How much better really is a ME66 than GL2 Mic?

Joshua Wachs · January 23rd, 2003, 03:04 PM

And let us know what you finally decide!

Chris Hurd · January 23rd, 2003, 03:10 PM

I don't think anyone has mentioned it so far, but be aware that like just about any other professional XLR mic, the Senn 66 is monophonic. To some this is obvious, but for others it's a big surprise. The consumer-level MKE300 is stereo. All depends on what you need and what your budget is. I've used the MKE300 before and thought it was just fine... certainly is affordable.

Bill Hardy · January 24th, 2003, 06:16 AM

Has anyone tried the GL2 mic in voice mode? I find it very impressive. The GL2 mike is then directional and still retains stereo quality, a big plus with me.

Mike Butler · January 27th, 2003, 07:41 PM

Hey Don Palomaki, quick question on recording out of the mixing board...I've had no problem doing this on the XL1, in fact it seems the most efficient way to go, but then the XL has those nice RCAs on the back and the line-level switch to make it a piece of cake...what do I need to know about doing it on the GL? (just bought a GL1 to use as second camera, it was an irresistable deal, being a demo of a discontinued model) I gives me great video when I shoot B-roll with it, just haven't really gotten myself at home with its audio capabilities yet.

cheers
mike

Scott Silverman · January 27th, 2003, 08:24 PM

Can't you get a RCA to XLR conversion cable? Then you can run long distances and go into your XLR box on your camera. I tried a RCA to mini jack cable, about four feet long, and the amount of interferance was horrible! I would not recomend using a mini jack cable in to the mic in on your GL1. Try and use XLR (I have never actually tried this, but my guess it that it would work ok though.) Let me know what you do and how it works out for you!

Don Palomaki · January 28th, 2003, 05:54 AM

First the MKE-300 is a mono mic. Has a mono 1/8" mini-phone plug. Plug it in the GL1 and you get sound on the left channel only.

As to connection to a sound board, you need to feed mic level signal to the GL via a 1/8" plug in the external mic jack.

Sound board output may be XLR or 1/4" phone jacks, or RCA "tape monitor" jacks. It may be consumer line (-10 dBV), professional line (+4 dBU), or mic level in the range of -30 to -50 dBV. Thus you will need a range of adapters to make the connection from the soundboard to the camcorder

A reasonable wasy to accommodate the likley sigutations you may encounter is to use a Studio-One or Beachtek XLR adapter that also provided level controls so you can avoid overloading the camcorde input.

The Studio-One plugs into the GL1 mic jack. The sound board output connects to the Studio-One using the appropraite cables/adaptes.

Chris Hurd · January 28th, 2003, 07:34 AM

Thanks for setting me straight about the MKE300, Don. Must be old age creeping in, that's the third or fourth technical mistake I've made in recent days... should keep my mouth shut and let you guys do the talking! The correction is much appreciated,

Mike Butler · January 28th, 2003, 12:08 PM

Thanks Don,

Looks like I can't put off the inevitable too much longer--that is, to get a Beachtek or Studio1 to pad the line level down to mic on the GL.

Too bad that's the only way in--the A/V jacks (even though they are RCA only on one end and use that dang fool Tip-Ring-Ring-Sleeve miniplug on the other) would be so much easier. Oh well, I guess that's another reason why the GL is so much cheaper.

Also too bad they didn't put meters on it to make me feel more comfortable, but I guess that's another reason why the GL2 is better, and why I never record without headphones on to let me know if I'm at least getting some usable level.

Cheers
mike

Don Palomaki · January 28th, 2003, 06:30 PM

> Must be old age creeping in ...

Beats the alternative...

