Sound settings for GL2 at DVinfo.net

Scott Gold · September 14th, 2003, 09:16 PM

Alright it's time to put this horse to rest.

I have the GL2, MA300 and the Samson M32 wireless lav mic and receiver. I've read the manuals and searched the forums but can't get a clear answer to what settings should I use.

My options are:

On the GL2: Mic Att on or off
On the Samson M32: -30, -20, -10dBm's.
Now if I'm running the M32 into the MA300 via the mini-XLR then what setting should I be using. And whats all this Mic level and Line level inputs stuff?

Thanks for the help everybody,

Scott

John DeLuca · September 14th, 2003, 10:18 PM

Im new at this myself, so bare with me. I dont have the exact same equipment, but from what I can gather. Mic Att is set to off. I assume your -30, -20, -10 is the sensitivity on the wireless mics, but I could be wrong(I dont have that mic). I set mine to 10 or 15 most of the time if thats what your asking. Use Manual setting(switch) for sound on the side of the cam. Use mic is ususall set higher than line. Use Mic. If you have anymore questions feel free to ask. Hopefully some of the other experts can shed some more light with your wireless.

John DeLuca Akron, Ohio

Don Palomaki · September 15th, 2003, 03:45 AM

I would try the wireless mic output at -30, if that setting corresponds to -30 dBV output. And I would set the GL2 to MIC ATT, which should correspond to around -30 dBV input sensitivitiy. If that works well for you, great. If the level is too low, then try the wireless at -20 and so on before changing the input sensitivity of the GL2 to MIC.

Graham Bernard · September 15th, 2003, 04:09 AM

Don - excellent and clear advice.

I did a wedding shoot on Saturday. I used your tip about setting the Mic ATT ON for the very VERY noisy disco dance sequences. This reduced the "noise" levels remarkably, when viewed on a full deck and large TV, with the Boss. I was very pleased withe results and yout hint.

My question is this: Why is the Mic ATT setting within the VCR menu? Why isn't it within the Camcorder Setup menu? I really don't expect you to answer this - I'm presuming you aren't a Canon techie?

Anyway, went to VCR setup and Mic ATT ON and it worked. Believe me, if I hadn't the sound would have been awful!

As a footnote, and because I use the V3watt tiny lamp - good for 3-4 foot PLUS the disco lights - I was using the XM2 onboard mic - worked like a dream.

Grazie

Bob Harotunian · September 15th, 2003, 10:48 AM

I'm a little worried about using the MIC ATT. I typically have a Senn ME66/K6 (red dot) on board and a Samson UM32 wireless set at -30 with Senn 835 mic at the band or DJ speaker. Sometimes, audio is too hot but I've had audio to soft to fix in post. To dangerous to test at a wedding...any thoughts?

Don Palomaki · September 15th, 2003, 06:02 PM

Best never to test on a paid, live shoot where there are no chance for retakes. Always test when it doen't matter. That said, stage a test. Not hard to do. Fiind some friends to play the wimpering bride, a tongue-tied groom, an overbearing preacher, and so on.

As to why on the VCR mode menu? Who knows.

Mark Newhouse · December 2nd, 2003, 10:09 AM

Thanks!

I was shooting a live Christmas concert for a choral/orchestral group I had shot this summer. When I arrived on Saturday, they told me the local WB affiliate wanted to air my footage on Christmas day!

So, they wanted me to get a line in from the sound board. I'm still pretty new to this, and had not done this with my GL2 before, but we got it set up. Problem was the sound coming in was too hot and very distorted (thank goodness I grabbed some headphones and checked levels, since it wasn't even close to pegging the meter on the display).

I ended up taping the house (as I had originally planned - they were more than happy with that from the summer concert). But I found this thread late Saturday night and found where the Mic ATT was. And thankfully they had a second show on Sunday afternoon. I was able to get a good feed, and now I'll also be able to mix in the applause from the house feed from Saturday's show.

I agree that it's best not to try this stuff for the first time on a paid job, but I had no time to do otherwise. Fortunately it looks like things will work out in the end.

Thanks again!

Graham Bernard · December 2nd, 2003, 10:28 AM

Oh yessshhhh that MIC ATT - good eh?!?!

Grazie

Jeff Price · December 2nd, 2003, 11:14 AM

Remember that MIC ATT is one of the presets you can assign to the Custom button on the side of your camera. That way you can easily turn it on and off as the conditions warrant (too much wind for example).

It is completely straight forward in that you have to press the button then make a menu choice with the wheel but it is simpler than drilling down through the menus.

Aaron Koolen · December 2nd, 2003, 04:09 PM

Bob I don't know about your Samson mic, but you could always pad down the ME66 with it's own attenuator so that you can turn off MIC ATT and then have good signals with both mics. Alternatively and I think what I would do (So that noise is less) would be to preamp the quieter mic (Why not just use less attenutation on the wireless?) and then have MIC ATT on.

Would this not work for you?

Aaron

Tony Singh · December 3rd, 2003, 09:52 AM

Best is to keep the Mic ATT off and ride your levels. I always wear headphones to monitor the recorded audio, and ride the audio levels manually. Sometimes the Mic ATT circuitry can introduce a Pumping sound which is awful. Just keep an ear and eye on the audio levels and you should be fine.

