't know why your front input isn't working, but its probably just to do with plugging your mono WMS input into the stereo camera mic input. Instead, use one of the rear inputs on the XL2, which are mic level mono. Use either a Rode mini to XLR adapter (widely available) or just cut off the WMS mini plug and fit an XLR plug. Use the other input for your other mic. If its still not working properly, there is probably a fault in the WMS.

Joe Hanna · June 9th, 2008, 12:43 PM

Problem solved, I ended up using an XLR plus as Rainer had suggested. I did a sound check and the audio level is 100% better I did not need to boost in post. Shooting a wedding this weekend so I have been saved.

I want to thank both Chris and Rainer for their input on this issue both were of great help!!

Thanks again

I love this site!

Ty Ford · June 9th, 2008, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Swanberg

It sounds very much like you have selected Line level for the camera inputs instead of Mic level. The earphone jack of a transistor raadio will output a much hotter signal than a mic level.... which is why that works.

It does sound like that, but the XL2 doesn't have a line level input through the XLRs; only mic level.

Regards,

Ty Ford

June 7th, 2008, 12:31 PM	#1
Joe Hanna Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New Martinsville, West Virginia Posts: 66	Need help with Wireless mic setup!! Ok here's my problem. I just got a Azden WMS PRO Wirless mic system. I have a Canon xl-2. I have hook it all up but I get little or no sound on my recordings. Batteries are good so I know it not that. I can hook a radio into the camera and get good sound from that so I know its not the camera's ability to recieve sound to the audio 1 jacks. Azden has a mini 1/8 jack out of the reciever, so I had to get a 1/8 to 1/8 barrel adapter then hook up a 1/8 to stereo mono cabel then into the audio 1 on the camera. this does not seem to work or I just get very low sound? As I said before I can hook up a small transister radio through a 1/8 mini out of the radio into the audio 1 port on the camera via a 1/8 to mono cable an sound is good. Any ideas what my problem may be or is the Azden not compatable with the XL-2?

June 7th, 2008, 12:35 PM	#2
Chris Swanberg Major Player Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 904	It sounds very much like you have selected Line level for the camera inputs instead of Mic level. The earphone jack of a transistor raadio will output a much hotter signal than a mic level.... which is why that works.

June 7th, 2008, 01:04 PM	#3
Joe Hanna Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New Martinsville, West Virginia Posts: 66	Thanks Chris for the reply. Please bear with me on this because I,m new to this setup and Camera, can I change the input from line level to mic level and how do I do this on the camera? through the menu on the camera? and do you think this will work. thanks again

June 7th, 2008, 02:19 PM	#4
Chris Swanberg Major Player Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 904	You might check in the forum for your camera on this site. I am unfamiliar with that camera but I am sure that is where you might find the selection of line vs mic. That's the case on most prosumer and pro cameras. I think that is your problem candidly and once you figure out how to select mic you will be a happy camper.

June 7th, 2008, 04:08 PM	#5
Joe Hanna Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New Martinsville, West Virginia Posts: 66	Still stuck here does anyone use the Azden wms pro with the xl-2 and how is it set up. please have patience, newbie at this and it has spun me around a bit. I'm missing something but I can't figure it out.

June 8th, 2008, 09:44 PM	#6
Joe Hanna Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New Martinsville, West Virginia Posts: 66	I have been able to get the mic to record sound and Chris was right it was a line setting on the camera. Although I can get sound I have to set the mic level all the way to max and in post set that level to max I can get sound that is just ok at best. I will try to tweak it some more but any suggestions will help. I was wondering if I get a xlr adapter and try that if it would boost up the signal any. Please any input is welcome

June 9th, 2008, 01:25 AM	#7
Rainer Listing Major Player Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Nowra, Australia Posts: 440	I use this setup and it works fine. I don't know why your front input isn't working, but its probably just to do with plugging your mono WMS input into the stereo camera mic input. Instead, use one of the rear inputs on the XL2, which are mic level mono. Use either a Rode mini to XLR adapter (widely available) or just cut off the WMS mini plug and fit an XLR plug. Use the other input for your other mic. If its still not working properly, there is probably a fault in the WMS.

June 9th, 2008, 12:43 PM	#8
Joe Hanna Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New Martinsville, West Virginia Posts: 66	Problem solved, I ended up using an XLR plus as Rainer had suggested. I did a sound check and the audio level is 100% better I did not need to boost in post. Shooting a wedding this weekend so I have been saved. I want to thank both Chris and Rainer for their input on this issue both were of great help!! Thanks again I love this site!