When I record audio with my Sennheiser 416 and Level set to 5, everything is fine, nice peaks, no clipping. When I record with a Tram Lapel mic and a Sennheiser ECM-77B Lapel mic, Level set to 10 everything is not fine. Very low level and barely discernible peaks on timeline.
Other Audi settings are..
Audio Output = 2Vrms
Mode = 48k
Input Level = Mic
Input Trim = 0db
The settings remain constant for all mics and both lapel mics have fresh batteries. Is there another audio setting somewhere I've missed?

What kind of receiver /transmitter are you using?

They're hard wired John. Not radio mics.

It sounds (pardon the pun) like you'll need to add gain on the trim function.

Levels do vary across different equipment, impedances and whether the mic is powered or dynamic.

Duncan.

Can the mic take phantom power? How about using that instead of batteries?

I believe that Sennheiser mikes do tend to the hot side. You need much less gain on a Mackie mixer than a Sony mic. Sorry, don't know the model numbers of either. But that could explain what your seeing.

Using Phantom Power doesn't change anything. Mics remain at same level with or without PP. However, upping the trim to +6db, did make a difference. The lapel mics still need to be driven at max 10 on the level meters but at least now I can see some reasonable peaks on the timeline. Strange because using these same mics on my Betacam the level meters only need to be set at level 5 to achieve the same peaks. Can anyone advise as to whether its better to leave the trim at +6db and meters flat out at level 10 or increase the trim to +12db and pull the levels meter back down?
Appreciate all your help, thanks.

Same here, when we ran DVCam PCM audio our mics were very hot around half level then we went to HDV MPEG audio and allot of adjustment and headaches occured and really the only thing we could do was run gain when needed to up the levels and the preamp hiss is just something you can expect with HDV audio when recording anything shy of a normal voice. We have also noticed that the range with our wireless mics went from over 100 ft with DVCam to less than 30 ft. with HDV cam. before loosing transmission. It must have something to do with the camera because we can still hook our Lectrosonics to a DVCam and walk 100+ feet from the receiver and still get transmission then put the mics on HDV camera and 20 to 30 feet we start loosing transmission.

FWIW he has a Sony ECM-77B, not a Sennheiser.

My apologies. I may have confused things a tad in my original post by referring to the ECM-77B as a Sennheiser.
You can tell I'm not a sound engineer.
Don't know my "Sony's" from my "Sennie's".
DB

Dugi - what camera are we talking about here?

HVR-Z1E Martin.
Apologies again.
I didn't realise this forum covered different models.

As the signal is so weak, have you considered that the mics may be faulty (it wouldn't be the first time that 2 mics have become faulty)? Does it work without having to pump up the gain on other devices, such as a DAT recorder? Perhaps your Z1 has a faulty connection. Have you tried a different XLR cable, or connect it to the other channel? Can the dreaded "Auto" get it up to an acceptable level?

Like I mentioned Colin
"Strange because using these same mics on my Betacam the level meters only need to be set at level 5 to achieve the same peaks."
Auto actually makes the level lower.
Do your lapel mics record well to the Z1?