Two Mics at DVinfo.net

Dan Mumford · February 23rd, 2005, 10:21 AM

I just got my XL2 yesterday (2/22/05) and am wondering if I can use both the front mic jack and rear XLR's at the same time. I'd like to use my Azden WR22 Pro on the front and a shotgun on channel 1 on the rear. And . . . can I do this in 16 bit?

Thanks,
Dan

Charlie Wilkinson · February 23rd, 2005, 05:14 PM

Congrats on your new camera. I've had mine for about 2 weeks now. :-)

In 16 bit 48KHz mode, you only have two channels going to tape. If you want 4 channels on tape, that's 12 bit 32KHz. I had thought having 4 channels would solve a lot of my audio problems, but alas...

At least with the DV editing software I'm using now (Pinnacle Studio 9 *cough*), it doesn't appear to support 4 channels, and it does a crappy job of upsampling the 32KHz for DVD. The result is noticably "digital" audio. So I've resolved I will need an external mixer and mix down to 2 channels (16 bit 48KHz) on tape. :-/

Regarding your other question about using the front mic and rear XLR's at the same time... I don't think the XL2 will act as a mixer. Near as I can tell from the manual, you can't have 3 or 4 mics and mix down to 2 channels in the camera. You'll either need to switch to 4 channel mode, or use an external mixer. If you go the external mixer route, that would seem to imply that you won't be using the stock camera mounted mic.

That's what it looks like to me. Please someone chime in if I got it wrong.

-cw-

Chris Hurd · February 23rd, 2005, 06:15 PM

<< using the front mic and rear XLR's at the same time... I don't think the XL2 will act as a mixer. >>

The XL2 will record the front mic plus the rear XLR's at the same time, in 12-bit four-channel mode. You can monitor each channel independently or monitor the entire mix. To some folks, myself included, it's like having a built-in four-channel audio mixer. Each track goes to its own dedicated channel.

Dan Mumford · February 23rd, 2005, 08:45 PM

I bought a Studio 1 XLR-BP 3 Pro for my GL-1 that will work by using the on-board mic jack. I can run the WR22 Pro with 2 lavs and two more XLR ballanced mics in 16 bit. Was just hoping to eliminate extra weight/possible problems.

Thanks for the replies,
Dan

P.S. Anyone know what the mono plug on the on-board mic is for?

Charlie Wilkinson · February 23rd, 2005, 09:12 PM

Dan wrote:
<< Anyone know what the mono plug on the on-board mic is for? >>

The manual (pg 122) hints that the smaller jack is for power.

February 23rd, 2005, 10:21 AM	#1
Dan Mumford Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Daytona Beach, Florida Posts: 99	Two Mics I just got my XL2 yesterday (2/22/05) and am wondering if I can use both the front mic jack and rear XLR's at the same time. I'd like to use my Azden WR22 Pro on the front and a shotgun on channel 1 on the rear. And . . . can I do this in 16 bit? Thanks, Dan __________________ Wow! That thing must have cost an arm and a leg! - - - It did! I used to have three of each.

February 23rd, 2005, 05:14 PM	#2
Charlie Wilkinson Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Annapolis, MD Posts: 53	Congrats on your new camera. I've had mine for about 2 weeks now. :-) In 16 bit 48KHz mode, you only have two channels going to tape. If you want 4 channels on tape, that's 12 bit 32KHz. I had thought having 4 channels would solve a lot of my audio problems, but alas... At least with the DV editing software I'm using now (Pinnacle Studio 9 cough), it doesn't appear to support 4 channels, and it does a crappy job of upsampling the 32KHz for DVD. The result is noticably "digital" audio. So I've resolved I will need an external mixer and mix down to 2 channels (16 bit 48KHz) on tape. :-/ Regarding your other question about using the front mic and rear XLR's at the same time... I don't think the XL2 will act as a mixer. Near as I can tell from the manual, you can't have 3 or 4 mics and mix down to 2 channels in the camera. You'll either need to switch to 4 channel mode, or use an external mixer. If you go the external mixer route, that would seem to imply that you won't be using the stock camera mounted mic. That's what it looks like to me. Please someone chime in if I got it wrong. -cw- __________________ Charlie Wilkinson Full-time SysAdmin/Programmer Part-time Videographer wanna-be

February 23rd, 2005, 06:15 PM	#3
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	<< using the front mic and rear XLR's at the same time... I don't think the XL2 will act as a mixer. >> The XL2 will record the front mic plus the rear XLR's at the same time, in 12-bit four-channel mode. You can monitor each channel independently or monitor the entire mix. To some folks, myself included, it's like having a built-in four-channel audio mixer. Each track goes to its own dedicated channel. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

February 23rd, 2005, 08:45 PM	#4
Dan Mumford Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Daytona Beach, Florida Posts: 99	I bought a Studio 1 XLR-BP 3 Pro for my GL-1 that will work by using the on-board mic jack. I can run the WR22 Pro with 2 lavs and two more XLR ballanced mics in 16 bit. Was just hoping to eliminate extra weight/possible problems. Thanks for the replies, Dan P.S. Anyone know what the mono plug on the on-board mic is for? __________________ Wow! That thing must have cost an arm and a leg! - - - It did! I used to have three of each.

February 23rd, 2005, 09:12 PM	#5
Charlie Wilkinson Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Annapolis, MD Posts: 53	Dan wrote: << Anyone know what the mono plug on the on-board mic is for? >> The manual (pg 122) hints that the smaller jack is for power. __________________ Charlie Wilkinson Full-time SysAdmin/Programmer Part-time Videographer wanna-be