Various GL1 / XM1 questions

Aaron Koolen · April 18th, 2002, 06:14 AM

Thanks Adrian. I will look into the mini disk recorders/players I think. Are self powered mics easy to come by? I can't say I've heard of a mic that had a battery, but then again I'm new to all this.

Also, am I right about the audio on the GL1 (XM1)? If I did get an XLR adapter with controls for level adjustment, will the Auto Gain Control still kick in?

Don Palomaki · April 18th, 2002, 12:10 PM

The GL1 (XM1) does have a type of AGC on the audio, but it is no where near as intrusive as typical cosnumer camcorder AGC. It operates more like an easyover limiter and acts to reduce gain if the input signal exceeds a certain level (corrresponding to about 12 dB below maximum allowable record level) to preserve haedroom for transients.

Obviously, if you have a very hot mic it will be in AGC much of the time, so it is good to have the ability to manage the mic level. Devices such as the Studio 1 Pro and beachtek do this nicely. Alternatively you can use the MIC ATT setting for a macro lsort of level control.

As to which external mic to use, depends on what you are recording. For stereo on a budget and a 3.5mm stereo connector check the AT-822 or Sony ECM-MS957. They also will work with MiniDISC recorders.

Aaron Koolen · April 18th, 2002, 03:02 PM

Thanks Don, I think I will go with the GL1. For mics I'm mainly doing scenes for short films and movies, with the occasional interview for hobbyist videos (Drag racing etc). The mic's that I normally see hanging off booms are Shotgun ones right? The usual silver sigar shaped ones that you see with fluffy covers around them sometimes..

Cheers

Ed Frazier · April 18th, 2002, 04:48 PM

Does the GL1 not have a manual audio mode like the XL1?

Don, does the AGC circuit on the XL1/S function in the same manner as you describe for the GL1?

Aaron Koolen · April 18th, 2002, 05:21 PM

Ed, the XM1(GL1) doesn't have a manual sound mode.

Ed Frazier · April 18th, 2002, 05:24 PM

BUMMER!

Don Palomaki · April 18th, 2002, 08:46 PM

I have not compared the XL1/s AGC to the GL1 AGC, but the GL1 is advertized as being 'smart'. I gues folks wiht good ears shoud try both and see whihc they prefer. Note that the XL1 mic preamps are better than the preamps in the GL1 (substantially lower noise floor)

CarlWahl · April 24th, 2002, 04:30 PM

Hi all

I became an XM1 owner today after a month of lurking around this forum trying to decide which camera to buy.
A BIG thanks to all that takes their valuable time to answer peoples questions on this forum. It has helped me a lot.

Now I'm in the need of some assistance. I plan to buy lots of accessories to my XM1 such as lenses, tripods, a steadycam thingie and maybe a microphone.
I've done my homework and browsed around the web searching for the most "bang for the buck" equipment out there but I'm not sure I've covered all the manufacturers.
I would be forever greatful for links to different manufacturers of these accessories:

* Lenses

* Tripods (and heads)

* Firewire card (that's known to be reliable with the XM1, PC)

* Cases (hard body, big enough to take the smaller accessories)

Thanks in advance.

CarlWahl · April 28th, 2002, 02:37 PM

Update,

I've been able to find the info I wanted for the lenses and tripods so disregard those. I still need some input though, about the remaining two.

I'm able to borrow a sound card from Creative Labs that's supposed to have firewire built in. Hopefully it'll work without any glitches but I'll have to see later this week. It feels as if I'm in for some troubles...

Best regards

Don Donatello · May 1st, 2002, 02:17 PM

i see you're in europe ..have you looked at the CEVEL IM2 made in france ?
has excellent spec's ..phantom power, bass roll off,

http://www.cevl.com/im2/im2.html

Nathan Gifford · May 6th, 2002, 05:06 AM

The people at Finding Electra are using the BeackTek on their GL-1. Check http://www.findingelectra.com

Nathan Gifford

May 9th, 2002, 10:26 AM

I have noticed when I import my footage from the Canon XM1 (a GL1 PAL) into iMovie that there is a huge amount of area imaged that is not viewable in either the LCD screen, or the CRT view finder, and parts of the final frame that have no image at all.

I created a down and dirty 'chart' and marked off what could be seen by the LCD screen and the CRT viewfinder. What worries me the most are the two black bars on either side that seems to be completely unimaged.

Can anyone shed any light on this phenomenon?

http://www.privateerpictures.com/gl1/xm1.jpg

Don Palomaki · May 9th, 2002, 02:28 PM

You lose about 8 pixels on each edge. They are in the underscan area of normal TV and Broadcast Video. They will show up on overscan monitors, full frame/field grabs, and in computer graphics systems that do not understand underscan.

Aaron Koolen · May 9th, 2002, 02:51 PM

This seems like the same problem that there is with the Xl1s. It has black lines of pixels on it's image also.

Does anyone know if this is a problem with all Canon DV cams? Do the sony's have it too?

K. Forman · May 10th, 2002, 06:48 PM

They had a story on those Sony Nightshot cameras on Tech TV's Cyber Crime. People could use the night shot mode in full daylight to get voyeur pictures through some clothing. If I remember correctly, many states have outlawed the use of these cameras for that reason. As a result, these cameras are no longer being manufactured.

