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Author
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Topic: Impedance on mics and Digital 8 cameras! :o
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EthanQuin
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posted 07-17-2000 02:35 PM
I have posted something up here a little bit ago but no one seemed interested so I'm doing it again with a little more explanation. I have a Digital 8 camera and I bought an Azden CAM-3 mic mixer. When I hooked it up all I got was static. I emailed sony and they said the mic has to be 600 ohms or less. The only thing is I don't have any freakin' mics plugged into the mixer, and when I do it doesn't help either. I have mics with low-impedance and plug them in but still I get static. I emailed Azden but they don't reply. Anyone got any ideas? I didn't know mic mixers had impedance....------------------
R E M E N T S T U D I O S |
Prism
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posted 07-17-2000 07:42 PM
I don't see why impedance should be such a big issue. There's a formula for determining whether your connection is good or not:LoadLoss = 20 * Rload / Rload + RSource RSource is the actual microphone impedance RLoad is the actual mixer input impedance As a rule of thumb, a loss of 6dB or less is acceptable.
Symbols: * = times / = divided by (Borrowed from the Shure website) Isaiah ------------------
"I'm a failure!"
"Kid, you're not failure...it's just that your ideas are silly and dumb." [This message has been edited by Prism (edited 07-17-2000).] |
EthanQuin
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posted 07-18-2000 02:25 PM
the only thing is just the mic mixer puts out tons of static and i have tested it out on regular devices (tape recorders and other stuff) and it works fine except for when its plugged into the camcorder |
doom1701
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posted 07-18-2000 04:30 PM
Are you sure you're hooking into the camera correctly? The Mic in is (I'm pretty sure) a 1/8" stereo plug. If you had a 1/8" mono plug, or a improperly seated stereo plug, it could cause static.------------------
TL
daa Productions Nobody lives forever, so you might as well go out with a good caffeine buzz... There's always hope, because it's the one thing that they haven't figured out how to kill yet... |
Prism
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posted 07-18-2000 04:47 PM
Good point, doom...
It's just one of life's little mysteries! Now, if I could look at it and play with it hand-on, I could probably figure it out, but so far I am still working on a hypothesis.Isaiah ------------------
"I'm a failure!"
"Kid, you're not failure...it's just that your ideas are silly and dumb." |
NJRFilms
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posted 07-18-2000 07:14 PM
Your probably using an adapter so you can get the mic plugged into your cam right? Like a 1/8 to phono (i think thats what it is)... So what kind of camera do u have? Its not a Sony TRV 103 or even a TRV ***, is it? If so then theres somthing fishy going on... |
Prism
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posted 07-18-2000 07:23 PM
Mic jacks are seldom, if never RCA phono. 1/8" is standard for hi-Z connections such as is common with camcorders. I would tend to think that if he's adapting it, then it is either XLR to 1/4" TRS to 1/8", XLR to 1/8", or 1/4" TRS to 1/8".Isaiah ------------------
"I'm a failure!"
"Kid, you're not failure...it's just that your ideas are silly and dumb." [This message has been edited by Prism (edited 07-18-2000).] |
EthanQuin
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posted 07-18-2000 07:59 PM
OKay everyone, contrary to belief i'm not using any adapters at all. I am using the standard wire that is included with the azden mixer. There are two that come with it, one wire is stereo and the other is mono. I have also tried other wires but there is no difference. I don't even have to plug in a mic and I still get static. I have a sony digital 8 trv103 and mics I have used without the mixer have all worked fine (except for a lavelier, strange). I really need a solution since in an upcoming project I will be using more than one mic and I need to use the mixer. I have already tested the mixer on other devices like I said so it can't be the mixer (plus this is made for cameras). Someone out there has to have an answer!!! HELP!!! |
EthanQuin
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posted 07-18-2000 08:28 PM
Here are some images of the mixer and the wire used to connect it to the camera. |
Prism
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posted 07-18-2000 08:29 PM
Buy/borrow another one and see if you get the same problem.Isaiah ------------------
"I'm a failure!"
"Kid, you're not failure...it's just that your ideas are silly and dumb." |
EthanQuin
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posted 07-18-2000 08:29 PM
Here it is.....
http://members.tripod.com/remnentstudios/cam3.jpg |
NJRFilms
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posted 07-18-2000 10:39 PM
Hmm it is strange that we both have a TRV103 and have audio problems. Strange , strange. Probably just a quincidence.Whered you get that mixer, and how much? |
NJRFilms
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posted 07-18-2000 10:43 PM
WHOA!! http://www.camerasphere.com/camerasphere/cam-3.html 54 bucks!!! Ive seen things just like this, I.E. on camera sound mixer, for 250 bucks! Im ordering this thing. Like, right now!!! This RULES!! One question. What kidn of mic conection does it take. Like on the mixer. Does it take the "bigger" kind.Hehe,yeah technical, eh. I know ALL about audio stuff. Hehhe. Oh and hows it mount on the camera? |
Prism
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posted 07-18-2000 11:12 PM
Oh, NJR - it's referred to as a 1/4" TRS. 
I figure that the thing you mentioned uses the smaller, dinky 1/8" TRS.Isaiah ------------------
"I'm a failure!"
"Kid, you're not failure...it's just that your ideas are silly and dumb." |
EthanQuin
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posted 07-19-2000 01:07 AM
three ways to mount it on the camera...1. Velcro (I like velcro, unless you dislike that ripping sound!)
2. On the handstrap
3. On your belt if you get one tell me if you have problems, if you don't im either sending back my camera or my mixer! ------------------
R E M E N T S T U D I O S |
NJRFilms
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posted 07-19-2000 08:42 AM
Im going to order one as soon as my dad gets home, as i need a Credit card. Who did you order it from, and how much was it? |
EthanQuin
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posted 07-19-2000 02:04 PM
Ordered it from B&H Photo. I would check there before you buy it and check out the price, might be a couple dollars less. It is awesome except for the fact that I get static, it works with my amps and stereos. |
NJRFilms
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posted 07-19-2000 02:22 PM
thats funny you said that, cuz i was about to order from some other place and thought "Might as well check B&H" and it was like 7 bucks cheaper. Yay. I just ordered it, Ill tell ya how it goes. |
dss
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posted 02-26-2001 07:19 PM
In case anyone wanted to know, Don't get the Azden CAM-3. It's a passive mixer which is very low quality. Mine has loads of static even though I connect it right.------------------
-DSS- Director, Producer,
Editor, and Actor of
Counter-Strike: The Movie |
Actor
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posted 03-04-2001 04:55 PM
EthanQuin:I've had a similar problem with my Sony Hi8. The thing is that Sony's off-cam mike jack is not standard and Sony's own people do not even know it. Their tech support in this area sucks. I have yet to get an off-cam mike to work.
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dss
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posted 03-04-2001 10:35 PM
God I hate using mics w/ my Sony Digital8! It seems ONLY when I use a Sony mic, it is clear! The rest are full of noise. Now, is this because of the power in the mic in port? I think it was designed for mic w/o their own power. I think when I have plugged mics in my computer, there is no noise. I'm planning to get a XLR adapter w/ has miniplug inputs and a Voltage Blocking Circuit that fixes some power issue w/ that port. Does that mean if I use the adapter, it will sound clear?
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-DSS-
Director, Producer,
Editor, and Actor of
Counter-Strike: The Movie [This message has been edited by dss (edited 03-04-2001).] |
