View Full Version : TECHNICAL ADVICE ON CANON XLR 12dB GAIN UP ?


Herman Van Deventer
July 16th, 2008, 10:51 AM
i Have tried the search function on the forum regarding a more technical explanation on when and why one should use (activate the XLR 12Db gain up) function as per Canon XLH1 menu.


I am not sound "Literate" but need more information on the pro en con's of this function.

Thank You .

A. J. deLange
July 19th, 2008, 07:03 AM
The pro is that use of this option will raise the self noise of the microphone and the camera's preamp noise 12 dB further above the quantizing noise of the camera's A/D converter. This would result in a tiny (1 dB or less) improvement in recorded signal to noise ratio. The con is that the dynamic range of the system (intensity of the loudest signal which can be recorded without distortion) is reduced by 12 db. It's not a good trade. You would use this gain-up with a microphone with very low sensitivity and/or a very weak sound source if you did not have an external pre-amp available.

Herman Van Deventer
July 19th, 2008, 09:48 AM
Rock solid answer . Thank You . A.J.