A Lesson In Xlr

Al Holston · September 9th, 2002, 10:09 AM

While XLR (f) to XLR (m) attenuator adapters are avail, most are on the bulky side, being 1.5 to 2x the size of an XLR and stick out, putting strain on the connector its plugged into; adapaters like the Sure, are best used "in-line" in the middle of a mic cable run (between a mic's 6-ft cord and the "long cord run to the mixer/camera, if under 25-ft, ohterwise swap out long cord with the short cord to the mixer end.
Another solution, is to use an attenuated cord, that has the connectors you want at each end, with the 10-db to 30-db attenuation added inside the cable; (most use resistor pads connected at one end of the cable). The adavantage is no bulky connector hanging out the side of your rig, and less strain on the connectors. The disadvantage is you have to have a different cord for different amounts of attenuation. Cables are available for most field mixers i.e. Sound Device has several. Check with your local pro-adudio suppler or one of the on-line sponsors of this board. Al.

fargogogo · September 12th, 2002, 08:46 PM

I found the perfect thing. An XLR volume control made by Rapco International. A barrel about 4 inches long - XLRM on one end, XLRF on the other. It has a knob in the middle to adjust the level.
$20. :)

Al Holston · September 14th, 2002, 01:25 PM

Great!

Glad you found sosmething that works for you. Just becareful about stressing connectors with the unit. It's best to use it "inline" between two cable connectors. Good luck Al.

Keith Loh · January 29th, 2003, 02:43 PM

I'm doing occasional press conferences and live webcasting using my XL1S. I have a press conference coming up next week where there will likely be a house breakout box for XLRs. My question is whether it would be worth renting a Beachtek for this (for some reason most places in Vancouver don't want to rent out just the MA100/200 without the entire camera kit). It was recommended to me to find a place that would just make or sell an XLR to stereo miniplug cable adaptor and input that into the mic input.

Note, the webcasting will be mono only so I don't need stereo.

I found this online which looks like it may do the trick (though I want a local supplier because of cross border shipping complication possibilities):
http://www.microphonemadness.com/mmdualxlrfem.html

Comments?

Keith Loh · January 29th, 2003, 02:44 PM

Here's the Beachtek that's on their site. It costs a pretty penny to buy but to rent it's nothing really ($15/day)

http://www.beachtek.com/dxa4c.html

Alan Burney · August 10th, 2003, 07:03 PM

Yesterday I catured the selectmans meeting ..wat a gig....
Thing is ...we ran a xlr lead from the makie desk where all the mics were going to... from there to the back of my xlr adapter on my xl1s....Canon.....I flicked all the switches...and ran through all the different menue settings on the cam...audio 1 in etc and nothing.......dose the adapter need power or somthing ....is there
a battery cuningly hidden..or am I just stoopid...please help

Don Palomaki · August 11th, 2003, 03:55 AM

Which XLR adapter? The Canon adapters (MA-100 and MA-200) draw power from the XL1s, the submini phone jack on the short cord from the MA must be plugged into the corresponding jack by the Audio1 jacks.

Alan Burney · August 11th, 2003, 07:55 AM

Hey thanks....yeh ..my adapter has 2x xlr inputs with shoulder rest....2x left and right input...which I guess go to back of cam audio1.......and a small ..looks like a mono...is this power ....I pluged it into the very small imput...between the left and right audio in right ..!...still no joy..

Don Palomaki · August 11th, 2003, 07:56 PM

Should work.
What are your switch settings?
What are your menu settings?

Tim Tonner · September 9th, 2003, 03:43 PM

I have been recording from a lav mike to my Canon XL1 using an xlr adapter that allows me to send audio to both channels, via an MA-100. I'm not really sure why, (I knew someone who did this on a shoot in Boston some years ago) but the results seem fine, even though my microphone is not stereo. In Final Cut Pro 3, I thus get audio to both channels. I'm just looking for feedback on this approach. I've heard that an audio signal can be comprimised(split?) with my method, but it seems strong to me...

