Beachtek XLR with my Sony FX7 how to? at DVinfo.net

Luke Huxham · April 26th, 2011, 10:24 AM

Hey guys,

I have had issues in the past trying to use my Beachtek XLR DXA8 with my Sony FX7, noise problems etc.
Can you please go through a basic run down on how i should install this on my FX7 to work correctly.
See mine came with no instructions and i really want to play around with it.

So a start to finish simple step system of what i should be doing would be great, can i just run it off the camera battery along with any equipment i have plugged into the XLR slots or do i need to use it with a battery aswell. I have very large camera batteries so this is no issue to suck there power down.

You help is appreciated as always thank you.

David Sholle · April 26th, 2011, 11:09 AM

I have not used this device, but the Beachtek manual is online:

http://www.beachtek.com/pdf/DXA-8instructions.pdf

Adam Gold · April 26th, 2011, 01:06 PM

Here's the single most important piece of advice from the manual when using a BeachTek device:

Quote:

Initial Setup
Set the camcorder to “manual” audio to deactivate the AGC. Turn the
gain control on the camcorder to a very low setting – about 20% of
maximum.

Yes, you must put a 9V battery in the DXA-8.

Quote:

Power
Install a fresh 9 volt battery in the adapter. Turn on the PWR switch
to activate the unit.

Chad Johnson · April 26th, 2011, 05:59 PM

Ive owned the DXA-8, and it's just plain old noisy too. They discontinued it. It's passive, meaning you can't make your mic any louder than it is going in without a preamp. So you may as well try plugging your mic in directly to the camera.

Jay Massengill · April 28th, 2011, 09:13 AM

I have the DXA-6 which is passive as far as mic gain is concerned but does supply phantom power.

I've never used the DXA-8, but the manual does indicate it's not passive but uses preamps.

It's certainly possible those preamps aren't the greatest and could be noisy, but I know it's also easy to simply overpreamp when feeding a mic-level only camera input and that results in unneccessary noise.

What specific models of mics are you trying to use?

There are other points to check and test but for the moment tell us about your mics.

Chad Johnson · April 28th, 2011, 12:07 PM

Yeah you get a little gain with the DXA-8, but it's discontinued.

Adam Gold · April 28th, 2011, 01:20 PM

Discontinued or not, it's the one he has and asked about.

April 26th, 2011, 10:24 AM	#1
Luke Huxham New Boot Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Japan / Isesaki Posts: 14	Beachtek XLR with my Sony FX7 how to? Hey guys, I have had issues in the past trying to use my Beachtek XLR DXA8 with my Sony FX7, noise problems etc. Can you please go through a basic run down on how i should install this on my FX7 to work correctly. See mine came with no instructions and i really want to play around with it. So a start to finish simple step system of what i should be doing would be great, can i just run it off the camera battery along with any equipment i have plugged into the XLR slots or do i need to use it with a battery aswell. I have very large camera batteries so this is no issue to suck there power down. You help is appreciated as always thank you.

April 26th, 2011, 11:09 AM	#2
David Sholle Regular Crew Join Date: May 2007 Location: Mammoth Lakes CA Posts: 125	Re: Beachtek XLR with my Sony FX7 how to? I have not used this device, but the Beachtek manual is online: http://www.beachtek.com/pdf/DXA-8instructions.pdf

April 26th, 2011, 05:59 PM	#4
Chad Johnson Major Player Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Arcata, Ca Posts: 750	Re: Beachtek XLR with my Sony FX7 how to? Ive owned the DXA-8, and it's just plain old noisy too. They discontinued it. It's passive, meaning you can't make your mic any louder than it is going in without a preamp. So you may as well try plugging your mic in directly to the camera. __________________ My Work: http://www.youtube.com/ChadWork1 Sony FS5 :: Panasonic GH4 :: Sony PMW-EX1 :: FCPx :: AT4053b :: Rode NTG-3,

April 28th, 2011, 09:13 AM	#5
Jay Massengill Trustee Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Burlington Posts: 1,976	Re: Beachtek XLR with my Sony FX7 how to? I have the DXA-6 which is passive as far as mic gain is concerned but does supply phantom power. I've never used the DXA-8, but the manual does indicate it's not passive but uses preamps. It's certainly possible those preamps aren't the greatest and could be noisy, but I know it's also easy to simply overpreamp when feeding a mic-level only camera input and that results in unneccessary noise. What specific models of mics are you trying to use? There are other points to check and test but for the moment tell us about your mics.

April 28th, 2011, 12:07 PM	#6
Chad Johnson Major Player Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Arcata, Ca Posts: 750	Re: Beachtek XLR with my Sony FX7 how to? Yeah you get a little gain with the DXA-8, but it's discontinued. __________________ My Work: http://www.youtube.com/ChadWork1 Sony FS5 :: Panasonic GH4 :: Sony PMW-EX1 :: FCPx :: AT4053b :: Rode NTG-3,

April 28th, 2011, 01:20 PM	#7
Adam Gold Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 3,467	Re: Beachtek XLR with my Sony FX7 how to? Discontinued or not, it's the one he has and asked about. __________________ "It can only be attributable to human error... This sort of thing has cropped up before, and it has always been due to human error."