R-09 Mic Question at DVinfo.net

Scott Routt · July 22nd, 2006, 04:45 PM

I just had a weird experience with the R-09 and was wondering if anyone can explain it.

The R-09 performed and sounded great by itself using its internal microphone.
I took it's audio file into I-Tunes and it sounded good there. I took it FCP and it sounded good there both as ain aif and a wav.

The problem occurred when I used an external mic (AT3031) with a pre-amp.
The audio file sounded fine on the R-09 with headphones. It sounded fine when played in I-Tunes. BUT the file DID NOT PLAY when put in FCP. I heard nothing at all. However, FCP's audio meter was jumping up and down and I could see the wave patterns in FCP. Kind of baffled about this.
-Scott

Scott Routt · July 22nd, 2006, 07:05 PM

Answer: FCP played the files this time. The difference was that I set the R-09 to Mono instead of Stereo. And I also set the R-09 to "No Power" for Mic. Not sure which one made the difference yet.

Funny thing though. So far the audio sounds better using the R-09 internal mic rather than an external mic.

Scott Routt · July 22nd, 2006, 07:30 PM

FCP won't play R-09 files if the R-09 is set to Stereo. Has to be Mono. That's strange, especially since I see the audio meters running.

Andrew Dean · July 23rd, 2006, 03:12 AM

I could see it getting confused by mono. but confused by stereo? thats really odd.

David Ennis · July 23rd, 2006, 09:27 AM

Acually, it's very common. If you apply a balanced mono signal to the two channels of a stereo input, then the two channels are identical with opposite polarity and cancel each other out. You won't notice that in headphones.

Scott, I don't know what you can and can't do in FCP, but if you listen to one channel at a time it will be fine, and if you can "invert" one of the channels then the two will sound fine together.

As to why the R-09 sounds so good with its own mic, well that's what the manufacturer claims. Maybe they weren't exaggerating.

Scott Routt · July 23rd, 2006, 03:23 PM

That's really neat Fred. Thanks! I'll give it a shot and report the results.
-Scott

Andreas Griesmayr · July 30th, 2006, 03:33 AM

You can find a lot of information of R-09 users here at that site http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=68518.0 where I remember having read that the internal mics of the R-09 are considered O.K. but not up to the job these more serious tapers there want. They certainly would prefer other mics, an ext. preamp only if it is better than the already good one inside the R-09.
To view one has to become a member though.

July 22nd, 2006, 04:45 PM	#1
Scott Routt Major Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 206	R-09 Mic Question I just had a weird experience with the R-09 and was wondering if anyone can explain it. The R-09 performed and sounded great by itself using its internal microphone. I took it's audio file into I-Tunes and it sounded good there. I took it FCP and it sounded good there both as ain aif and a wav. The problem occurred when I used an external mic (AT3031) with a pre-amp. The audio file sounded fine on the R-09 with headphones. It sounded fine when played in I-Tunes. BUT the file DID NOT PLAY when put in FCP. I heard nothing at all. However, FCP's audio meter was jumping up and down and I could see the wave patterns in FCP. Kind of baffled about this. -Scott

July 23rd, 2006, 09:27 AM	#5
David Ennis Fred Retread Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hartford, CT Posts: 1,227	Acually, it's very common. If you apply a balanced mono signal to the two channels of a stereo input, then the two channels are identical with opposite polarity and cancel each other out. You won't notice that in headphones. Scott, I don't know what you can and can't do in FCP, but if you listen to one channel at a time it will be fine, and if you can "invert" one of the channels then the two will sound fine together. As to why the R-09 sounds so good with its own mic, well that's what the manufacturer claims. Maybe they weren't exaggerating. __________________ "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence..." - Calvin Coolidge "My brain is wired to want to know how other things are wired." - Me

July 30th, 2006, 03:33 AM	#7
Andreas Griesmayr Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Amstetten Austria Posts: 140	You can find a lot of information of R-09 users here at that site http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=68518.0 where I remember having read that the internal mics of the R-09 are considered O.K. but not up to the job these more serious tapers there want. They certainly would prefer other mics, an ext. preamp only if it is better than the already good one inside the R-09. To view one has to become a member though. __________________ video: NV-GS400 (black jap), Raynox HD-6600 and XL-3000, VW-LDC10 V.light, Velbon C-400, Slik monopod, Hama Hood audio: SP-CMC8+AT853 cards+omnis / AT822 > DIYpreamp > iRiver iHP120rockboxed, Giant Squid Omnis > iRiver iFP-799

July 22nd, 2006, 07:05 PM	#2
Scott Routt Major Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 206	Answer: FCP played the files this time. The difference was that I set the R-09 to Mono instead of Stereo. And I also set the R-09 to "No Power" for Mic. Not sure which one made the difference yet. Funny thing though. So far the audio sounds better using the R-09 internal mic rather than an external mic.

July 22nd, 2006, 07:30 PM	#3
Scott Routt Major Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 206	FCP won't play R-09 files if the R-09 is set to Stereo. Has to be Mono. That's strange, especially since I see the audio meters running.

July 23rd, 2006, 03:12 AM	#4
Andrew Dean Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Motukarara, New Zealand Posts: 475	I could see it getting confused by mono. but confused by stereo? thats really odd.

July 23rd, 2006, 03:23 PM	#6
Scott Routt Major Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 206	That's really neat Fred. Thanks! I'll give it a shot and report the results. -Scott