Don Palomaki · September 9th, 2003, 06:58 PM

If it works for you , and it sounds OK if you do a mono recording, be happy in your work. The "Y" adapter is just paralleling the inputs so the mic sees a 300 ohm input impedance rather than the 600 ohms of one of the channels by itself. For good low impedance mics this is not a problem.

Nathan Gifford · September 9th, 2003, 08:52 PM

Don is right, if it works for you then it is OK. Most people usually just copy one track to both in post.

Eddie Vaughn · September 19th, 2003, 04:01 PM

I've likewise used a y-connector, just when nothing else is available, so I hooked it up to both channels rather than letting it dangle. No problems that I could hear.

Eddie

James Emory · September 21st, 2003, 05:01 PM

I use an XLR Y splitter all the time, every time when using external mics. As stated in the other posts, all it's doing is splitting that audio to both channels. It gives more fullness to the sound. I don't know why everyone doesn't do it. Why do it in post when you can get it all on location?

Tim Tonner · September 22nd, 2003, 11:24 AM

I tend to agree. Fuller sound. However, after reading some of these posts, somehow it seems that taking audio from a mike to one camera channel might be laying a stronger signal to that one channel, before it is split. Then, if you choose to copy one track to another in post, will the result have been copying a stronger signal to the other track? Or does it even matter? Audio is not my strongest suit so I'd love feedback on this...

September 9th, 2002, 10:09 AM	#16
Al Holston Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: San Francisco Posts: 51	XLR attenuator adapters While XLR (f) to XLR (m) attenuator adapters are avail, most are on the bulky side, being 1.5 to 2x the size of an XLR and stick out, putting strain on the connector its plugged into; adapaters like the Sure, are best used "in-line" in the middle of a mic cable run (between a mic's 6-ft cord and the "long cord run to the mixer/camera, if under 25-ft, ohterwise swap out long cord with the short cord to the mixer end. Another solution, is to use an attenuated cord, that has the connectors you want at each end, with the 10-db to 30-db attenuation added inside the cable; (most use resistor pads connected at one end of the cable). The adavantage is no bulky connector hanging out the side of your rig, and less strain on the connectors. The disadvantage is you have to have a different cord for different amounts of attenuation. Cables are available for most field mixers i.e. Sound Device has several. Check with your local pro-adudio suppler or one of the on-line sponsors of this board. Al. __________________ Al

September 12th, 2002, 08:46 PM	#17
fargogogo Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 49	found one I found the perfect thing. An XLR volume control made by Rapco International. A barrel about 4 inches long - XLRM on one end, XLRF on the other. It has a knob in the middle to adjust the level. $20. :)

September 14th, 2002, 01:25 PM	#18
Al Holston Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: San Francisco Posts: 51	Great! Glad you found sosmething that works for you. Just becareful about stressing connectors with the unit. It's best to use it "inline" between two cable connectors. Good luck Al. __________________ Al

January 29th, 2003, 02:43 PM	#19
Keith Loh Air China Pilot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 2,389	XLR -> stereo miniplug vs Beachtek/MA100/200 I'm doing occasional press conferences and live webcasting using my XL1S. I have a press conference coming up next week where there will likely be a house breakout box for XLRs. My question is whether it would be worth renting a Beachtek for this (for some reason most places in Vancouver don't want to rent out just the MA100/200 without the entire camera kit). It was recommended to me to find a place that would just make or sell an XLR to stereo miniplug cable adaptor and input that into the mic input. Note, the webcasting will be mono only so I don't need stereo. I found this online which looks like it may do the trick (though I want a local supplier because of cross border shipping complication possibilities): http://www.microphonemadness.com/mmdualxlrfem.html Comments? __________________ -- Visit http://www.KeithLoh.com \| stuff about living in Vancouver \| My Flickr photo gallery

