Low Volume on AT 897 at DVinfo.net

Lucky Haskins · June 19th, 2009, 01:16 PM

Hey Kids...

I am running a brand new AT 897 through a Beachtek DXA-6VU into a SOny VX2100. I get sound but I have to crank everything up on the Beachtek (10) and the Camera (at about 65/70%) to get what seems like reasonable volume.

I just ran the Lav mic (Sennheiser G2) into the Breachtek and it seemed like I had too much volume dialed in...so it appears something is happening with the 897

Just seem like I have everything dialed way to high to get the volume I am getting on the 897. Am I missing something?

Thanks

Battle Vaughan · June 19th, 2009, 02:27 PM

Just a thought, do you have the channel the 897 is plugged into set to line level input? Should be mike level....is Phantom power on? / B. Vaughan

Lucky Haskins · June 19th, 2009, 03:12 PM

Yes to both...

Battle Vaughan · June 19th, 2009, 03:19 PM

OK, if you are on mike level input and your Beechtec battery is fresh (it's good for only 3 hours of use with the phantom power on) the next suspect would probably be the XLR cable from the mike to the input. We have had problems with Beechtecs breaking their output cable and losing a channel, but yours is new and works with the Senny mike so that's probably not it...it's always possible to have a bad mike, have you tried it into another device to see if it's working properly? AT987 is a nice mike and I've never had a bad AT mike, but anything's possible...BV PS:
Another thing to know is the Beechteck doesn't amplify-- cranked all the way up is unity gain, that is, no attenuation of the mike output. So you may be getting a normal mike level. If you have a Senny G2 wireless receiver plugged in (which is what I assume you mean by the G2 lav) it may seem much louder as the AF gain from the receiver is fairly hot as it comes from the factory, it usually needs setting to a -10 or so to balance with other mike level inputs. So it's possible your 897 is working fine and just seems weak in comparision to an amplified output from your wireless...another thought.../ BV

Lucky Haskins · June 19th, 2009, 04:26 PM

Thanks for the input...

I may be so used to the Senny that the AT does indeed sound weak by comparison.

June 19th, 2009, 01:16 PM	#1
Lucky Haskins Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Plantation, FL Posts: 55	Low Volume on AT 897 Hey Kids... I am running a brand new AT 897 through a Beachtek DXA-6VU into a SOny VX2100. I get sound but I have to crank everything up on the Beachtek (10) and the Camera (at about 65/70%) to get what seems like reasonable volume. I just ran the Lav mic (Sennheiser G2) into the Breachtek and it seemed like I had too much volume dialed in...so it appears something is happening with the 897 Just seem like I have everything dialed way to high to get the volume I am getting on the 897. Am I missing something? Thanks

June 19th, 2009, 02:27 PM	#2
Battle Vaughan Trustee Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Miami, FL USA Posts: 1,505	Just a thought, do you have the channel the 897 is plugged into set to line level input? Should be mike level....is Phantom power on? / B. Vaughan

June 19th, 2009, 03:12 PM	#3
Lucky Haskins Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Plantation, FL Posts: 55	Yes to both...

June 19th, 2009, 03:19 PM	#4
Battle Vaughan Trustee Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Miami, FL USA Posts: 1,505	OK, if you are on mike level input and your Beechtec battery is fresh (it's good for only 3 hours of use with the phantom power on) the next suspect would probably be the XLR cable from the mike to the input. We have had problems with Beechtecs breaking their output cable and losing a channel, but yours is new and works with the Senny mike so that's probably not it...it's always possible to have a bad mike, have you tried it into another device to see if it's working properly? AT987 is a nice mike and I've never had a bad AT mike, but anything's possible...BV PS: Another thing to know is the Beechteck doesn't amplify-- cranked all the way up is unity gain, that is, no attenuation of the mike output. So you may be getting a normal mike level. If you have a Senny G2 wireless receiver plugged in (which is what I assume you mean by the G2 lav) it may seem much louder as the AF gain from the receiver is fairly hot as it comes from the factory, it usually needs setting to a -10 or so to balance with other mike level inputs. So it's possible your 897 is working fine and just seems weak in comparision to an amplified output from your wireless...another thought.../ BV

June 19th, 2009, 04:26 PM	#5
Lucky Haskins Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Plantation, FL Posts: 55	Thanks for the input... I may be so used to the Senny that the AT does indeed sound weak by comparison.