New Audio Setup - Any forseeable problems?

[Michael Clark]

I just started testing a new setup and wanted to seek feedback (see attachment below). It is an H4n and a Rode NTG-2 both plugged into a JuicedLink CX231, which feeds into a Canon T2i using Magic Lantern. I tested it a little last night. I think it will be useful at wedding receptions, where a shotgun would be useful for interviews while drowning out the background music, and the H4n would be useful to capture the other live sound during dancing, etc. Being able to monitor using Magic Lantern levels/headphones will give me a good idea how I need to balance the two. Anyone else using a similar setup? Any other forseeable issues that may cause problems on the fly?

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/attachme...s-img_0425.jpg

[Steve House]

How exactly are you connecting the output of the H4n to the Juicedlink?

[Michael Clark]

The H4n just has a line out (mini) to my knowledge, which runs into the 2nd balanced XLR line of the JuicedLink.

[Steve House]

Originally Posted by Michael Clark

The H4n just has a line out (mini) to my knowledge, which runs into the 2nd balanced XLR line of the JuicedLink.

That's what's worrying me. The line out would be on a TRS stereo jack. You're connecting it to a mono XLR input. Depending on how the TRS->XLR cable/adapter is wired, you could be introducing some phase inversion and cancellation issues when you mix the left and right signals from the H4n into mono going into the Juicedlink. Either that or you're only going to get one channel from the H4n. So on your TRS->XLR adapter, which contact on the mini-plug is connected to what pin on the XLR?

[Michael Clark]

I'm clearly a novice with audio, but it's hard for me to tell - the entire cord is wrapped up in one piece (I'm used to seeing each of the three wrapped up separately if that's what you mean).

[Steve House]

Originally Posted by Michael Clark

I'm clearly a novice with audio, but it's hard for me to tell - the entire cord is wrapped up in one piece (I'm used to seeing each of the three wrapped up separately if that's what you mean).

Sorry, I don't have a clue what you mean by "wrapped up in one piece." The mini-plug has three contacts, the tip, the ring, and the sleeve. The XLR plug has 3 pins, numbered 1, 2, and 3. A wire within the cable connects each contact to one of the XLR pins. We need to know what is connected to what. If you don't know, a $10 multimeter from Radio Shack will let you check the continuity. What worries me is, if tip connects to pin 2, ring connects to pin 3, and sleeve connects to pin 1, which is very common in music-store off-the-shelf adapter cables, we have a problem.

[Michael Clark]

Sorry again - I'm embarrassing myself my with limited audio vocabulary! I'll look into getting a multimeter. Here is the cable I have (came with my Senn. G3).

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/233893-REG/Sennheiser_CL100_CL_100_1_8_M_Mini_to.html

[Steve House]

Originally Posted by Michael Clark

Sorry again - I'm embarrassing myself my with limited audio vocabulary! I'll look into getting a multimeter. Here is the cable I have (came with my Senn. G3).

Sennheiser CL-100 1/8"-M Mini to XLR-M CL100 B&H Photo

AFAIK that cable might only feed the left channel from the H4n. I don't remember the exact wiring. I'd suggest careful testing to verify that you're getting a mono signal with both stereo channels properly mixed together.

[Michael Clark]

Thanks Steve. After a couple times testing, I've been able to verify it's a mono signal with mixed stereo channels. I've got the H4n set up at 120 degrees now instead of 90, which will help get a wider pattern. I'll put it through a bigger test Saturday at a wedding.