I'm getting used to an HVR A1J (the Sony A1 model for Japan), and am wondering a few things:

1) Is there any way to disable the XLR block and use the internal mikes, without disconnecting the block? Sometimes I need a stereo effect...

2) What are the specs of the ECM-NV1 that comes with it? Is it a cardioid/hypercardioid/shotgun?

3) In the menu, under Camera Settings, just after the Conv. Lens item, is an item called Setup (greyed out) with the text "0%" dropped down under it as if it were the current setting. What is this?

This cut-and-paste from The Premiere Help file helps explain:

[Premiere's] YC Waveform displays a graph showing the signal intensity in the video clip. The horizontal axis of the graph corresponds to the video image (from left to right) and the vertical axis is the signal intensity in units called IRE (named for the Institute of Radio Engineers). For NTSC video in the United States, luminance levels should range from 7.5 to 100 IRE (sometimes referred to as the legal broadcast limit). Japan’s implementation of NTSC standards permits a luminance range from 0 to 100 IRE.

The YC Waveform display has the following controls:
Intensity - Adjusts the brightness of the waveform display. It does not affect the video output signal.
Setup (7.5 IRE) - Displays a waveform that approximates the final analog video output signal. Deselecting this option displays the digital video information.

Ah. So the Setup item in the A1J's menu is basically an info item, saying that black level starts from 0% IRE?