April 18th, 2002, 04:48 PM	#139
Ed Frazier Major Player Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Las Cruces, NM Posts: 343	Does the GL1 not have a manual audio mode like the XL1? Don, does the AGC circuit on the XL1/S function in the same manner as you describe for the GL1? __________________ Ed Frazier

April 18th, 2002, 05:24 PM	#141
Ed Frazier Major Player Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Las Cruces, NM Posts: 343	BUMMER! __________________ Ed Frazier

April 24th, 2002, 04:30 PM	#143
CarlWahl Tourist Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Uppsala, Sweden Posts: 2	XM1 Accessories, where to buy? Hi all I became an XM1 owner today after a month of lurking around this forum trying to decide which camera to buy. A BIG thanks to all that takes their valuable time to answer peoples questions on this forum. It has helped me a lot. Now I'm in the need of some assistance. I plan to buy lots of accessories to my XM1 such as lenses, tripods, a steadycam thingie and maybe a microphone. I've done my homework and browsed around the web searching for the most "bang for the buck" equipment out there but I'm not sure I've covered all the manufacturers. I would be forever greatful for links to different manufacturers of these accessories: * Lenses * Tripods (and heads) * Firewire card (that's known to be reliable with the XM1, PC) * Cases (hard body, big enough to take the smaller accessories) Thanks in advance. __________________ Jan "CarlWahl"Andersson - Game developer -

April 28th, 2002, 02:37 PM	#144
CarlWahl Tourist Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Uppsala, Sweden Posts: 2	Update, I've been able to find the info I wanted for the lenses and tripods so disregard those. I still need some input though, about the remaining two. I'm able to borrow a sound card from Creative Labs that's supposed to have firewire built in. Hopefully it'll work without any glitches but I'll have to see later this week. It feels as if I'm in for some troubles... Best regards __________________ Jan "CarlWahl"Andersson - Game developer -

May 6th, 2002, 05:06 AM	#146
Nathan Gifford Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Tickfaw, LA Posts: 1,217	Check out Technical tab at Finding Electra The people at Finding Electra are using the BeackTek on their GL-1. Check http://www.findingelectra.com Nathan Gifford

April 18th, 2002, 06:14 AM	#136
Aaron Koolen Trustee Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 1,727	Thanks Adrian. I will look into the mini disk recorders/players I think. Are self powered mics easy to come by? I can't say I've heard of a mic that had a battery, but then again I'm new to all this. Also, am I right about the audio on the GL1 (XM1)? If I did get an XLR adapter with controls for level adjustment, will the Auto Gain Control still kick in?

April 18th, 2002, 12:10 PM	#137
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,489	The GL1 (XM1) does have a type of AGC on the audio, but it is no where near as intrusive as typical cosnumer camcorder AGC. It operates more like an easyover limiter and acts to reduce gain if the input signal exceeds a certain level (corrresponding to about 12 dB below maximum allowable record level) to preserve haedroom for transients. Obviously, if you have a very hot mic it will be in AGC much of the time, so it is good to have the ability to manage the mic level. Devices such as the Studio 1 Pro and beachtek do this nicely. Alternatively you can use the MIC ATT setting for a macro lsort of level control. As to which external mic to use, depends on what you are recording. For stereo on a budget and a 3.5mm stereo connector check the AT-822 or Sony ECM-MS957. They also will work with MiniDISC recorders.

April 18th, 2002, 03:02 PM	#138
Aaron Koolen Trustee Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 1,727	Thanks Don, I think I will go with the GL1. For mics I'm mainly doing scenes for short films and movies, with the occasional interview for hobbyist videos (Drag racing etc). The mic's that I normally see hanging off booms are Shotgun ones right? The usual silver sigar shaped ones that you see with fluffy covers around them sometimes.. Cheers

April 18th, 2002, 05:21 PM	#140
Aaron Koolen Trustee Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 1,727	Ed, the XM1(GL1) doesn't have a manual sound mode.

April 18th, 2002, 08:46 PM	#142
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,489	I have not compared the XL1/s AGC to the GL1 AGC, but the GL1 is advertized as being 'smart'. I gues folks wiht good ears shoud try both and see whihc they prefer. Note that the XL1 mic preamps are better than the preamps in the GL1 (substantially lower noise floor)

May 1st, 2002, 02:17 PM	#145
Don Donatello Hawaiian Shirt Mogul Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: northern cailfornia Posts: 1,261	i see you're in europe ..have you looked at the CEVEL IM2 made in france ? has excellent spec's ..phantom power, bass roll off, http://www.cevl.com/im2/im2.html

May 9th, 2002, 10:26 AM	#147
adambuckner Posts: n/a	Does the XM1 (GL1 PAL) seriously underscan? I have noticed when I import my footage from the Canon XM1 (a GL1 PAL) into iMovie that there is a huge amount of area imaged that is not viewable in either the LCD screen, or the CRT view finder, and parts of the final frame that have no image at all. I created a down and dirty 'chart' and marked off what could be seen by the LCD screen and the CRT viewfinder. What worries me the most are the two black bars on either side that seems to be completely unimaged. Can anyone shed any light on this phenomenon? http://www.privateerpictures.com/gl1/xm1.jpg

May 9th, 2002, 02:28 PM	#148
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,489	You lose about 8 pixels on each edge. They are in the underscan area of normal TV and Broadcast Video. They will show up on overscan monitors, full frame/field grabs, and in computer graphics systems that do not understand underscan.

May 9th, 2002, 02:51 PM	#149
Aaron Koolen Trustee Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 1,727	This seems like the same problem that there is with the Xl1s. It has black lines of pixels on it's image also. Does anyone know if this is a problem with all Canon DV cams? Do the sony's have it too?

May 10th, 2002, 06:48 PM	#150
K. Forman Capt. Quirk Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Middle of the woods in Georgia Posts: 3,596	They had a story on those Sony Nightshot cameras on Tech TV's Cyber Crime. People could use the night shot mode in full daylight to get voyeur pictures through some clothing. If I remember correctly, many states have outlawed the use of these cameras for that reason. As a result, these cameras are no longer being manufactured.