MA-100 XLR audio adapter questions

Scott Moore · October 2nd, 2003, 03:46 PM

mix feed, line level

Don Palomaki · October 2nd, 2003, 04:35 PM

Line level is too high for the MA-100 inputs. It is likely to cause clipping. Use a mic level feed, and set the Audio1 input sensitivity to MIC ATT or MIC depending on whether the mic output level is -35 or -55 dBV.

If you have to use a line level feed, obtain an inline attenuator to reduce the signal appropriately.

Mixer output is typically on the order of +4 dBu, but there are variations so consult the loal expert on the house board to be sure.

Scott Moore · October 3rd, 2003, 07:19 AM

back to my original question, do I need to
plug something into BOTH XLR jacks (on the
MA-100) to be able to record on both L and
R sides

Jeff Donald · October 3rd, 2003, 07:30 AM

Yes, you'll need a Y splitter. But the other issues Don mentioned are very significant and will effect your audio recording. Failure to get a proper audio match could make your recorded audio unusable.

Andrew Hogan · October 20th, 2003, 07:46 PM

When I have recorded audio from the desk I used an two mono XLR to RCA adapters and connected to the camera not the MA100

Audio was ok but i think would have sounded better by just using the XL1s mic

Mike Butler · October 31st, 2003, 05:34 PM

Wow, if the onboard mic sounded better than the desk (mixer or board to us Yanks) something must have been amiss. If you were located in the back of the room (usual placement for FOH sound reinforcement systems, the onboard mic would sound like an echo chamber with lots of ambient noise. I record off the board whenever I can, and simply unplug the MA100 and put the mix right into those RCAs on the back of the cam, set to Audio !, which calls for line level. BTW, if it is a mono mix, you really only need to record one track (go into one input, your choice left or right) and center it in your edit later.

Bryan Mitchell · December 23rd, 2003, 05:13 PM

I didn't even realize there was a forum dedicated to XL1 audio lol. I posted this in the Now Hear This forum:

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...threadid=18715

If anyone could help me, I would appreciate it.

Don Palomaki · December 24th, 2003, 05:10 AM

A common issue/question. The ME66 is a mono mic so the audio will be in the left or right channel only depending on how you connected it to the MA100. Some folks use "Y" cable to feed audio to both channels, others mix/pan the audio in post.

Out of the box the XL1 Audio 1 input defaults to consumer line level (-11 dBV). From the menu, set the Audio 1 input level to MIC or MIC ATT, MIC ATT may work OK for the ME66 under typical circumstances due to its high output level. Those settings have a sensitivity of -55 and -35 dBV for MIC level sources.

Bryan Mitchell · December 24th, 2003, 09:39 AM

Is that on an in camera menu? Can I reach it on any setting. I've been through them a few times and havn't come across them. If you could tell me how to get to them, it would be very helpfull. Thanks.

edit: I found it. Thank you for your help.

second edit: Upon testing it this morning and actually seeing it work, a feeling of warmth passed over me :-) Thank you so much. I am new to off camera sound, and pretty new to the camera, and just got all these new accessories, so I was having trouble. Thank you very much.

Happy Holidays.

Hart Boyd · January 5th, 2004, 11:37 AM

What are the three screws on the top of the MA-200 used for? I am sure something can mount there but what?

Jean-Philippe Archibald · January 5th, 2004, 11:47 AM

The three screws are used to attach a metal plate ( which is provided with the MA-100/MA-200). With this plate, you can mount either the Canon CH-910 dual Battery Holder or a wireless microphone receiver.

Hope this help,

Michel Brewer · January 5th, 2004, 01:31 PM

is apparantly that metal plate which the ma-100 came with dosent come in all the boxes for the ma-200. I didnt get mine but attatched my anton bauer plate there.

If you look at the picture of the ma-100, since you apparantly didnt get one either you will see a picture of the plate. Having both is nice you should see if canon will sell that part then you have mounting for a battery holder and wireless with both plates the ma-100 on the three screw, and the pull out bars.

m

Jed Stone · January 5th, 2004, 01:44 PM

Good Point sir
I have looked at this 3 screw anomoly and wondered "What is that for?" but then other things came into my head. It does look like a mounting place but there is nothing that came with the MA200 that fits the bill. Whatever it is it must be small as when the extender bars are closed there is not that much head room for said mountable "whatever it is" oblect

Regards

Jed

CUL

Hart Boyd · January 5th, 2004, 01:49 PM

Thanks for the replies. My MA-200 did not come with a metal plate for attaching there. It did come with a place that mounts on the slide out bracket and from the instruction the CH-910 dual battery holder attaches but I have a wireless receiver there instead. I was wonder if there was a bracked to support a battery at the three screw location. Will give Canon a call.

Thanks

Hart Boyd · January 5th, 2004, 02:00 PM

Just got off the phone with Canon Technical support and they don't know what mounts there either. I found a close up of the MA-100 plate and it has the three screw holes so it appears if you could get the plate alone you could have a second mount as suggested earlier.

