Dual XLR mean I get 2 audio tracks? at DVinfo.net

Darryn Carroll · March 28th, 2014, 10:16 PM

Before i state the question, let me quickly explain. My current FX1000 is setup with a beachtek XLR adapter. I only get one audio track and I assume its because of the single input to camera.

As I research cameras with built in dual XLR audio inputs, I am curious if this means my video would have 2 audio tracks.

This would be a great advantage when the groom is coughing into his lapel mic, I would no longer need to make adjustments on the fly, I could simply clean it in post.

Thanks all.

Edward Carlson · March 29th, 2014, 12:08 AM

Short answer: yes, each input can be treated as its own track.

Your Beachtek should allow you to pan one input left and one input right, therefore giving you two track recording, right? I haven't used a Beachtek adapter in years, but that's how I remember doing it.

Jay Massengill · March 29th, 2014, 06:19 AM

It partly depends on how you are referring to "tracks". A camera with dual XLR inputs still records one track of audio linked with the video, but it's a track with two channels of audio that can be handled either independently or together depending on how you edit them.

Your FX1000 is the same in that it has a stereo mic jack that can handle two channels of audio. However, that camera only has one audio level dial for both channels.

So it also depends on which BeachTek you are using and how you have its switches set. Most BeachTek adapters can handle two audio inputs and keep them separated. If the Stereo/Mono switch on the BeachTek is on S, then the two audio inputs are kept separated when going into the camera. If the switch is on M, then both audio inputs are mixed together and go equally to both channels of the camera. This is useful when using only one mic or if you really want both inputs mixed together. But once mixed together, the two audio channels can't be separated later during editing.

Darryn Carroll · March 29th, 2014, 06:52 AM

Thank you for replies. Sounds like I am missing something when editing and will research. I had been shooting with Beachtek in M but last week shot in S with 2 mics. In my NLE, I split audio from video and only get one audio track?

Jay Massengill · March 29th, 2014, 07:56 AM

It may also depend on how you ingested the footage into your computer. Software for capturing usually has switch settings that affect how the audio is brought in.

Which NLE are you using? Each has its own clicks for handling the audio channels within each track.

I use Sony Vegas. Right-clicking an audio region and then clicking "Channels" allows you to select your choice. You can also duplicate a track, switch one track to what was recorded on the Left Channel of your camera and switch the other one to the Right Channel. This allows adjusting each separately (volume, EQ, pan, cutting out problems, etc.) while still keeping them grouped and in-sync with the original video.

Darryn Carroll · March 29th, 2014, 09:18 AM

Thanks Jay, I use VideoStudio Pro X6 for editing. I was using same program from ingesting but just changed to Roxio for capturing.

I currently keep the volume off on the beachtek channel for the grooms mic, then when the vows start I crank it up.

I will check my ingesting settings, I had assumed if I used a new cam with built in XLR's, I could run 2 mics, then split audio and see 2 different audio tracks.

Jay Massengill · March 29th, 2014, 01:06 PM

It's been a long time since I captured any tape to the computer. I think some software for capturing does allow you to capture the stereo camera recording as two separate mono tracks rather than as one stereo track.
Either way it's captured, it can be easily adjusted separately or together in most NLE software.

And you should be able to keep your audio sources separated with your current camera as long as your BeachTek is set to S for Stereo and your ingesting software doesn't mix the two audio channels.

If you get a NEW camera with XLR connectors, it won't be tape based so you'll be transferring the recording from memory rather than ingesting tape.

If you get a used tape-based camera with XLR connectors, the audio still works the same. It will be one track with two channels and it's up to your choice how you edit them.

March 28th, 2014, 10:16 PM	#1
Darryn Carroll Major Player Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Norwood, MA Posts: 255	Dual XLR mean I get 2 audio tracks? Before i state the question, let me quickly explain. My current FX1000 is setup with a beachtek XLR adapter. I only get one audio track and I assume its because of the single input to camera. As I research cameras with built in dual XLR audio inputs, I am curious if this means my video would have 2 audio tracks. This would be a great advantage when the groom is coughing into his lapel mic, I would no longer need to make adjustments on the fly, I could simply clean it in post. Thanks all.

