I was on a production last week and the director wanted to use his Azden SGM-2X with my Canon XL1s.

My Sennhieser ME66 worked fine, but I could not get a signal from the Azden SGM-2X. They had fresh batteries and worked on his VX200.

Anybody know why this is?

Upon reflection, I had the audio set to PCM 16bit, is this why it's not working? Are the Azden SGM-2X 12 bit?

Any info is appreciated.

After the fact it is impossible to know for sure. How were you inputting the audio from the other system?

Both used XLR connectors. My XL1s had the MA-100.

You had the Azden's hooked up the same way as the ME-66? Did you change any of the menu settings (side of camera or internal menu accessed via the viewfinder)?

They were hooked up the same. On set, I didn't think to change any of the settings for audio. It was set at PCM 16 bit.

Do you know if the Azden is 16 bit?

Mics aren't rated or measured in bits. They are analog. The change from 12 bit to 16 bit only effects the method of recording the audio used by the camera.

it works fine in a GL2 so it's very odd that it wouldn't work in an xl1s...and a search on the forum showed the following from Todd Mattson, April 8, 02:

I use and Azden SGM-1X ($150 from B&H), and am quite satisfied with it's supercardiod polar pattern and rejection at the rear and sides. It's about eleven inches long, has an XLR connector, and comes with it's own, albeit somewhat useless shockmount. I use mine mounted on my XL-1, with a MM-XL1 minimount from Lightwave Systems, and is great for the documentary and event shooting I do. Azden also makes another model, the SGM-2X, which has two polar patterns, omni and supercardiod for $250. Talk about bang for the buck. It's a little bit longer than the 1X, but does have even more rejection in it's supercariod pattern than the 1X as well. Good luck to you....

We have another shoot this weekend, and I am going to investigate further.

For all I know it could have been a Ghost in the Machine.

It is also possible for the battery-spring in the Azden mics to collapse side-ways if care isnt taken when intalling the battery or if the mic gets bumped significantly. This can create a loss of contact with the battery and no signal from the mic.

I use the SGM-2X with a GL-2 also, with great success.