Low audio level on XLR with PDX10

Boyd Ostroff · December 23rd, 2003, 12:35 PM

Well a large amount of the work I've done on the PDX-10 has been without any audio at all. However I've now recorded about 5 of our opera performances. For this I put a line level feed from the sound board into channel A with auto levels and use the on-camera mike in channel B with a manual level.

Both channels sounded good. In fact, I was really impressed with how good the on-camera mike sounded. I did not have any problems whatsoever with the auto setting on the line-level input. There was no clipping and no excessive compression. And of course opera has a huge dynamic range between soft orchestral moments and loud choruses. But everything came through very nicely.

So I really have no explanation as to why your experience is so different than mine Raul. Perhaps, as David says, you had the low cut or ATT accidently switched on?

Also, what volume level did you set on your headphones, and what headphones did you use? I am using Sony MDR-V600's and have found the monitoring sound to be very faithful. Sounds pretty much the same when I monitor the video through an amp when editing.

I do find the recorded levels a little low, and regularly boost them by between 3 and 6 dB in my finished projects however. But the audio is very clean and (to my ears) has the full range of frequencies. Maybe you need to do a little more experimentation?

Guustaaf Damave · December 24th, 2003, 01:20 PM

I have an audio engineering background and perhaps the reason why the levels seem somewhat low to some people is that the PDX10 XLR inputs use professional standard levels, which is 'hotter' than consumer levels. I have run some tests with tones and the PDX10 is very happy with professional line level signals from for example a mixer. If you use consumer equipment you may have a hard time getting enough signal to the camera.

The standard way of setting a level is to have your peaks at -12 dB, this way you have 12 dB head room. If your peaks are lower than that you may get some hiss, if they are higher than that you get dangerously close to clipping. Finally I must say I am very pleased with the sound quality of my PDX10s.

Guustaaf

December 23rd, 2003, 12:35 PM	#16
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,802	Well a large amount of the work I've done on the PDX-10 has been without any audio at all. However I've now recorded about 5 of our opera performances. For this I put a line level feed from the sound board into channel A with auto levels and use the on-camera mike in channel B with a manual level. Both channels sounded good. In fact, I was really impressed with how good the on-camera mike sounded. I did not have any problems whatsoever with the auto setting on the line-level input. There was no clipping and no excessive compression. And of course opera has a huge dynamic range between soft orchestral moments and loud choruses. But everything came through very nicely. So I really have no explanation as to why your experience is so different than mine Raul. Perhaps, as David says, you had the low cut or ATT accidently switched on? Also, what volume level did you set on your headphones, and what headphones did you use? I am using Sony MDR-V600's and have found the monitoring sound to be very faithful. Sounds pretty much the same when I monitor the video through an amp when editing. I do find the recorded levels a little low, and regularly boost them by between 3 and 6 dB in my finished projects however. But the audio is very clean and (to my ears) has the full range of frequencies. Maybe you need to do a little more experimentation?

December 24th, 2003, 01:20 PM	#17
Guustaaf Damave New Boot Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 17	I have an audio engineering background and perhaps the reason why the levels seem somewhat low to some people is that the PDX10 XLR inputs use professional standard levels, which is 'hotter' than consumer levels. I have run some tests with tones and the PDX10 is very happy with professional line level signals from for example a mixer. If you use consumer equipment you may have a hard time getting enough signal to the camera. The standard way of setting a level is to have your peaks at -12 dB, this way you have 12 dB head room. If your peaks are lower than that you may get some hiss, if they are higher than that you get dangerously close to clipping. Finally I must say I am very pleased with the sound quality of my PDX10s. Guustaaf