View Full Version : Need help with Wireless mic setup!!


Joe Hanna
June 7th, 2008, 12:31 PM
Ok here's my problem. I just got a Azden WMS PRO Wirless mic system. I have a Canon xl-2. I have hook it all up but I get little or no sound on my recordings. Batteries are good so I know it not that. I can hook a radio into the camera and get good sound from that so I know its not the camera's ability to recieve sound to the audio 1 jacks.

Azden has a mini 1/8 jack out of the reciever, so I had to get a 1/8 to 1/8 barrel adapter then hook up a 1/8 to stereo mono cabel then into the audio 1 on the camera. this does not seem to work or I just get very low sound?

As I said before I can hook up a small transister radio through a 1/8 mini out of the radio into the audio 1 port on the camera via a 1/8 to mono cable an sound is good.

Any ideas what my problem may be or is the Azden not compatable with the XL-2?

Chris Swanberg
June 7th, 2008, 12:35 PM
It sounds very much like you have selected Line level for the camera inputs instead of Mic level. The earphone jack of a transistor raadio will output a much hotter signal than a mic level.... which is why that works.

Joe Hanna
June 7th, 2008, 01:04 PM
Thanks Chris for the reply. Please bear with me on this because I,m new to this setup and Camera, can I change the input from line level to mic level and how do I do this on the camera? through the menu on the camera? and do you think this will work.
thanks again

Chris Swanberg
June 7th, 2008, 02:19 PM
You might check in the forum for your camera on this site. I am unfamiliar with that camera but I am sure that is where you might find the selection of line vs mic. That's the case on most prosumer and pro cameras. I think that is your problem candidly and once you figure out how to select mic you will be a happy camper.

Joe Hanna
June 7th, 2008, 04:08 PM
Still stuck here does anyone use the Azden wms pro with the xl-2 and how is it set up. please have patience, newbie at this and it has spun me around a bit.
I'm missing something but I can't figure it out.

Joe Hanna
June 8th, 2008, 09:44 PM
I have been able to get the mic to record sound and Chris was right it was a line setting on the camera. Although I can get sound I have to set the mic level all the way to max and in post set that level to max I can get sound that is just ok at best.

I will try to tweak it some more but any suggestions will help. I was wondering if I get a xlr adapter and try that if it would boost up the signal any.

Please any input is welcome

Rainer Listing
June 9th, 2008, 01:25 AM
I use this setup and it works fine. I don't know why your front input isn't working, but its probably just to do with plugging your mono WMS input into the stereo camera mic input. Instead, use one of the rear inputs on the XL2, which are mic level mono. Use either a Rode mini to XLR adapter (widely available) or just cut off the WMS mini plug and fit an XLR plug. Use the other input for your other mic. If its still not working properly, there is probably a fault in the WMS.

Joe Hanna
June 9th, 2008, 12:43 PM
Problem solved, I ended up using an XLR plus as Rainer had suggested. I did a sound check and the audio level is 100% better I did not need to boost in post. Shooting a wedding this weekend so I have been saved.

I want to thank both Chris and Rainer for their input on this issue both were of great help!!

Thanks again

I love this site!

Ty Ford
June 9th, 2008, 06:17 PM
It sounds very much like you have selected Line level for the camera inputs instead of Mic level. The earphone jack of a transistor raadio will output a much hotter signal than a mic level.... which is why that works.

It does sound like that, but the XL2 doesn't have a line level input through the XLRs; only mic level.

Regards,

Ty Ford