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Solutions for Camcorder/Location Audio |
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650-575-3249 |
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Compare the audio performance of a camcorder using: • juicedLink’s low-noise preamps • A passive XLR adapter with no preamps (Beachtek DXA-6) • An active XLR adapter with inferior preamps (Beachtek DXA-8) • The industry gold-standard for ENG mixers (Sound Devices MixPre)
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RELATED VIDEOS: |
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• WHY IS LOW NOISE PERFORMANCE IMPORTANT? • It is at the times when you are trying to pick up fine audio detail, that you need the best low-noise performance from your equipment. Otherwise, the noise will mask the fine detail that you are attempting to record. • In addition to picking up fine detail, you may encounter low level signals for a number of reasons: 1) use of dynamic mics, 2) not all condensers produce high output voltage/Pascal (lavs, older shotguns, some wireless receivers, etc), 3) sometimes, you can't get the optimal mic placement and need to crank up the gain.
• HOW DOES THE USE OF JUICEDLINK WITH MY CAMCORDER REDUCE HISS? • When recording low-level signals, the camcorder amplifiers need to be cranked up all the way. At full gain, these amplifiers are very noisy. By using juicedLink’s low-noise preamplifiers, you can throttle back the camcorder amplifiers, and achieve better overall signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio. • This principle only holds if you are replacing gain in the camcorder with an amplifier with noise characteristics better than the amplifiers in the camcorder. In the video, notice the noise performance of the Beachtek DXA-8 (active-type Camcorder XLR Audio Adapter) versus the juicedLink. • More info on the juicedLink preamp is available in TechTalk/FAQ.
• SHOULDN’T PASSIVE XLR CAMCORDER ADAPTERS BE “QUIETER” SINCE THEY ARE “SILENT”? • Manufacturers of passive-type XLR Camcorder Audio Adapters claim that their adapters are “silent”. This ignores the fact that in order to pick up low-level signals, the noisy camcorder amplifiers need to be cranked up. Using juicedLink’s low-noise preamps allows you to throttle back the noisy camcorder amps. In the video, notice the noise performance of the Beachtek DXA-6 (passive-type Camcorder XLR Adapter) versus the juicedLink. • Measured performance of a Camcorder using juicedLink’s low-noise preamps is 8.3 dB better in signal-to-noise ratio, versus when it is used with a Beachtek DX-6 (passive-type adapter)! Details on measurement are here.
• WHAT ELSE IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW? • Connecting to unbalanced sources or wireless receivers? Tips are available in TechTalk/FAQ. • The Comparison Chart compares features in the juicedLink product family with some of the Beachtek models. • See customers Testimonials about the juicedLink sound with their camcorder.
Notes on content: • CAMERA: Canon GL2 • MICROPHONE: Sennheiser e935 dynamic microphone • SOUND DEVICES MIXPRE SETUP: • Mic > Sound Devices MixPre XLR input > Sound Devices Mixpre XLR out > Custom cable for XLR to stereo 3.5mm plug > GL2 mic input • Canon GL2 audio set on “manual” mode • The Canon GL2 potentiometers were throttled back as far as practical. This is just a little bit less than 1/4 setting. • The Sound Devices MixPre gain was adjusted so that the Canon GL2 audio meters were peaking just over –12dBFS. • Sound Devices MixPre adjacent channel gain turned down all the way. • JUICEDLINK CX231 CAMCORDER XLR AUDIO ADAPTER/MIXER/PREAMP SETUP: • Mic > CX231 XLR input > CX231 3.5mm output into the Canon GL2 3.5mm mic input • Canon GL2 audio set on “manual” mode • CX231 gain and potentiometer turned up all the way • CX231 adjacent channel potentiometer turned down all the way • The Canon GL2 gain was adjusted so that the GL2 audio meters were peaking just over –12dBFS. This setting was just above the 1/4 mark. • BEACHTEK DXA-8 CAMCORDER XLR AUDIO ADAPTER SETUP: • Mic > Beachtek DXA-8 XLR input > Beachtek DXA-8 3.5mm output into the GL2 3.5mm mic input • Canon GL2 audio set on “manual” mode • Beachtek DXA-8 gain and potentiometer turned up all the way • Beachtek DXA-8 adjacent channel potentiometer turned down all the way • The Canon GL2 gain was adjusted so that the GL2 audio meters were peaking just over –12dBFS. This setting was in between the 1/4 and 1/2 marks. • Turning on/off the limiter had no impact on the noise for this test. It was recorded without the limiter. • juicedLink’s approach for allowing users to have limiting or Automatic Gain Control (AGC) in their system is to provide the camcorder with a very low output noise, so you can use the camcorder’s AGC circuitry (which is, by definition, already set to control the gain to provide proper signal leveling to the camcorder’s internal A/D converters). • BEACHTEK DXA-6 CAMCORDER XLR AUDIO ADAPTER SETUP: • Mic > Beachtek DXA-6 XLR input > Beachtek DXA-6 3.5mm output into the Canon GL2 3.5mm mic input • Canon GL2 audio set on “manual” mode • Both R/L potentiometers on the Beachtek DXA-6 turned up all the way • The Beachtek DXA-6 is not a buffered mixer, so adjusting the potentiometer on one channel impacts the level on the other channel, further degrading its signal-to-noise ratio. • The Canon GL2 gain was adjusted so that the Canon GL2 audio meters were peaking just over –12dBFS. This was near full gain.
Notes on production: • After filming, the video was captured and stitched together using Pinnacle Studio11. The clips were simply dropped into the storyboard, and no manipulation of the audio was performed. • The video was rendered from DV using Pinnacle with the following settings: • Video: 640x480, 1000Kbps, 1/2 frame rate at 14.98 frames/sec • Audio: MPEG-4, 128Kbps, 16b stereo, 48kHz
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