Everybody is excited about the video options with this camera but I am just as excited about the audio options.

4 channels of uncompressed audio. This is really great.

I have a Canon XL1 and I have always loved being able to record 4 channels of audio during a shoot with 4 mics. It did suck that it was only 32khz though.

Since this camera only has 2 XLR jacks do the RCA jacks double as the second set of audio input jacks or does the second set come from the onboard mic only?

Also how much control do we have over all 4 channels? Can we only adjust the first 2 or do we have control over all 4 channels? From the pics I have seen it looks like there is great 2 channel control but I didn't see very many options for channel 3 and 4.

Thanks for all the info guys.

Also how much control do we have over all 4 channels? Can we only adjust the first 2 or do we have control over all 4 channels? From the pics I have seen it looks like there is great 2 channel control but I didn't see very many options for channel 3 and 4.
They have confirmed that the onboard mic can be used to record to channels 3 & 4 (using ALC). It is still to be determined whether the line-ins may be used, or if some other method would provide other ways to access channels 3 & 4.

They would HAVE to utilize some kind of input for all four channels or else the whole idea of 4-channel audio will be pointless.

I haven't used the onboard mic of the DVX since I bought my first mic. ANYTHING will outperform the onboard mic... and I mean anything.

If it doesn't allow for 4 simultaneous inputs then I crapped my pants for nothing [when I read your "first look" at DVXuser].

Oh wait... the variable frame rates still justify shoving one pair of Hane's into the trash can...

i hope someone would find the way to convert the on board mike to audio input by sergery:-)

i hope someone would find the way to convert the on board mike to audio input by sergery:-)
I've been asking for exactly that (well, not "surgery" per se...) but I'd like to see an option where we could remove that mic, and instead replace it with a plug-in module that has two more XLR inputs, for channels 3 & 4.

one XLR input can deliver two channel (basically stereo) signal - it means four channels on two inputs.

one XLR input can deliver two channel (basically stereo) signal - it means four channels on two inputs.
How does that work? So far, I have only ever connected one mic or line in channel per xlr connection on my xl1....

If so, wouldn't it be unbalanced audio then?

Aaron

How does that work? So far, I have only ever connected one mic or line in channel per xlr connection on my xl1....

XLR jack has three pins - one for ground and two for stereo pair. Usually video equipment (especially microphones) use only one channel of stereo pair - but there is lot of stereo mics using both of them - for example http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/wired_mics/b92dc794916f0fa7/index.html . You can also easilly connect four different monophonic mics through audio mixer and then get 4ch output with pair of stereo XLR cables directly to camera.

If so, wouldn't it be unbalanced audio then?

Aaron

Yes, it would be unbalanced - but if you work with audio-engineer in production it will not be a problem. Nevertheless it is better to write two more channels directly to camera than use external DAT recorder, because both methods requires external mixing.

XLR's for stereo are 5 pin and XLR's for mono are 3 pin. The 3 pins are hot/positive, negative, and ground...

Unless you can count 5 holes on each of the inputs 1 and 2 of the new cam... that isn't how it gets stereo.

3 pin XLRs are mono. The positive/negative and ground relationship is what makes the cable balanced... and mics can't share a ground.

3 pins mono ... that's what I thought.

As for multiple mics, certainly through a board first ... I can hook up 20 mics if I desired...

haha this camera is going to be looking like medusa pretty soon. Imagine all of those extra xlr cables coming out of it... *sigh* I'm in love with this camera.

XLR's for stereo are 5 pin and XLR's for mono are 3 pin. The 3 pins are hot/positive, negative, and ground...



I agree, 5 pin XLRS inputs needed for balanced stereo, but you can get unbalanced stereo through 3-pin XLRM jacks. Look at stereo mic with 3-pin unbalanced output http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/wired_mics/665bdf92967733dc/index.html

According to the article on Toms Hardware (http://www.tomshardware.com/business/200504191/index.html), some type of adapter will be provided to allow input of all 4 channels. No details were provided.

Per Jan Crittenden's presentation at the LAFCPUG meeting, channels 1 and 2 have manual control available while channels 3 and 4 are ALC only.

-gb-

Still in Vegas, Greg?

;-)

And if you shot that preso, let me know as I'd be happy to host it.

I should have picked up some clips from you yesterday when we met but my laptop batt was just about drained...