January 29th, 2003, 02:44 PM	#20
Keith Loh Air China Pilot Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 2,389	Beachtek DXA-4C Here's the Beachtek that's on their site. It costs a pretty penny to buy but to rent it's nothing really ($15/day) http://www.beachtek.com/dxa4c.html __________________ -- Visit http://www.KeithLoh.com \| stuff about living in Vancouver \| My Flickr photo gallery

August 10th, 2003, 07:03 PM	#21
Alan Burney New Boot Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Nantucket MA Posts: 8	XLR adapter dont seem to get anything Yesterday I catured the selectmans meeting ..wat a gig.... Thing is ...we ran a xlr lead from the makie desk where all the mics were going to... from there to the back of my xlr adapter on my xl1s....Canon.....I flicked all the switches...and ran through all the different menue settings on the cam...audio 1 in etc and nothing.......dose the adapter need power or somthing ....is there a battery cuningly hidden..or am I just stoopid...please help

August 11th, 2003, 03:55 AM	#22
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,488	Which XLR adapter? The Canon adapters (MA-100 and MA-200) draw power from the XL1s, the submini phone jack on the short cord from the MA must be plugged into the corresponding jack by the Audio1 jacks. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

August 11th, 2003, 07:55 AM	#23
Alan Burney New Boot Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Nantucket MA Posts: 8	looks like mono plug right Hey thanks....yeh ..my adapter has 2x xlr inputs with shoulder rest....2x left and right input...which I guess go to back of cam audio1.......and a small ..looks like a mono...is this power ....I pluged it into the very small imput...between the left and right audio in right ..!...still no joy..

August 11th, 2003, 07:56 PM	#24
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,488	Should work. What are your switch settings? What are your menu settings? __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

September 9th, 2003, 03:43 PM	#25
Tim Tonner Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: stowe, vt Posts: 45	xlr to xl1 using "Y" connector I have been recording from a lav mike to my Canon XL1 using an xlr adapter that allows me to send audio to both channels, via an MA-100. I'm not really sure why, (I knew someone who did this on a shoot in Boston some years ago) but the results seem fine, even though my microphone is not stereo. In Final Cut Pro 3, I thus get audio to both channels. I'm just looking for feedback on this approach. I've heard that an audio signal can be comprimised(split?) with my method, but it seems strong to me...

September 9th, 2003, 06:58 PM	#26
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,488	If it works for you , and it sounds OK if you do a mono recording, be happy in your work. The "Y" adapter is just paralleling the inputs so the mic sees a 300 ohm input impedance rather than the 600 ohms of one of the channels by itself. For good low impedance mics this is not a problem. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

September 9th, 2003, 08:52 PM	#27
Nathan Gifford Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Tickfaw, LA Posts: 1,217	Don is right, if it works for you then it is OK. Most people usually just copy one track to both in post. __________________ Nathan Gifford Southern Cyclist Magazine & Productions For quick answers try our Search! To see me and Rob Lohman click here

September 19th, 2003, 04:01 PM	#28
Eddie Vaughn New Boot Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Winston-Salem NC Posts: 17	I've likewise used a y-connector, just when nothing else is available, so I hooked it up to both channels rather than letting it dangle. No problems that I could hear. Eddie

September 21st, 2003, 05:01 PM	#29
James Emory Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 1,892	Y-cable usage I use an XLR Y splitter all the time, every time when using external mics. As stated in the other posts, all it's doing is splitting that audio to both channels. It gives more fullness to the sound. I don't know why everyone doesn't do it. Why do it in post when you can get it all on location?

September 22nd, 2003, 11:24 AM	#30
Tim Tonner Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: stowe, vt Posts: 45	I tend to agree. Fuller sound. However, after reading some of these posts, somehow it seems that taking audio from a mike to one camera channel might be laying a stronger signal to that one channel, before it is split. Then, if you choose to copy one track to another in post, will the result have been copying a stronger signal to the other track? Or does it even matter? Audio is not my strongest suit so I'd love feedback on this...