hey, what do the dots on the audio level indicator actually mean? i briefly searched the manual and couldnt find it on the shoot last night.. sound guy wasnt too impressed.. he HOPED the "green dot" was -20db but we think it was probabally actually 0db.

anyone know for sure?

I'm assuming it's -12dB. Set tone for bars in Custom Function Setup at -12dB, switch bars on & you'll see tone is at the green dot. Set tone at -20dB, then bars will show tone roughly where -20 would be, which is not the green dot.

Bill

The green dot is -12 dB relative to maximum digital record level. That is a typical prosumer/consumer audio gear headroom standard. What is needs for headroom depends on what is being recorded, and many folks seem to prefer lounder sound these days. As your soundguy noted 20 dB is more typically the profesional headroom standard.

The VU meter on the side panel in the midddle of the power dial has dB markings on it (including -20 and -12) that may be of help. See page 144 of the owners manual. I suspect dB indicatiosn were left off the EVF display in the interest of reducinr display clutter.

Our DSR500 is the same way in its viewfinder. You set tone at -20db, but you want your levels to come in around -12, so the viewfinder readout is set up that way.

The VU meter on the side panel in the midddle of the power dial has dB markings on it (including -20 and -12) that may be of help.

'doh!
i guess no one thought to look there in the high-stress environment.
now we'll know for next time though.
thanks.