Cannon XL 1 problem

[Franz]

Hi.
My film studio has a DV camera Cannon XL 1 with microphone adapter.
I have mixer Shure FP 24 without line level output so I connect my mixer
with camera using it's chinch audio input. And everything looks fine...
exept... There is really high distortion in the sound... near 2 kHz or 4 kHz
sounding like clip... but the sound level is for example -12 dB.
I tried many connections... and each time the distortion appears.
Somebody had a problem like mine?
Could you tell me sth. about fixing it?
Cables? Connections? Wrong mixer? Wrong impedance?

Franz

[Eric Toline]

Cannon XL 1 problem

Group: rec.audio.pro Date: Mon, Oct 6, 2003, 3:07pm (EDT+6) From:
(Franz)
Hi.
My film studio has a DV camera Cannon XL 1 with microphone adapter.

I have mixer Shure FP 24 without line level output<<<<<<<

The FP-24 is really the Sound Devices Mix Pre.
It has mic level inputs & line level outputs only.


so I connect my mixer with camera using it's chinch audio input. And
everything looks fine... exept...

There is really high distortion in the sound... near 2 kHz or 4 kHz
sounding like clip... but the sound level is for example -12 dB. I tried
many connections<<<<<<<<

Seems you're feeding a mic level input with a line level signal.



... and each time the distortion appears. Somebody had a problem like
mine?<<<<<<<<<<<<

You need to be sure that the camera is set up to take a line level
signal and that you are feeding the correct inputs on the camera.

Keep your levels on the camera below -12dbfs and be certain the auto
level setting is turned off.

If you have the instruction manual that came with the camera it will
make the adjustments easier.


Eric

Could you tell me sth. about fixing it?
Cables? Connections? Wrong mixer? Wrong impedance?
Franz

[Scott Dorsey]

In article >, Franz > wrote:
>Hi.
>My film studio has a DV camera Cannon XL 1 with microphone adapter.
>I have mixer Shure FP 24 without line level output so I connect my mixer
>with camera using it's chinch audio input. And everything looks fine...
>exept... There is really high distortion in the sound... near 2 kHz or 4 kHz
>sounding like clip... but the sound level is for example -12 dB.
>I tried many connections... and each time the distortion appears.
>Somebody had a problem like mine?
>Could you tell me sth. about fixing it?
>Cables? Connections? Wrong mixer? Wrong impedance?

Is the FP24 output transformer-balanced?

Do you have the phantom power turned off on the camera mike inputs?
I assume by "Cinch" inputs you mean the mike XLRs... I don't recall any
big Cinch-Jones connectors on modern cameras.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Franz]

> Seems you're feeding a mic level input with a line level signal.
huh.... nope ;-)

> You need to be sure that the camera is set up to take a line level
> signal and that you are feeding the correct inputs on the camera.
> Keep your levels on the camera below -12dbfs and be certain the auto
> level setting is turned off.
inputs in the camera are set to line level...
it doesn't matter if it's -3dB or -18dB. The distorion appears as well.
Auto level is turned off...

> If you have the instruction manual that came with the camera it will
> make the adjustments easier.
>
I've read the instuction manual, and belive me... I made lots of connections
in my life: professional audio equipment, consumer, mixing consoles,
microphones etc etc etc... but... with this camera I can't just imagine
what I'm doing wrong...

thnx for your answer...
franz

[Franz]

> Is the FP24 output transformer-balanced?
yeah and in the camera inputs (RCA) are unbalanced.

> Do you have the phantom power turned off on the camera mike inputs?
It doesn't have any phantom power...

> I assume by "Cinch" inputs you mean the mike XLRs... I don't recall any
> big Cinch-Jones connectors on modern cameras.
chinch I mean RCA (line level inputs to connect all consumer stuff like CD's
etc)


> --scott
> --
> "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Scott Dorsey]

In article >, Franz > wrote:
>> Seems you're feeding a mic level input with a line level signal.
>huh.... nope ;-)

Well, you had said you had only a mike level output from the mixer, so we
assumed you were using the mike level inputs. That mixer has only line level
outputs.
>
>> You need to be sure that the camera is set up to take a line level
>> signal and that you are feeding the correct inputs on the camera.
>> Keep your levels on the camera below -12dbfs and be certain the auto
>> level setting is turned off.
>inputs in the camera are set to line level...
>it doesn't matter if it's -3dB or -18dB. The distorion appears as well.
>Auto level is turned off...

Right, because you are clipping the input stage of the camera. These cameras
have VERY little headroom on the input. Turn the output of the mixer down.
Way down.
--scott


--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Scott Dorsey]

In article >, Franz > wrote:
>> Seems you're feeding a mic level input with a line level signal.
>huh.... nope ;-)

Well, you had said you had only a mike level output from the mixer, so we
assumed you were using the mike level inputs. That mixer has only line level
outputs.
>
>> You need to be sure that the camera is set up to take a line level
>> signal and that you are feeding the correct inputs on the camera.
>> Keep your levels on the camera below -12dbfs and be certain the auto
>> level setting is turned off.
>inputs in the camera are set to line level...
>it doesn't matter if it's -3dB or -18dB. The distorion appears as well.
>Auto level is turned off...

Right, because you are clipping the input stage of the camera. These cameras
have VERY little headroom on the input. Turn the output of the mixer down.
Way down.
--scott


--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Eric Toline]

Re: Cannon XL 1 problem

Group: rec.audio.pro Date: Mon, Oct 6, 2003, 6:08pm (EDT+6) From:
(Franz)

(Scott D.)
Is the FP24 output transformer-balanced?

(Franz)
yeah and in the camera inputs (RCA) are unbalanced.<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

No. The FP-24 outputs are impedence balanced @120ohms.


Eric

[Eric Toline]

Re: Cannon XL 1 problem

Group: rec.audio.pro Date: Mon, Oct 6, 2003, 6:08pm (EDT+6) From:
(Franz)

(Scott D.)
Is the FP24 output transformer-balanced?

(Franz)
yeah and in the camera inputs (RCA) are unbalanced.<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

No. The FP-24 outputs are impedence balanced @120ohms.


Eric

[Eric Toline]

Get a set of 55 db pads to change the output from line to mic level.
That should solve your problem.

Eric

[Eric Toline]

Get a set of 55 db pads to change the output from line to mic level.
That should solve your problem.

Eric