I'm thinking of getting a MixPre, and need advice on using line-in on the HV20/30/40, which has no dedicated line input. This would mean switching in the attenuator, and manually setting the volume level. Aside from the risk of blowing out the pre-amp, are there other disadvantages to doing this?

I would also be using the Mixpre with a Sony PCM-D50 (which has line input). Rather than get the Sony XLR adapter, I figured the Mixpre would be more useful. Any opinions?

You will need a -40db pad between the MixPre and the HV30, otherwise you will get just a distorted signal. Using the in-camera attenuator does not work

I've been using a SD MixPre with a Canon HV20 for the past two years, and now with a Canon HG21 for the past four months. I keep a BeachTek DXA-2s bolted to the bottom of my cameras to handle the LINE level output from the MixPre. The system works great, especially with the HG21 which has better audio fidelity than the HV20/30 does.

Another option is the juicedLink CX231. It presents very clean gain, mic levels and a 1/8" plug to the camcorder/recorder.

The attenuator in the camera has always worked for me to get line outputs. I use a HV20 so I think it shouldn't be any different.

In experimenting with a line-in audio signal, and attenuator on, the first 3 or 4 volume indicator lights will bring the signal up to -12 dB. What I don't know at this point, is whether there is any distortion, as Matthias suggests.