View Full Version : Mic level versus Line level


Mike Moncrief
January 31st, 2004, 04:18 PM
Hello,

Just for my own clarification.. can someone tell me an example of when you swith your XLR input to line level, versus using mic level..???? And when using a wireless XLR lavalier type microphone, I assume mic level would be the correct setting ??

thanks,
mike m.

Rob Lohman
February 3rd, 2004, 02:45 PM
Line level is used when you are recording from equipment that
has a higher signal than a microphone. This usually includes
other audio equipment or mixing desks from a DJ for example.

Mike Moncrief
February 3rd, 2004, 05:29 PM
Hello,

Thanks Rob, I kind of knew that.. Just had to hear someone say it..

Thanks,,
Mike M.

Patrick Grealy
February 4th, 2004, 03:49 AM
Moreover, Mic Level means that the pre-amp within the camera is switched in (i.e on ) and the gain control for this preamp is available for you to tweak (increase to an acceptable level) from the menu.

If you plugged your mic into a mixer, set the gain on this mixing desk and then took the feed to the camera, you would select Line level. If you needed even more gain, you might also add in some gain in the camera's preamp, (revert to Mic level and adjust) although this is unlikely.

The advantage of using the outside mixer (or dedicated quallty preamp) is that the quality of the recorded sound (signal to noise ratio and dynamic range) wil probably be better.

I use a small Mackie 1201 VLX PRo instead of the SONY built in pre-amp to great effect.

Regards P