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Audio Pre-amps / ENG Style

T

Tommy Davis

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Hey guys, so I've built a pretty comfortable ENG style rig with my R1-MX and I am about to embark on some docu style work. So my question is this, has anyone found a useful way to mount an external pre-amp or control audio inputs being fed into the camera for run-n-gun shooting? I absolutely hate having to go through the menu to control the input(s) and I have only found a way to control the headphone output when mapping to my A/B programable buttons. Unless I'm missing something which is quite possible.

I know there are other cameras out there better suited for this kind of work, but I (and my client) love the image we get with the Red so I'm trying to work with what we have. If there's no easy solution I will rent or invest in a different system. I've thought about grabbing a scarlet body for a lighter rig to carry, but I don't think the audio situation is any easier?

Thanks for any input!
 
Hi Tommy,

For run-n-gun with a red one, Juicedlink is the best option, http://www.juicedlink.com/, some time ago a red user reported he was very satisfied using the juicedlink BMC in his R1.

Regards!
 
Hey Marcel,

I've actually looked at the juiced link preamp and the beachtek, any idea how he got from mini-jack to mini-xlr? I searched a few months ago but never found a decent solution.
 
With R! I used to connect a SoundDevices MixPre line-out signal to the camera audio input. This worked out beautifully. Red store has, or at least had, XLR-to-miniXLR adaptors for this.
 
I've seen the SD mix-pre's. We're you able to attach it to your rig somehow? Those have been my favorite option because of the XLR output and I already have those connectors. Would much rather not have to run through multiple adapters if I can help it.

I guess worse case I can attach the belt clip to my belt and run a slightly longer cable
 
Tommy Davis said:
I've seen the SD mix-pre's. We're you able to attach it to your rig somehow? Those have been my favorite option because of the XLR output and I already have those connectors. Would much rather not have to run through multiple adapters if I can help it.

I guess worse case I can attach the belt clip to my belt and run a slightly longer cable
Click to expand...

Tommy, I had bars above R1 and when needed attached MixPre above the bars with rubber bands. My SD MixPre has a strap, and typically when shot with a tripod, just put the strap around the camera leaving the amplifier to hang next to the camera or fluid head.
 
'
Tommy Davis said:
I've seen the SD mix-pre's. We're you able to attach it to your rig somehow? Those have been my favorite option because of the XLR output and I already have those connectors. Would much rather not have to run through multiple adapters if I can help it.

I guess worse case I can attach the belt clip to my belt and run a slightly longer cable
Click to expand...

Sound Devices makes a mounting plate with a 1/4 20 screw for the Mix Pre-D that is intended for mounting to the bottom of a DSLR. I use it to mount to my Epic top plate, it would work in the R1 top mounts or a universal mount. You could also get a bit of 2" Velcro and use that to attach it to the side of the CF or SSD module.
 
I'll have to go look for that mounting plate - velcro sounds good for tripod use but may be in the way for run-n-gun.
 
Tommy,

Sorry i was not able to answer you before but i was waiting to get some cables to give you the facts, I just completed a sound test with the R1 using a Sennheiser G2 microphone.

My first setting was using the sennheiser directly connected to the camera, with 26 db in the camera input (minimum), camera configured for microphone and the sennheiser at -0 db. The signal i was receiving was ok, but the base sound was high, i was getting a signal around -36 db, my voice was at -12 db, a difference of 24 db.

In my second test i tried to use the same setting than the first one but changing the sennheiser to -12 db, it was not possible, the voice was too low.

In my third test i added the Juicedlink, sennheiser connected to Juicedlink but this time at -12 db, Juicedlink connected to the camera which was at 26 db and configured for microphone, I just added a little gain with the juice link to get a good voice level in the camera, and the results were: base sound at -42 db and voice at -12 db, a difference of 30 db. This was ok, a totally usable sound record.

Finally the best setting, sennheiser connected to Juicedlink at -12 db, Juicedlink connected to the camera, camera at 26 db and configured for line with 0 db, I had to add more than half of the gain that the Juicedlink can provide to get a good voice signal this time. The results were: base sound at -50 db and voice at -12 db, a difference of 38 db. This was an incredible result, very close to professional results, I am sure this is the best you can get with the red one, I did this test in a close environment, so not sure how well it could work for run n gun, but today later i am shooting with an actress on the street and i am going to use this same setting, let you know later my results.

Regards!
Marcel.
 
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