I just purchased a field mixer to make things easier for someone else to mix sound while i shoot. Although it has not arrived yet, i wanted to know before i receive the mixer, is there a way to bypass the camera's audio levels, and have the mixer do all the work?
If not, then how do i make sure that the camera is picking up what sound guy is hearing from the mixer without losing those sound levels from the camera's audio levels itself? Thank You!

- Kevin

That's what the tone from the mixer is for. Go line level in, turn on the mixer's tone, set the master switch to zero, and adjust camera level until you get a -20 db. You'll have to crank the camera pots pretty far up. Mine go about 2/3 to 3/4 of the way wide open. Then the soundman will want to set his mic levels so he's averaging out around zero. This should put your camera levels around a -12, which is where you want to be. Some people say never to peak over a -10, others go up to -6. I like to average out around a -12 to a -10.

Once you've calibrated the mixer to the camera, you shouldn't have to worry about it. The soundman does the rest. But make sure he's not one of those recording studio guys who wants everything at too low a level. You need him to be around zero on his incoming mic levels, maybe a little higher on occasion.

Thank You kindly Bill :D

I just purchased a field mixer to make things easier for someone else to mix sound while i shoot. Although it has not arrived yet, i wanted to know before i receive the mixer, is there a way to bypass the camera's audio levels, and have the mixer do all the work?
If not, then how do i make sure that the camera is picking up what sound guy is hearing from the mixer without losing those sound levels from the camera's audio levels itself? Thank You!

- Kevin

Which mixer did you get? I have been shopping around looking for a good one...

Doug,

I got the Azden Mx20, it's a simple and affordable mixer, something that works if your definitley on a budget.

one question bill:
if the tone is set to -20 i don't see why when mic levels are averaging out at 0 (mixer) they "should put your camera levels around a -12". they should be around -20, shouldn't they? when you hit 8 at mixer's you should get -12..
correct me if i'm wrong..

pietro