Sony HDR-SR12 Line-In thru Hot Shoe? at DVinfo.net

David Horwitz · March 22nd, 2009, 08:44 PM

I don't know if this is possible, but I'm wondering if there's an attachment out there which will allow you to get a (preferably stereo) line-in signal through the hot shoe of the SR12.

It seems like this mic: ECM-HGZ1 | ECM-HGZ1 Shotgun Microphone | Sony | SonyStyle USA will plug into the shoe, and audio also goes through it right? Not through the 1/8 inch mic-in jack on the side?

Let me know, thanks!

Dave Blackhurst · March 23rd, 2009, 01:22 PM

Yes and no... Sony made one back when the HC3 was out, but they are discontinued - it just had the same little 1/8" jack as the SR12 has... so no real difference in quality AFAIK,

Why not just use the 1/8" on the camera?

I spent quite a bit of time reverse engineering the A/V jack when working on a way to hack the LANC port - and the AiShoe is another one of those proprietary Sony things - there is a mic input there (as in the A/V plug, though that one didn't seem to be terribly workable).

Sony has several mics that fit that shoe, including a wireless that can serve as a center channel (if set to 5.1) or a stereo input, the stereo shotgun, and I believe a couple others including a "surround" mic. That tells me that there's something in each mic that triggers the camera to acknowledge that there is a mic on the shoe, and tells the cam which configuration the mic and input are to be in...

WHile I don't think that answers your question, it might shed some light on it. If you have a specific reason for trying to hack the AiShoe, I might be able to share some of my notes... but didn't get terribly far with that particular part of the camera. I do have the HGZ1 and the HW1, and I'm sure the insides of those offer clues...

Jay Massengill · March 23rd, 2009, 02:02 PM

The older DVCAM PD-x10 used an XLR adapter that connected to the camera's intelligent shoe and this shoe would also accept Sony mics that are similar to the ones you're describing.
So that camera was very much built on a consumer style chassis that also had the regular 1/8" plug-in-power stereo mic jack on the camera body. In other words it's a similar situation, just from several years back.
I have no idea if there is any compatibility whatsoever with that older XLR Mic/Mic Attenuate/Line level adapter (that could also provide 48v phantom and double a mono mic to both channel 1 and 2).
Perhaps you could find a broken PD-x10 cheap and salvage the XLR adapter. Just don't blame me if your camera blows up! I'm just pointing out that in the past there was an adapter for the basic situation that you describe, just with an earlier camera.

Craig Irving · March 23rd, 2009, 07:26 PM

This is probably as close as you can get. It's a mic-in though, not a line-in.

Sony | VMC-K100 Microphone Adapter | VMCK100 | B&H Photo Video

Also, it's discontinued.

David Horwitz · March 25th, 2009, 03:00 AM

Thanks for the replies guys. The reason I want a line-in is for either running audio from a Zoom H2 into the camera, or for a wireless mic receiver out that I use when filming my monthly business event. Up till now I've been recording to the Zoom and syncing in post. Looks like I'll have to continue doing that.

Thanks again for your help!

Dave Blackhurst · March 25th, 2009, 03:55 AM

wireless mic should just go right in to the mic input... it's there under the forward cover... Not sure whether it would take a line level input.

March 22nd, 2009, 08:44 PM	#1
David Horwitz Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Los Gatos, California Posts: 109	Sony HDR-SR12 Line-In thru Hot Shoe? I don't know if this is possible, but I'm wondering if there's an attachment out there which will allow you to get a (preferably stereo) line-in signal through the hot shoe of the SR12. It seems like this mic: ECM-HGZ1 \| ECM-HGZ1 Shotgun Microphone \| Sony \| SonyStyle USA will plug into the shoe, and audio also goes through it right? Not through the 1/8 inch mic-in jack on the side? Let me know, thanks!

March 23rd, 2009, 01:22 PM	#2
Dave Blackhurst Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Apple Valley CA Posts: 4,874	Yes and no... Sony made one back when the HC3 was out, but they are discontinued - it just had the same little 1/8" jack as the SR12 has... so no real difference in quality AFAIK, Why not just use the 1/8" on the camera? I spent quite a bit of time reverse engineering the A/V jack when working on a way to hack the LANC port - and the AiShoe is another one of those proprietary Sony things - there is a mic input there (as in the A/V plug, though that one didn't seem to be terribly workable). Sony has several mics that fit that shoe, including a wireless that can serve as a center channel (if set to 5.1) or a stereo input, the stereo shotgun, and I believe a couple others including a "surround" mic. That tells me that there's something in each mic that triggers the camera to acknowledge that there is a mic on the shoe, and tells the cam which configuration the mic and input are to be in... WHile I don't think that answers your question, it might shed some light on it. If you have a specific reason for trying to hack the AiShoe, I might be able to share some of my notes... but didn't get terribly far with that particular part of the camera. I do have the HGZ1 and the HW1, and I'm sure the insides of those offer clues...

March 23rd, 2009, 02:02 PM	#3
Jay Massengill Trustee Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Burlington Posts: 1,976	The older DVCAM PD-x10 used an XLR adapter that connected to the camera's intelligent shoe and this shoe would also accept Sony mics that are similar to the ones you're describing. So that camera was very much built on a consumer style chassis that also had the regular 1/8" plug-in-power stereo mic jack on the camera body. In other words it's a similar situation, just from several years back. I have no idea if there is any compatibility whatsoever with that older XLR Mic/Mic Attenuate/Line level adapter (that could also provide 48v phantom and double a mono mic to both channel 1 and 2). Perhaps you could find a broken PD-x10 cheap and salvage the XLR adapter. Just don't blame me if your camera blows up! I'm just pointing out that in the past there was an adapter for the basic situation that you describe, just with an earlier camera.

March 23rd, 2009, 07:26 PM	#4
Craig Irving Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 539	This is probably as close as you can get. It's a mic-in though, not a line-in. Sony \| VMC-K100 Microphone Adapter \| VMCK100 \| B&H Photo Video Also, it's discontinued.

March 25th, 2009, 03:00 AM	#5
David Horwitz Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Los Gatos, California Posts: 109	Thanks for the replies guys. The reason I want a line-in is for either running audio from a Zoom H2 into the camera, or for a wireless mic receiver out that I use when filming my monthly business event. Up till now I've been recording to the Zoom and syncing in post. Looks like I'll have to continue doing that. Thanks again for your help!

March 25th, 2009, 03:55 AM	#6
Dave Blackhurst Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Apple Valley CA Posts: 4,874	wireless mic should just go right in to the mic input... it's there under the forward cover... Not sure whether it would take a line level input.