January 23rd, 2003, 03:04 PM	#16
Joshua Wachs Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 95	And let us know what you finally decide! __________________ http://busybrain.com

January 23rd, 2003, 03:10 PM	#17
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	I don't think anyone has mentioned it so far, but be aware that like just about any other professional XLR mic, the Senn 66 is monophonic. To some this is obvious, but for others it's a big surprise. The consumer-level MKE300 is stereo. All depends on what you need and what your budget is. I've used the MKE300 before and thought it was just fine... certainly is affordable. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

January 27th, 2003, 07:41 PM	#19
Mike Butler Machinist Mate Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Southern Connecticut Posts: 644	Hey Don Palomaki, quick question on recording out of the mixing board...I've had no problem doing this on the XL1, in fact it seems the most efficient way to go, but then the XL has those nice RCAs on the back and the line-level switch to make it a piece of cake...what do I need to know about doing it on the GL? (just bought a GL1 to use as second camera, it was an irresistable deal, being a demo of a discontinued model) I gives me great video when I shoot B-roll with it, just haven't really gotten myself at home with its audio capabilities yet. cheers mike __________________ I ain't straight outta Compton, I'm straight out the trailer. Cuss like a sailor, drink like a Mc. My only words of wisdom are just, "Radio Edit."

January 27th, 2003, 08:24 PM	#20
Scott Silverman Major Player Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Cupertino, California, USA Posts: 301	Can't you get a RCA to XLR conversion cable? Then you can run long distances and go into your XLR box on your camera. I tried a RCA to mini jack cable, about four feet long, and the amount of interferance was horrible! I would not recomend using a mini jack cable in to the mic in on your GL1. Try and use XLR (I have never actually tried this, but my guess it that it would work ok though.) Let me know what you do and how it works out for you! __________________ Scott Silverman Shining Star Digital Video Productions Bay Area, CA

January 28th, 2003, 07:34 AM	#22
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Thanks for setting me straight about the MKE300, Don. Must be old age creeping in, that's the third or fourth technical mistake I've made in recent days... should keep my mouth shut and let you guys do the talking! The correction is much appreciated, __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

January 24th, 2003, 06:16 AM	#18
Bill Hardy Major Player Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 205	Has anyone tried the GL2 mic in voice mode? I find it very impressive. The GL2 mike is then directional and still retains stereo quality, a big plus with me.

January 28th, 2003, 05:54 AM	#21
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,489	First the MKE-300 is a mono mic. Has a mono 1/8" mini-phone plug. Plug it in the GL1 and you get sound on the left channel only. As to connection to a sound board, you need to feed mic level signal to the GL via a 1/8" plug in the external mic jack. Sound board output may be XLR or 1/4" phone jacks, or RCA "tape monitor" jacks. It may be consumer line (-10 dBV), professional line (+4 dBU), or mic level in the range of -30 to -50 dBV. Thus you will need a range of adapters to make the connection from the soundboard to the camcorder A reasonable wasy to accommodate the likley sigutations you may encounter is to use a Studio-One or Beachtek XLR adapter that also provided level controls so you can avoid overloading the camcorde input. The Studio-One plugs into the GL1 mic jack. The sound board output connects to the Studio-One using the appropraite cables/adaptes.

January 28th, 2003, 12:08 PM	#23
Mike Butler Machinist Mate Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Southern Connecticut Posts: 644	Thanks Don, Looks like I can't put off the inevitable too much longer--that is, to get a Beachtek or Studio1 to pad the line level down to mic on the GL. Too bad that's the only way in--the A/V jacks (even though they are RCA only on one end and use that dang fool Tip-Ring-Ring-Sleeve miniplug on the other) would be so much easier. Oh well, I guess that's another reason why the GL is so much cheaper. Also too bad they didn't put meters on it to make me feel more comfortable, but I guess that's another reason why the GL2 is better, and why I never record without headphones on to let me know if I'm at least getting some usable level. Cheers mike __________________ I ain't straight outta Compton, I'm straight out the trailer. Cuss like a sailor, drink like a Mc. My only words of wisdom are just, "Radio Edit."

January 28th, 2003, 06:30 PM	#24
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,489	> Must be old age creeping in ... Beats the alternative...