Getting a feed from a mixer at DVinfo.net

Marco Leavitt · September 15th, 2004, 07:28 AM

Can anyone give a me a best guess on what adapters to be prepared with? We've got a shoot this weekend and we've been promised we can get a feed from the board, but so far I haven't been able to contact the person who is going to be running it. I plan to use my A/D converter, which has two mic level XLR inputs. I already have attenuators.

Kevin Triplett · September 15th, 2004, 09:03 AM

Hi Marco -- I have videotaped events and FWIW here's my experience: you'll probably get an unbalanced signal from the mixer and they typically originate from the mixer with either RCA jacks or 1/4" jacks. If you're lucky, the mixer will have balanced outputs that you can tap into. But all outputs from mixers are typically professional line-level (+4dBm) so definitely bring your pads or attentuators.

(Sometimes you'll find a mixer with 1/4" balanced outputs. Then if you have a properly wired 1/4" stereo-to-XLR adapter you can get a nice balanced feed from the mixer.)

You probably already know this but just in case (and for folks who might find this thread and need to know) ... for the unbalanced outputs, if you're close enough to the mixer, you can use unbalanced cables like RCA-to-RCA or 1/4"-to-1/4" and use adapters. If you're not close enough, you can bring or rent a Direct Input box (or sometimes I use the Beachtek XLR adapter box for my camera) and run the unbalanced cables into the DI box and then run balanced cable to your camera or A/D box.

You probably also already know this, but you'll typically get a feed from one of the mixer's Aux busses which either you'll have to mix yourself or the mixer operator might manage the mix for you.

So a shopping list of adapters for pretty much universal mixer tie-in would look like this (I'm sure others will recommend additional items):

1/4"-to-RCA adapters (mono 1/4")
balanced cables (RCA or mono 1/4" or mixed)
Direct Input boxes
Pads or in-line attentuators (line-level-to-mic)
Variable in-line attentuators (10/20/30 dB)
XLR barrel adapters
1/4"-to-XLR adapters (mono 1/4" female)
RCA-to-XLR adapters
1/4"-to-XLR adapters (stereo 1/4")

The last one is for adapting 1/4" balanced outputs to XLR balanced cables.

Hope this helps!

Marco Leavitt · September 15th, 2004, 02:04 PM

Very thorough list, thanks. I was afraid I would need this much stuff.

September 15th, 2004, 07:28 AM	#1
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	Getting a feed from a mixer Can anyone give a me a best guess on what adapters to be prepared with? We've got a shoot this weekend and we've been promised we can get a feed from the board, but so far I haven't been able to contact the person who is going to be running it. I plan to use my A/D converter, which has two mic level XLR inputs. I already have attenuators.

September 15th, 2004, 09:03 AM	#2
Kevin Triplett Mad Scientist Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 47	Hi Marco -- I have videotaped events and FWIW here's my experience: you'll probably get an unbalanced signal from the mixer and they typically originate from the mixer with either RCA jacks or 1/4" jacks. If you're lucky, the mixer will have balanced outputs that you can tap into. But all outputs from mixers are typically professional line-level (+4dBm) so definitely bring your pads or attentuators. (Sometimes you'll find a mixer with 1/4" balanced outputs. Then if you have a properly wired 1/4" stereo-to-XLR adapter you can get a nice balanced feed from the mixer.) You probably already know this but just in case (and for folks who might find this thread and need to know) ... for the unbalanced outputs, if you're close enough to the mixer, you can use unbalanced cables like RCA-to-RCA or 1/4"-to-1/4" and use adapters. If you're not close enough, you can bring or rent a Direct Input box (or sometimes I use the Beachtek XLR adapter box for my camera) and run the unbalanced cables into the DI box and then run balanced cable to your camera or A/D box. You probably also already know this, but you'll typically get a feed from one of the mixer's Aux busses which either you'll have to mix yourself or the mixer operator might manage the mix for you. So a shopping list of adapters for pretty much universal mixer tie-in would look like this (I'm sure others will recommend additional items): 1/4"-to-RCA adapters (mono 1/4") balanced cables (RCA or mono 1/4" or mixed) Direct Input boxes Pads or in-line attentuators (line-level-to-mic) Variable in-line attentuators (10/20/30 dB) XLR barrel adapters 1/4"-to-XLR adapters (mono 1/4" female) RCA-to-XLR adapters 1/4"-to-XLR adapters (stereo 1/4") The last one is for adapting 1/4" balanced outputs to XLR balanced cables. Hope this helps!

September 15th, 2004, 02:04 PM	#3
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	Very thorough list, thanks. I was afraid I would need this much stuff.