October 2nd, 2003, 03:46 PM	#196
Scott Moore Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 48	More about the board mix feed, line level

October 2nd, 2003, 04:35 PM	#197
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,489	Line level is too high for the MA-100 inputs. It is likely to cause clipping. Use a mic level feed, and set the Audio1 input sensitivity to MIC ATT or MIC depending on whether the mic output level is -35 or -55 dBV. If you have to use a line level feed, obtain an inline attenuator to reduce the signal appropriately. Mixer output is typically on the order of +4 dBu, but there are variations so consult the loal expert on the house board to be sure. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

October 3rd, 2003, 07:19 AM	#198
Scott Moore Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 48	Great, but... back to my original question, do I need to plug something into BOTH XLR jacks (on the MA-100) to be able to record on both L and R sides

October 3rd, 2003, 07:30 AM	#199
Jeff Donald Warden Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 8,287	Yes, you'll need a Y splitter. But the other issues Don mentioned are very significant and will effect your audio recording. Failure to get a proper audio match could make your recorded audio unusable. __________________ Jeff Donald Carpe Diem Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Where to Buy? From the best in the business: DVinfo.net sponsors

October 31st, 2003, 05:34 PM	#201
Mike Butler Machinist Mate Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Southern Connecticut Posts: 644	Wow, if the onboard mic sounded better than the desk (mixer or board to us Yanks) something must have been amiss. If you were located in the back of the room (usual placement for FOH sound reinforcement systems, the onboard mic would sound like an echo chamber with lots of ambient noise. I record off the board whenever I can, and simply unplug the MA100 and put the mix right into those RCAs on the back of the cam, set to Audio !, which calls for line level. BTW, if it is a mono mix, you really only need to record one track (go into one input, your choice left or right) and center it in your edit later. __________________ 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."

October 20th, 2003, 07:46 PM	#200
Andrew Hogan Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Canberra AUSTRALIA Posts: 169	When I have recorded audio from the desk I used an two mono XLR to RCA adapters and connected to the camera not the MA100 Audio was ok but i think would have sounded better by just using the XL1s mic

December 23rd, 2003, 05:13 PM	#202
Bryan Mitchell Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 316	new Ma100, Me66, k6- can't hear a thing. I didn't even realize there was a forum dedicated to XL1 audio lol. I posted this in the Now Hear This forum: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...threadid=18715 If anyone could help me, I would appreciate it.

December 24th, 2003, 05:10 AM	#203
Don Palomaki Wrangler Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Northern VA Posts: 4,489	A common issue/question. The ME66 is a mono mic so the audio will be in the left or right channel only depending on how you connected it to the MA100. Some folks use "Y" cable to feed audio to both channels, others mix/pan the audio in post. Out of the box the XL1 Audio 1 input defaults to consumer line level (-11 dBV). From the menu, set the Audio 1 input level to MIC or MIC ATT, MIC ATT may work OK for the ME66 under typical circumstances due to its high output level. Those settings have a sensitivity of -55 and -35 dBV for MIC level sources. __________________ dpalomaki@dspalomaki.com

December 24th, 2003, 09:39 AM	#204
Bryan Mitchell Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 316	Is that on an in camera menu? Can I reach it on any setting. I've been through them a few times and havn't come across them. If you could tell me how to get to them, it would be very helpfull. Thanks. edit: I found it. Thank you for your help. second edit: Upon testing it this morning and actually seeing it work, a feeling of warmth passed over me :-) Thank you so much. I am new to off camera sound, and pretty new to the camera, and just got all these new accessories, so I was having trouble. Thank you very much. Happy Holidays.

January 5th, 2004, 11:37 AM	#205
Hart Boyd Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 148	MA-200 Question What are the three screws on the top of the MA-200 used for? I am sure something can mount there but what?

January 5th, 2004, 11:47 AM	#206
Jean-Philippe Archibald Trustee Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Saguenay, Québec, Canada Posts: 1,051	The three screws are used to attach a metal plate ( which is provided with the MA-100/MA-200). With this plate, you can mount either the Canon CH-910 dual Battery Holder or a wireless microphone receiver. Hope this help, __________________ Jean-Philippe Archibald http://www.jparchibald.com - http://www.vimeo.com/jparchib

January 5th, 2004, 01:31 PM	#207
Michel Brewer Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Ventura California Posts: 179	the problem is apparantly that metal plate which the ma-100 came with dosent come in all the boxes for the ma-200. I didnt get mine but attatched my anton bauer plate there. If you look at the picture of the ma-100, since you apparantly didnt get one either you will see a picture of the plate. Having both is nice you should see if canon will sell that part then you have mounting for a battery holder and wireless with both plates the ma-100 on the three screw, and the pull out bars. m __________________ milking the celebrity criminal trials thank god for the freaks

January 5th, 2004, 01:44 PM	#208
Jed Stone New Boot Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 13	Good Point sir I have looked at this 3 screw anomoly and wondered "What is that for?" but then other things came into my head. It does look like a mounting place but there is nothing that came with the MA200 that fits the bill. Whatever it is it must be small as when the extender bars are closed there is not that much head room for said mountable "whatever it is" oblect Regards Jed CUL

January 5th, 2004, 01:49 PM	#209
Hart Boyd Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 148	Thanks for the replies. My MA-200 did not come with a metal plate for attaching there. It did come with a place that mounts on the slide out bracket and from the instruction the CH-910 dual battery holder attaches but I have a wireless receiver there instead. I was wonder if there was a bracked to support a battery at the three screw location. Will give Canon a call. Thanks

January 5th, 2004, 02:00 PM	#210
Hart Boyd Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 148	Just got off the phone with Canon Technical support and they don't know what mounts there either. I found a close up of the MA-100 plate and it has the three screw holes so it appears if you could get the plate alone you could have a second mount as suggested earlier.