September 14th, 2003, 09:16 PM	#1
Scott Gold Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Irvine, CA Posts: 194	Sound settings for GL2 Alright it's time to put this horse to rest. I have the GL2, MA300 and the Samson M32 wireless lav mic and receiver. I've read the manuals and searched the forums but can't get a clear answer to what settings should I use. My options are: On the GL2: Mic Att on or off On the Samson M32: -30, -20, -10dBm's. Now if I'm running the M32 into the MA300 via the mini-XLR then what setting should I be using. And whats all this Mic level and Line level inputs stuff? Thanks for the help everybody, Scott

September 15th, 2003, 03:45 AM	#3
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,488	I would try the wireless mic output at -30, if that setting corresponds to -30 dBV output. And I would set the GL2 to MIC ATT, which should correspond to around -30 dBV input sensitivitiy. If that works well for you, great. If the level is too low, then try the wireless at -20 and so on before changing the input sensitivity of the GL2 to MIC. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

September 15th, 2003, 06:02 PM	#6
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,488	Best never to test on a paid, live shoot where there are no chance for retakes. Always test when it doen't matter. That said, stage a test. Not hard to do. Fiind some friends to play the wimpering bride, a tongue-tied groom, an overbearing preacher, and so on. As to why on the VCR mode menu? Who knows. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

December 2nd, 2003, 10:09 AM	#7
Mark Newhouse Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 63	This thread saved me a lot of grief... Thanks! I was shooting a live Christmas concert for a choral/orchestral group I had shot this summer. When I arrived on Saturday, they told me the local WB affiliate wanted to air my footage on Christmas day! So, they wanted me to get a line in from the sound board. I'm still pretty new to this, and had not done this with my GL2 before, but we got it set up. Problem was the sound coming in was too hot and very distorted (thank goodness I grabbed some headphones and checked levels, since it wasn't even close to pegging the meter on the display). I ended up taping the house (as I had originally planned - they were more than happy with that from the summer concert). But I found this thread late Saturday night and found where the Mic ATT was. And thankfully they had a second show on Sunday afternoon. I was able to get a good feed, and now I'll also be able to mix in the applause from the house feed from Saturday's show. I agree that it's best not to try this stuff for the first time on a paid job, but I had no time to do otherwise. Fortunately it looks like things will work out in the end. Thanks again! __________________ --Mark

December 2nd, 2003, 11:14 AM	#9
Jeff Price Major Player Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Chico, California Posts: 357	Remember that MIC ATT is one of the presets you can assign to the Custom button on the side of your camera. That way you can easily turn it on and off as the conditions warrant (too much wind for example). It is completely straight forward in that you have to press the button then make a menu choice with the wheel but it is simpler than drilling down through the menus. __________________ Jeff Price Flickerflix Nature Videos flickerflix@yahoo.com

September 14th, 2003, 10:18 PM	#2
John DeLuca Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Akron, Ohio Posts: 496	Im new at this myself, so bare with me. I dont have the exact same equipment, but from what I can gather. Mic Att is set to off. I assume your -30, -20, -10 is the sensitivity on the wireless mics, but I could be wrong(I dont have that mic). I set mine to 10 or 15 most of the time if thats what your asking. Use Manual setting(switch) for sound on the side of the cam. Use mic is ususall set higher than line. Use Mic. If you have anymore questions feel free to ask. Hopefully some of the other experts can shed some more light with your wireless. John DeLuca Akron, Ohio

September 15th, 2003, 04:09 AM	#4
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	Don - excellent and clear advice. I did a wedding shoot on Saturday. I used your tip about setting the Mic ATT ON for the very VERY noisy disco dance sequences. This reduced the "noise" levels remarkably, when viewed on a full deck and large TV, with the Boss. I was very pleased withe results and yout hint. My question is this: Why is the Mic ATT setting within the VCR menu? Why isn't it within the Camcorder Setup menu? I really don't expect you to answer this - I'm presuming you aren't a Canon techie? Anyway, went to VCR setup and Mic ATT ON and it worked. Believe me, if I hadn't the sound would have been awful! As a footnote, and because I use the V3watt tiny lamp - good for 3-4 foot PLUS the disco lights - I was using the XM2 onboard mic - worked like a dream. Grazie

September 15th, 2003, 10:48 AM	#5
Bob Harotunian Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Somerville, MA Posts: 360	I'm a little worried about using the MIC ATT. I typically have a Senn ME66/K6 (red dot) on board and a Samson UM32 wireless set at -30 with Senn 835 mic at the band or DJ speaker. Sometimes, audio is too hot but I've had audio to soft to fix in post. To dangerous to test at a wedding...any thoughts?

December 2nd, 2003, 10:28 AM	#8
Graham Bernard Old Boot Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London UK Posts: 3,633	Oh yessshhhh that MIC ATT - good eh?!?! Grazie

December 2nd, 2003, 04:09 PM	#10
Aaron Koolen Trustee Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 1,727	Bob I don't know about your Samson mic, but you could always pad down the ME66 with it's own attenuator so that you can turn off MIC ATT and then have good signals with both mics. Alternatively and I think what I would do (So that noise is less) would be to preamp the quieter mic (Why not just use less attenutation on the wireless?) and then have MIC ATT on. Would this not work for you? Aaron __________________ My Website Meat Free Media

December 3rd, 2003, 09:52 AM	#11
Tony Singh New Boot Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 14	Best is to keep the Mic ATT off and ride your levels. I always wear headphones to monitor the recorded audio, and ride the audio levels manually. Sometimes the Mic ATT circuitry can introduce a Pumping sound which is awful. Just keep an ear and eye on the audio levels and you should be fine.