I have to hook up to the A1 in a couple of days from 302 line level.
I've looked at the A1 manual and seems to be straight forward, but I remember another thread saying there is something different about the operating level of this camera, and can't remember which forum I read this on. I'm assuming -20 302 tone at -20 on camera and check with the 302 full code tone and see were it is. Any one with similar experience?

I forget if the A1 shares this problem, but the H1 does not have true line level ins. You'll want to take the 302's outs and the camera's ins down to mic level if you notice this.

Come to think of it I noticed this on an XL2 as well. Could be a property of all Canons in this range?

The manual for the H1 and the A1 are the same. All 3 cams in one manual.

I use SD302 to XH-A1 combo. The line in on the cam is low, the pots can in practice be turned all the way open. When using full level tone I found out you should turn the potentiometers just a tad from full open, but I just run them at full open with SD302 limeter set at -3 dBFS (+17 dBVU). I think it is safer than using mic level inputs anyway.

Petri, thanks for the info. After some more searching it appears this cam set at line level is about 8 db low. Others have said use mic level, but I'd rather not.
Did you notice any noise by cranking the A1 pots mostly wide open at line level? I usually run my 302 limiter at +17.

OK, another thought. When using line level in on the A1, I'm thinking the line level setting is just a resistor pad and still goes throught the mic preamp.
And it's not good to run the pre all the way up, might bring in noise. So wouldn't it be better to set up- 302 for mic level out and run into A1 set at mic?

Brooks,
I had this issue, and in the end I tweaked the SD302's output down from Line level and then used the XLR inputs on the A1 set to Mic Att. That way you can use all the benefits of the 302 (limiters, etc..) and run the A1's channel gain levels around mid way.
Sound recorded is great (I was only recording voices).
Regards, Ross.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks Ross,
Yes, I'm doing dialog.
I think mic level is the best way. I have a rule.... when you have to turn a pot all the way up, or all the way down to get the proper level, something is mismatched. If the gain pots are in the mid postion using mic+att, this would give the best signal-to-noise.

Have to do some tests...

I set it up, but used a SD Mixpre instead, with 2 Shure 50db attenuaters.... line to mic level, because the Mixpre doesn't have mic output, just line. Went mic in on cam without the mic att switch off. -20 tone was with the gain pots about 2/3 open.
Read the manual to the A1, but it was still a brain scratcher to figure out how those buttons on top of cam work. More like trial and error, and I had a copy of the manual in my hands! Add to this the fact that you turn the gain pots on cam COUNTERCLOCKWISE TO INCREASE GAIN.... stupidist thing I've ever seen!

I've tried line level in and mic in with att on (SD302 to XH-A1) and to my ears the line level in sounds cleaner. I'd love to hear more opinions from people who have tried it both ways.

...I'm just getting to where I can feel the need for a mixer, and am hoping to get it figured out soon. Seems a shame Canon made the audio section of the camera so goofy and mismatched. Any ideas why?

Anyone else care to talk about their setup for XHA1 and mixer?