March 29th, 2014, 12:08 AM	#2
Edward Carlson Major Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: North Hollywood, CA, United States Posts: 807	Re: Dual XLR mean I get 2 audio tracks? Short answer: yes, each input can be treated as its own track. Your Beachtek should allow you to pan one input left and one input right, therefore giving you two track recording, right? I haven't used a Beachtek adapter in years, but that's how I remember doing it.

March 29th, 2014, 06:19 AM	#3
Jay Massengill Trustee Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Burlington Posts: 1,976	Re: Dual XLR mean I get 2 audio tracks? It partly depends on how you are referring to "tracks". A camera with dual XLR inputs still records one track of audio linked with the video, but it's a track with two channels of audio that can be handled either independently or together depending on how you edit them. Your FX1000 is the same in that it has a stereo mic jack that can handle two channels of audio. However, that camera only has one audio level dial for both channels. So it also depends on which BeachTek you are using and how you have its switches set. Most BeachTek adapters can handle two audio inputs and keep them separated. If the Stereo/Mono switch on the BeachTek is on S, then the two audio inputs are kept separated when going into the camera. If the switch is on M, then both audio inputs are mixed together and go equally to both channels of the camera. This is useful when using only one mic or if you really want both inputs mixed together. But once mixed together, the two audio channels can't be separated later during editing.

March 29th, 2014, 06:52 AM	#4
Darryn Carroll Major Player Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Norwood, MA Posts: 255	Re: Dual XLR mean I get 2 audio tracks? Thank you for replies. Sounds like I am missing something when editing and will research. I had been shooting with Beachtek in M but last week shot in S with 2 mics. In my NLE, I split audio from video and only get one audio track?

March 29th, 2014, 07:56 AM	#5
Jay Massengill Trustee Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Burlington Posts: 1,976	Re: Dual XLR mean I get 2 audio tracks? It may also depend on how you ingested the footage into your computer. Software for capturing usually has switch settings that affect how the audio is brought in. Which NLE are you using? Each has its own clicks for handling the audio channels within each track. I use Sony Vegas. Right-clicking an audio region and then clicking "Channels" allows you to select your choice. You can also duplicate a track, switch one track to what was recorded on the Left Channel of your camera and switch the other one to the Right Channel. This allows adjusting each separately (volume, EQ, pan, cutting out problems, etc.) while still keeping them grouped and in-sync with the original video.

March 29th, 2014, 09:18 AM	#6
Darryn Carroll Major Player Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Norwood, MA Posts: 255	Re: Dual XLR mean I get 2 audio tracks? Thanks Jay, I use VideoStudio Pro X6 for editing. I was using same program from ingesting but just changed to Roxio for capturing. I currently keep the volume off on the beachtek channel for the grooms mic, then when the vows start I crank it up. I will check my ingesting settings, I had assumed if I used a new cam with built in XLR's, I could run 2 mics, then split audio and see 2 different audio tracks.

March 29th, 2014, 01:06 PM	#7
Jay Massengill Trustee Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Burlington Posts: 1,976	Re: Dual XLR mean I get 2 audio tracks? It's been a long time since I captured any tape to the computer. I think some software for capturing does allow you to capture the stereo camera recording as two separate mono tracks rather than as one stereo track. Either way it's captured, it can be easily adjusted separately or together in most NLE software. And you should be able to keep your audio sources separated with your current camera as long as your BeachTek is set to S for Stereo and your ingesting software doesn't mix the two audio channels. If you get a NEW camera with XLR connectors, it won't be tape based so you'll be transferring the recording from memory rather than ingesting tape. If you get a used tape-based camera with XLR connectors, the audio still works the same. It will be one track with two channels and it's up to your choice how you edit them.