Handling both line and mic input simultaneously at DVinfo.net

Tripp Woelfel · April 27th, 2008, 06:27 AM

I'm doing some shooting at a local race track and they're providing the track announcer feed via XLR at line level. I need to be able to record the ambient sound as well, but both inputs must be either mic level or line level, not mixed.

So I can either get an amp for the mic to raise it to line level or somehow drop the line level to mic level (if that's practically possible). Any suggestions? All thoughts are appreciated.

Oh, and does phantom power enter into the equation at all? I want to use an NTG-1 which requires it.

Nathan Nazeck · April 27th, 2008, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tripp Woelfel

I'm doing some shooting at a local race track and they're providing the track announcer feed via XLR at line level. I need to be able to record the ambient sound as well, but both inputs must be either mic level or line level, not mixed.

So I can either get an amp for the mic to raise it to line level or somehow drop the line level to mic level (if that's practically possible). Any suggestions? All thoughts are appreciated.

Oh, and does phantom power enter into the equation at all? I want to use an NTG-1 which requires it.

There is one easy way but it will cost you about $30 for the adapters. You will need two things from Radio Shack. First, catalog number 274-016 to transform the line from them into a 1/4 inch plug then plug it into this 274-017 to drop the level down to mic level. you'll want to connect this to the camera with a mic cable so the weight of it isn't on the camera. That should do bring it down close enough so you can use the NTG with it and the phantom shouldn't matter...

Tripp Woelfel · April 27th, 2008, 05:35 PM

Nathan... Thanks. That's a good option, but I'd rather have a single piece and with phono plugs there's the possibility of the connection being pulled apart.

I looked around on the B&H Web site and found some things that might work. A question that arose after that look is how much do I want to drop the level -40dB, -50dB, what? After more than a decade in radio, I never did get the whole impedance/levels thing. As you can tell, I was talent, not engineering.

Chris Soucy · April 28th, 2008, 12:08 AM

I believe it's 50db, tho' couldn't find a 50 on the B&H site.

CS

Don Palomaki · April 28th, 2008, 07:22 AM

A 40 dB pad is commonly used. With it a +4 dB line level feed is reduced to -36 dB, which is in line with the nominal output of the NTG-1.

The XH-A1 allows you to select which connections receive phantom power. (See the phantom power section in the manual)

You may find it appropriate to use the MIC ATT setting.

Tripp Woelfel · April 28th, 2008, 07:34 AM

Chris & Don... thanks for the info. Yeah, I found the phantom switches ahead of the XLR connections on the cam after I asked the question. I assumed that phantom power setting was applied to both channels which just goes to show you that the manual is your friend.

I'll go with the -40dB pad from B&H. Don't obviously got that dB voodoo down pretty well.

Jeffrey Fuchs · April 28th, 2008, 08:38 AM

Tripp,

I also am looking for something to have both mic and line in. Is this the item you found on th B&H web site?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc..._Line_XLR.html

thanks
jeff

Tripp Woelfel · April 28th, 2008, 06:20 PM

Jeffrey... that's not the one I ordered, but it should work just fine. Same specs and matches what Don recommended as far as I can tell.

Don Palomaki · April 29th, 2008, 05:50 AM

Jerry, that should work. This may seem obvious, but just do not plug it directly into the camcorder XLR connector (it may be too long and heavy creating a risk of snapping off something in the XLR module), tuck it in your belt, pocket, tape it to the tripod, etc. and connect it to the camcorder via a short XLR cable.

April 27th, 2008, 06:27 AM	#1
Tripp Woelfel Trustee Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: North Conway, NH Posts: 1,745	Handling both line and mic input simultaneously I'm doing some shooting at a local race track and they're providing the track announcer feed via XLR at line level. I need to be able to record the ambient sound as well, but both inputs must be either mic level or line level, not mixed. So I can either get an amp for the mic to raise it to line level or somehow drop the line level to mic level (if that's practically possible). Any suggestions? All thoughts are appreciated. Oh, and does phantom power enter into the equation at all? I want to use an NTG-1 which requires it. Last edited by Tripp Woelfel; April 27th, 2008 at 06:47 AM. Reason: Added follow up question

April 28th, 2008, 12:08 AM	#4
Chris Soucy Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairfield, Dunedin, New Zealand Posts: 3,691 Images: 18	Hi Tripp.................. I believe it's 50db, tho' couldn't find a 50 on the B&H site. CS

April 28th, 2008, 07:22 AM	#5
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,489	A 40 dB pad is commonly used. With it a +4 dB line level feed is reduced to -36 dB, which is in line with the nominal output of the NTG-1. The XH-A1 allows you to select which connections receive phantom power. (See the phantom power section in the manual) You may find it appropriate to use the MIC ATT setting. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

April 29th, 2008, 05:50 AM	#9
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,489	Jerry, that should work. This may seem obvious, but just do not plug it directly into the camcorder XLR connector (it may be too long and heavy creating a risk of snapping off something in the XLR module), tuck it in your belt, pocket, tape it to the tripod, etc. and connect it to the camcorder via a short XLR cable. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

April 27th, 2008, 05:35 PM	#3
Tripp Woelfel Trustee Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: North Conway, NH Posts: 1,745	Nathan... Thanks. That's a good option, but I'd rather have a single piece and with phono plugs there's the possibility of the connection being pulled apart. I looked around on the B&H Web site and found some things that might work. A question that arose after that look is how much do I want to drop the level -40dB, -50dB, what? After more than a decade in radio, I never did get the whole impedance/levels thing. As you can tell, I was talent, not engineering.

April 28th, 2008, 07:34 AM	#6
Tripp Woelfel Trustee Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: North Conway, NH Posts: 1,745	Chris & Don... thanks for the info. Yeah, I found the phantom switches ahead of the XLR connections on the cam after I asked the question. I assumed that phantom power setting was applied to both channels which just goes to show you that the manual is your friend. I'll go with the -40dB pad from B&H. Don't obviously got that dB voodoo down pretty well.

April 28th, 2008, 08:38 AM	#7
Jeffrey Fuchs Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Zimmerman, Minnesota Posts: 89	Tripp, I also am looking for something to have both mic and line in. Is this the item you found on th B&H web site? http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc..._Line_XLR.html thanks jeff

April 28th, 2008, 06:20 PM	#8
Tripp Woelfel Trustee Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: North Conway, NH Posts: 1,745	Jeffrey... that's not the one I ordered, but it should work just fine. Same specs and matches what Don recommended as far as I can tell.