Beechtek for 7d audio?? at DVinfo.net

Bruce S. Yarock · October 1st, 2009, 08:10 PM

According to beechtek, this unit disables the 7d auto gain, in addition to showing levels, providing phantom power and phone plug.
Anyone know anything about this?
bruce yarock
Yarock Video and Photo

Beachtek | DXA-5D Dual XLR Adapter for DSLR Video | DXA-5D | B&H

Jon Fairhurst · October 1st, 2009, 09:44 PM

You can hear how well it works in my video reviews. Note that each (except the last) includes a link to an uncompressed wave file that you can download for your own comparisons.

Here's the first one. It includes links to the others...
1. Canon 5D Mark II Audio Exposed - Boom Mic (juicedLink, Zoom H4n, Microtrack II, BeachTek) on Vimeo

Bruce S. Yarock · October 2nd, 2009, 03:04 AM

Jon,
Great tests. thanks for the info.
Does the jlink have a headphone jack, or dio you have to use the camera's jack?
I haven't used the 5D, but am planning to get the 7d. From reading different posts, it sounds like there are audio syncing issues when using an off camera recorder. is that true?
I sometimes record audio to my edirol r-09, in addition to camera, and have never had syncing issues in post. Are these problems unique to these dslr's.
Thanks again.
Bruce Yarock
yarockvideo.com ( New site under construction)

Jon Fairhurst · October 2nd, 2009, 10:31 AM

On the 5D with ML, I use the monitor jack on the camera. It's a great way to go, since you hear exactly what it being recorded. Of course, this isn't an option on the 7D - yet.

Bruce S. Yarock · October 2nd, 2009, 10:45 AM

Jin,
For a quick set up with decent controllable audio, it looks like the juicedlink is the way to go. Do you agree? I looked at my edirol r-09 and realize that there's no line out, so I would have to bring the wav in to the nle after if I use the edirol.
I'd want to be able to do what I do with my regular cameras- shot gun on one side and wireless (or whatever) on the other. I guess the jl would be easyest in that situation.
If I needed to get fancy, I could run mics into my sounddecices 302, then to the jl.Or...
Thanks
Bruce Yarock

Jon Fairhurst · October 2nd, 2009, 03:26 PM

Of course, the JL isn't totally viable on the 7D, until we get Magic Lantern ported. You can hook up an iPod with a constant tone, but then you lose a channel, and it's a kludge.

The JL is nice in that it bolts under the camera easily. It's a bit springy for 200mm and longer/heavier lenses, but works great on a shoulder rig with wide/normal glass. Also, you can monitor from the camera, so you're 100% sure of getting the recording. With a separate recorder, there's always the risk of pushing REC on one device and ARM/PAUSE/STOP on the other. (I've done it countless times with the Microtrack II. Somehow, it's not very intuitive and the display is dim.)

I wish the H4n were the size of the Microtrack. That would make it more practical for a clean, light rig. The Microtrack is small, but the preamps stink and it has no mounting facilities at all.

The only practical problem with the JL is that the low-battery light is hard to see in sunlight. The knobs and switches could be larger for use with gloves. But overall, recording into the camera and not having to sync is very nice for a one-person operation.

Bill Pryor · October 2nd, 2009, 03:55 PM

But until Magic Lantern is available for the 7D you're stuck with the camera's auto gain, right?

Jon Fairhurst · October 2nd, 2009, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Pryor

But until Magic Lantern is available for the 7D you're stuck with the camera's auto gain, right?

Yes. The options are to use the Beachtek, or to record a tone to an iPod (or something) and jam it into one of the channels. Or use an external recorder. Or wait (wait!?!) for ML on the 7D.

BTW, Tramm was asked about which stores had a 7D in stock today. It's a good day for 7D owners to give him a donation. :)

October 1st, 2009, 08:10 PM	#1
Bruce S. Yarock Trustee Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pembroke Pines, Fl. Posts: 1,842	Beechtek for 7d audio?? According to beechtek, this unit disables the 7d auto gain, in addition to showing levels, providing phantom power and phone plug. Anyone know anything about this? bruce yarock Yarock Video and Photo Beachtek \| DXA-5D Dual XLR Adapter for DSLR Video \| DXA-5D \| B&H

October 1st, 2009, 09:44 PM	#2
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	You can hear how well it works in my video reviews. Note that each (except the last) includes a link to an uncompressed wave file that you can download for your own comparisons. Here's the first one. It includes links to the others... 1. Canon 5D Mark II Audio Exposed - Boom Mic (juicedLink, Zoom H4n, Microtrack II, BeachTek) on Vimeo __________________ Jon Fairhurst

October 2nd, 2009, 10:31 AM	#4
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	On the 5D with ML, I use the monitor jack on the camera. It's a great way to go, since you hear exactly what it being recorded. Of course, this isn't an option on the 7D - yet. __________________ Jon Fairhurst

October 2nd, 2009, 03:26 PM	#6
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	Of course, the JL isn't totally viable on the 7D, until we get Magic Lantern ported. You can hook up an iPod with a constant tone, but then you lose a channel, and it's a kludge. The JL is nice in that it bolts under the camera easily. It's a bit springy for 200mm and longer/heavier lenses, but works great on a shoulder rig with wide/normal glass. Also, you can monitor from the camera, so you're 100% sure of getting the recording. With a separate recorder, there's always the risk of pushing REC on one device and ARM/PAUSE/STOP on the other. (I've done it countless times with the Microtrack II. Somehow, it's not very intuitive and the display is dim.) I wish the H4n were the size of the Microtrack. That would make it more practical for a clean, light rig. The Microtrack is small, but the preamps stink and it has no mounting facilities at all. The only practical problem with the JL is that the low-battery light is hard to see in sunlight. The knobs and switches could be larger for use with gloves. But overall, recording into the camera and not having to sync is very nice for a one-person operation. __________________ Jon Fairhurst

October 2nd, 2009, 03:04 AM	#3
Bruce S. Yarock Trustee Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pembroke Pines, Fl. Posts: 1,842	Jon, Great tests. thanks for the info. Does the jlink have a headphone jack, or dio you have to use the camera's jack? I haven't used the 5D, but am planning to get the 7d. From reading different posts, it sounds like there are audio syncing issues when using an off camera recorder. is that true? I sometimes record audio to my edirol r-09, in addition to camera, and have never had syncing issues in post. Are these problems unique to these dslr's. Thanks again. Bruce Yarock yarockvideo.com ( New site under construction)

October 2nd, 2009, 10:45 AM	#5
Bruce S. Yarock Trustee Join Date: May 2004 Location: Pembroke Pines, Fl. Posts: 1,842	Jin, For a quick set up with decent controllable audio, it looks like the juicedlink is the way to go. Do you agree? I looked at my edirol r-09 and realize that there's no line out, so I would have to bring the wav in to the nle after if I use the edirol. I'd want to be able to do what I do with my regular cameras- shot gun on one side and wireless (or whatever) on the other. I guess the jl would be easyest in that situation. If I needed to get fancy, I could run mics into my sounddecices 302, then to the jl.Or... Thanks Bruce Yarock

October 2nd, 2009, 03:55 PM	#7
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	But until Magic Lantern is available for the 7D you're stuck with the camera's auto gain, right?