Stereo outputs and the Beachtek DXA-6 at DVinfo.net

Anthony Meluso · April 28th, 2005, 09:24 PM

I have a mixer with stereo outputs and a beachtek dxa-6 attached to my GL2. If I connect XLR cables to the stereo outputs on the mixer and on the dxa-6 would it record to tape in stereo?

Also, if I just connect the mic to the beachtek directly to the left channel, it would just record the left channel. Later in Premiere would I just see the left channel with audio on it?

Thanks

Anthony

Jay Massengill · April 29th, 2005, 07:45 AM

It depends on two factors: The setting of the MONO/STEREO switch on the BeachTek and the setting of the PAN controls on your mixer.
If your mixer pan controls are set appropriately to the left and right, you use two cables to connect to the BeachTek, and the BeachTek is set for STEREO, then you will have two separate channels of audio.
Remember that true stereo needs two channels AND those channels have to contain audio that's actually tied to Left and Right directions.
Otherwise you have two-channel mono, such as a lav mic on the "left" channel and a shotgun on the "right" channel. In this case left and right are just names, they don't really mean the mics are in the scene to the left and right unless you're doing this for an effect.
If your two-channel mono signals contain exactly the same audio, like if your pan controls are all centered on your mixer, or your BeachTek control is set to MONO, then you just have a mono signal with two copies.

If you hook a single mic to the BeachTek, setting the switch to MONO will send the mic to both outputs. If the switch is set to STEREO, the mic will only go to its matching output and the other track would be silent. At first glance this seems backwards, but STEREO keeps the inputs separated so you can have two distinct channels. MONO mixes both inputs to both outputs equally to create two copies of a mono audio signal.
How your editing software handles this captured file depends on the software.
Most can manipulate the two tracks of audio in a variety of ways, but some are not so flexible.

Anthony Meluso · April 29th, 2005, 10:28 AM

So if I filmed with two lav mics, one to each person, and had them connected to the mixer and correctly panned the left and right channels, I would have to set the Beachtek for stereo and I have to distinct channels to edit with on the computer?

Thanks for all the help

Jay Massengill · April 29th, 2005, 12:47 PM

You are correct.
The only limitation would be how your editing software lets you manipulate those two channels of audio. Some software is inflexible and you are limited in the ability to split them into two distinct tracks and re-center them.
Other software allows full flexibility and you can change this original stereo track any way you want.

Anthony Meluso · April 29th, 2005, 01:42 PM

Thanks for clearing this up for me.

April 28th, 2005, 09:24 PM	#1
Anthony Meluso Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 53	Stereo outputs and the Beachtek DXA-6 I have a mixer with stereo outputs and a beachtek dxa-6 attached to my GL2. If I connect XLR cables to the stereo outputs on the mixer and on the dxa-6 would it record to tape in stereo? Also, if I just connect the mic to the beachtek directly to the left channel, it would just record the left channel. Later in Premiere would I just see the left channel with audio on it? Thanks Anthony

April 29th, 2005, 07:45 AM	#2
Jay Massengill Trustee Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Burlington Posts: 1,976	It depends on two factors: The setting of the MONO/STEREO switch on the BeachTek and the setting of the PAN controls on your mixer. If your mixer pan controls are set appropriately to the left and right, you use two cables to connect to the BeachTek, and the BeachTek is set for STEREO, then you will have two separate channels of audio. Remember that true stereo needs two channels AND those channels have to contain audio that's actually tied to Left and Right directions. Otherwise you have two-channel mono, such as a lav mic on the "left" channel and a shotgun on the "right" channel. In this case left and right are just names, they don't really mean the mics are in the scene to the left and right unless you're doing this for an effect. If your two-channel mono signals contain exactly the same audio, like if your pan controls are all centered on your mixer, or your BeachTek control is set to MONO, then you just have a mono signal with two copies. If you hook a single mic to the BeachTek, setting the switch to MONO will send the mic to both outputs. If the switch is set to STEREO, the mic will only go to its matching output and the other track would be silent. At first glance this seems backwards, but STEREO keeps the inputs separated so you can have two distinct channels. MONO mixes both inputs to both outputs equally to create two copies of a mono audio signal. How your editing software handles this captured file depends on the software. Most can manipulate the two tracks of audio in a variety of ways, but some are not so flexible.

April 29th, 2005, 10:28 AM	#3
Anthony Meluso Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 53	So if I filmed with two lav mics, one to each person, and had them connected to the mixer and correctly panned the left and right channels, I would have to set the Beachtek for stereo and I have to distinct channels to edit with on the computer? Thanks for all the help

April 29th, 2005, 12:47 PM	#4
Jay Massengill Trustee Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Burlington Posts: 1,976	You are correct. The only limitation would be how your editing software lets you manipulate those two channels of audio. Some software is inflexible and you are limited in the ability to split them into two distinct tracks and re-center them. Other software allows full flexibility and you can change this original stereo track any way you want.

April 29th, 2005, 01:42 PM	#5
Anthony Meluso Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 53	Thanks for clearing this up for me.