DSMC2 A-Box with switchable 48V drawn from d-tap - is it possible

[Tom Dowler]

Among the things I like to do to while away the hours (months, let's be honest) until my Scarlet-W is allocated, is trying to anticipate exactly how I'll use it.

This week i'm shooting a doc and running sound straight into my Scarlet-MX via the Wooden Camera A-box, with phantom power for the boom mic.

But with DSMC2 that scenario becomes tricky because a) only a stereo mini-jack input on the base and v-lock expanders b) no phantom without a $xxxx add-on (OMOD or Redvolt expander)

So that got me thinking.

Would it be possible for Wooden Camera - or anyone else - to produce a version of the A-box that gives you 2 XLR inputs, maps them to the left and right channel on the stereo minijack input (so far, so easy), but ALSO: takes power from a d-tap, converts it to 48v and provides phantom to either of the XLR inputs, dependent on a hardware switch selection. What about if there was also some element of pre-amp/attenuator in there so you could also select whether the XLRs were receiving a mic or line level signal.

Electronically, would any of that be possible?

 

[Tom Gleeson]

Phantom power has such a low draw I suspect a small battery would be a better bet. Alternatively you could also just spend under $100 and buy a small battery powered Phantom power box and just keep it attached to the mixer or boom mic.

 

[Tyler Bourns]

I like that idea Tom. A version of the A-Box w/ room for say a small aa or aaa battery would be very welcomed to get us phantom power on the DSMC2 cams w/o the need for a large and expensive module. We typically run audio separate into a mixer/recorder but there are many times, especially on run and gun or doc style shoots where no phantom power really limits us. I'm not a fan of extra cables having to be run (such as to the P-tap) in order to achieve it.

 

[Matt Bass]

New Tilta Red Weapon/Scarlet-W/Raven accessories

New Tilta Red Weapon/Scarlet-W/Raven accessories

Tilta is going to be making one.... 3-Pin XLR Audio Port Box with 48V phantom power $159.00

 

[Tom Dowler]

Tilta is going to be making one.... 3-Pin XLR Audio Port Box with 48V phantom power $159.00

Looks interesting, but unclear a) where it will draw the 48v from and b) if it feeds into the minijack on the base/v-lock expander or gets the audio in some other way.

Very interesting though. Time to step up, WC!