Hi, Sorry if I sound ignorant, as I am a total newbie to audio.
I took advice from some Dv forum members and now I have an AT 4073 mic
A Shure fp23 preamp and a cable to connect to the camera.
I only tried it hand held as I yet need to purchase a mic holder.
I put audio 1 to mic on the camera and mic in the menu , in that case I had to use zero gain on the preamp and some gain on the camera.
later I switched to line in the menu , I had to apply more gain on the preamp
but overall I liked it better, maybe I felt I have more 'play' with the gain...
To my question. What is the difference between those two modes? should I use mic on the menu like the manual suggests?
Thanks
sassi

Depends on the output level of the mixer. In general, the LINE input level setting gives you a lower noise floor in the camcorder and is better if you have a good preamp thatt can put out a -10 dBV signal that you can connect directly to the Audio 1 RCA jacks.

If the mixer output is on the order of -35 dBV, use the MIC ATT setting, and if it is really more like -50 dB, use the MIC setting.

If using a MA100 or MA200, do not connect line level signals to it, it will clip. The MA series are intended for MIC level signals.

Thanks Don, the preamp is plugged to the RCA jack unbalanced, - 10dbu (or -14dbu don't remember exactly) through a custom made cable.
So I assume that using LINE on the menu is OK.
Sassi

Should be OK.