Possible to have XLR in from an audio mixer and and external mic at same time? at DVinfo.net

Kenny Shem · November 28th, 2007, 10:49 PM

Was wondering it is possible to receive both signals from an audio mixer and my Audio Technica shotgun mic, both using XLR. I doesn't have mixer so can't try. I should set both channel selection switch to CH1 so that they both record using 1 channel only, set the attenuator to ATT and LINE/MIC to MIC?
I am shooting an event and wish to receive good speech quality from the mic of the speaker(mixer) and also the ambiance sound of the guests (shotgun mic).

Benjamin Eckstein · November 28th, 2007, 10:59 PM

yes this is possible, but you will need to receive a mic level signal from a sound mixer since your shotgun will be mic level and you cannot independently switch the channels line/mic. Yes, switch to Ch1, thus having 2 separate channels of audio to work with.

Kenny Shem · November 28th, 2007, 11:03 PM

Okay. Do you know what the attenuator is for? I know it is to weaken the signal, but how is it being use actually?

Don Palomaki · November 29th, 2007, 09:19 AM

The ATT setting is used to reduce the input stage gain so it will not clip on strong input signals. It reduces the signal by about 20 dB (a factor of 10). It is typically used when you are in loud venues, with "hot" microphones, or with sound sources that put out a signal on the order of -35 dBV.

The MIC ATT setting has a benefit of reducing the effective noise floor of the camcorder, so it generally makes sense to use it if you can still obtain adequate record levels.

Jack Walker · November 29th, 2007, 12:52 PM

The use of an attenuator is explained in this short description of an AT attenuator:
http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/el...e16/index.html

One classic DV use of an attenuator was with the PD150. On the PD150 auto sound level produced the best sound. (Auto simply added a limiter, more or less.)

However, some mics were too hot in auto, such as the AT4073a. Therefore, an attenuator is used to reduce the mic output so it comes into the PD150 on auto at the right level. (The PD150 also has an attenuator switch, like the XH-A1, to turn on the cameras built in attenuator.)

In short, the attenuator goes between the mic and the recorder to lower the mic output so it doesn't overload the recorder. It can be a separate piece put in the line, or it can be built into the camera, a mixer, etc.

November 28th, 2007, 10:49 PM	#1
Kenny Shem Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Singapore Posts: 163	Possible to have XLR in from an audio mixer and and external mic at same time? Was wondering it is possible to receive both signals from an audio mixer and my Audio Technica shotgun mic, both using XLR. I doesn't have mixer so can't try. I should set both channel selection switch to CH1 so that they both record using 1 channel only, set the attenuator to ATT and LINE/MIC to MIC? I am shooting an event and wish to receive good speech quality from the mic of the speaker(mixer) and also the ambiance sound of the guests (shotgun mic).

November 29th, 2007, 09:19 AM	#4
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,489	The ATT setting is used to reduce the input stage gain so it will not clip on strong input signals. It reduces the signal by about 20 dB (a factor of 10). It is typically used when you are in loud venues, with "hot" microphones, or with sound sources that put out a signal on the order of -35 dBV. The MIC ATT setting has a benefit of reducing the effective noise floor of the camcorder, so it generally makes sense to use it if you can still obtain adequate record levels. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

November 28th, 2007, 10:59 PM	#2
Benjamin Eckstein Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 380 Images: 1	yes this is possible, but you will need to receive a mic level signal from a sound mixer since your shotgun will be mic level and you cannot independently switch the channels line/mic. Yes, switch to Ch1, thus having 2 separate channels of audio to work with.

November 28th, 2007, 11:03 PM	#3
Kenny Shem Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Singapore Posts: 163	Okay. Do you know what the attenuator is for? I know it is to weaken the signal, but how is it being use actually?

November 29th, 2007, 12:52 PM	#5
Jack Walker Trustee Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Burbank Posts: 1,811	The use of an attenuator is explained in this short description of an AT attenuator: http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/el...e16/index.html One classic DV use of an attenuator was with the PD150. On the PD150 auto sound level produced the best sound. (Auto simply added a limiter, more or less.) However, some mics were too hot in auto, such as the AT4073a. Therefore, an attenuator is used to reduce the mic output so it comes into the PD150 on auto at the right level. (The PD150 also has an attenuator switch, like the XH-A1, to turn on the cameras built in attenuator.) In short, the attenuator goes between the mic and the recorder to lower the mic output so it doesn't overload the recorder. It can be a separate piece put in the line, or it can be built into the camera, a mixer, etc.