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Komodo -Audio

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Roshdi Alkadri

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Any professional audio solutions other than separate recording. No mini or full XLR it seems.
 
Roshdi Alkadri said:
Any professional audio solutions other than separate recording. No mini or full XLR it seems.
Click to expand...

Would have been good to have the baseplate module have a mini XLR together with its timecode ports. There has to be some kind of input for audio, I thought there was a mini input? If that's the case it's a bit bad for those wanting to sync through audio sync boxes or using stabilizers like the SteadXP.
Hopefully Red could spill the beans on this.

EDIT: checking the drawings... yes, it has a mic mini input. Would be good to have XLR inputs though, if there was any space left on the baseplate module.
 
Roshdi Alkadri said:
Any professional audio solutions other than separate recording. No mini or full XLR it seems.
Click to expand...

Use an external preamp or micro mixer feeding line level to the mini-jack input. You will get much better quality sound this way on any camera, XLR inputs or not. Typically your record S/N ratio will be at least 15dB better on just about any camera.
Cameras are very hot EMI/RFI noise environments internally. It is virtually impossible to adequately shield microphone preamps from this, even very good ones.
 
There's a small headphone jack and there's TC - that should be enough to sync later.

A MixPre 3 is all you need really.
 
Might have to sacrifice a MixPre 3 to see if I can reduce the size of it and match the Komodo footprint to mount it underneath. I think the Mix Pre 3 is the best way to use Komodo as a run and gun A cam.
 
What about the Beachtek DXA-RED. I’ve been using it with my Helium. Sounds great with a very small footprint
 
Does the Komodo have a USB Type C interface? If so something like a Saramonic Smart Rig could plug in and provide dual XLR connectivity.
 
David Rasberry said:
Use an external preamp or micro mixer feeding line level to the mini-jack input. You will get much better quality sound this way on any camera, XLR inputs or not. Typically your record S/N ratio will be at least 15dB better on just about any camera.
Cameras are very hot EMI/RFI noise environments internally. It is virtually impossible to adequately shield microphone preamps from this, even very good ones.
Click to expand...

I realize this but not mini’s are not as solid as XLR’s and never were. Even a mini XLR would be better.
 
Robert Parkin said:
Might have to sacrifice a MixPre 3 to see if I can reduce the size of it and match the Komodo footprint to mount it underneath. I think the Mix Pre 3 is the best way to use Komodo as a run and gun A cam.
Click to expand...

Komodo wouldn’t be as tiny anymore I guess, an external mixer being fed into Komodo via XLR would be nice.
 
I'm personally hopping for a Zoom F3, with 32-bit float recording, 4 Phantom Powered XLR, TC, USB Power, BTA-1 Bluetooth adapter (for Rec sync with Komodo?) that could be mounted under Komodo, and would take place between:

the Zoom F1:
F1_top_Gun_2.jpg

https://www.zoom-na.com/products/field-video-recording/field-recording/zoom-f1-field-recordershotgun-mic-0#specs

The F4:
F4_topSlant.jpg

https://www.zoom-na.com/products/field-video-recording/field-recording/zoom-f4-multitrack-field-recorder#downloads

And the Zoom F6:
F6_front.jpg

https://www.zoom-na.com/products/field-video-recording/field-recording/zoom-f6-multitrack-field-recorder#specs

(I'm calling Zoom right now!)
 
Last edited:
H Dewey said:
Does the Komodo have a USB Type C interface? If so something like a Saramonic Smart Rig could plug in and provide dual XLR connectivity.
Click to expand...

If it has audio over usb-c you could use the M2D2 from Sonosax. It has 2 of the best audio preamp. Smaller than Mixpre3 footprint. And has a compressor limitor built in the mix menu.

 
Roshdi Alkadri said:
I realize this but not mini’s are not as solid as XLR’s and never were. Even a mini XLR would be better.
Click to expand...

A suggestion for this is to use a mini jack with extended barrel threads and a matching screw collar plug on the cable to lock it in place. It is a common solution on wireless mic belt packs.
 
David Rasberry said:
A suggestion for this is to use a mini jack with extended barrel threads and a matching screw collar plug on the cable to lock it in place. It is a common solution on wireless mic belt packs.
Click to expand...

+1. I'd also consider a monitor/recorder unit with XLR and SDI inputs. This would give you hero sound already synced to a baked RGB image for immediate editorial. If there's a color pass in your workflow, just sub in the RGB created from the graded RAW.

To me, having a combo monitor/recorder with the Komodo is the sweet setup for a lot of shooting situations. Atomos and BMD both have options that support 12G SDI. The Atomos Shogun supports XLR via a breakout cable, can't comment on pre-amp quality.

BTW, there are some pretty decent options for recording directly to a phone using an outboard DAC/pre-amp and proper mic. It's a great option if your set is a wireless war zone and running a cable isn't viable. YMMV.

Cheers - #19
 
I'm curious what's onboard the Komodo in re: internal audio?

I was watching an old family video I did and recorded straight from the camera (RAVEN)... sound was very good.

not something I'd use even for an Indie shoot, but something nice to have for a back-up.
 
H Dewey said:
I'm curious what's onboard the Komodo in re: internal audio?

I was watching an old family video I did and recorded straight from the camera (RAVEN)... sound was very good.

not something I'd use even for an Indie shoot, but something nice to have for a back-up.
Click to expand...


RED cameras are certainly capable of recording clean audio. Just feed it a good quality signal.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BxlBOXEFFQJ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiA-U6wHOLs/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
 
Christoffer Glans said:
Would have been good to have the baseplate module have a mini XLR together with its timecode ports. There has to be some kind of input for audio, I thought there was a mini input? If that's the case it's a bit bad for those wanting to sync through audio sync boxes or using stabilizers like the SteadXP.
Hopefully Red could spill the beans on this.

EDIT: checking the drawings... yes, it has a mic mini input. Would be good to have XLR inputs though, if there was any space left on the baseplate module.
Click to expand...

Onboard mic plus mini 3.5mm input ( 4 channels total )

No XLR ports. No room for XLR's and I am not making Komodo bigger to accommodate such a thing. again...not what this camera was designed for.

But you all can make it something it is not supposed to be by adding a xlr input to 3.5mm breakout box /cable if you really want as many here have suggested :) . In terms of sound quality.. you are not gonna hear much difference between a balanced XLR and a mini jack with cable runs as short as this.
 
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