Microphone wihtout sound

[Stefan Hegenberg]

Hello,
i want to record some sound on my Scarlet, but i can´t record anything. Doesnt matter wich mic i use except my very old one Sony ECM-MSD1. If i use Rode Shotgun, Rode M1 or Beyerdynamic MCE 86 S 2, the sound is freaking out. I only can hear the fan. If i press record and the fan goes down to 50%, the noise get down to. If i put everything up high and scream very hard, than the sound comes through but only distorded. I go directyl into the camera- 3,5mm with the mic.

What i´m doing wrong, because i maybe want to by the Rode lavalier now?

Greets Stefan

 

[jimhare]

Hi Stefan,

You may need to provide some additional information as you are potentially talking about a few different things here:

1. Do you have Phantom power (48v) enabled in the camera? Most pro mics require power
2. Where are you setting the sensitivity set in the audio controls?
3. What do you mean by "only hear the fan"? Do you mean noise that sounds like a fan or do you mean you positioned the mic next to the fan so you hear too much of it?
4. What are your fan settings?

In general, getting great sound on the Epic/Scarlet is definitely possible but you need to know your settings as there are only a few setting combinations that will give you good sound.

 

[Stefan Hegenberg]

Hi Stefan,

You may need to provide some additional information as you are potentially talking about a few different things here:

1. Do you have Phantom power (48v) enabled in the camera? Most pro mics require power
2. Where are you setting the sensitivity set in the audio controls?
3. What do you mean by "only hear the fan"? Do you mean noise that sounds like a fan or do you mean you positioned the mic next to the fan so you hear too much of it?
4. What are your fan settings?

In general, getting great sound on the Epic/Scarlet is definitely possible but you need to know your settings as there are only a few setting combinations that will give you good sound.

1. i tryed with and without. nothing changed.
2. in the camera. Everything is up high.
3. i mean noise that sounds like fan. If the fan controls down it goes down to, but it sounds more like bee.
4. fan is automatic.

I tested out everything in camera settings, but not even a bit of sound comes through. Only with the old Sony ECM-MSD1. Do i need a a box ? http://woodencamera.com/RED/Adapter-Boxes-RED/A-Box-EPIC-SCARLET.html

 

[Elliott Balsley]

The mics you mentioned use a professional XLR connection, which is balanced. Accordingly, you need to set the camera's audio input to be balanced. Also, you need to use an XLR - 3.5mm cable that is wired correctly for this application. There are different ways that adapter cable could be wired. This will fix your problem.

 

[Todd T]

+1

What cable are you using to connect the Mic's to the camera?

 

[Stefan Hegenberg]

Al the mics i mentioned are at 3.5mm connection! I at the mics directly to the camera.
@Elliott Balsley : So the A Box from x will fix that problem, right?

 

[Elliott Balsley]

Did you buy some custom modded microphones without 3.5mm plugs? Specs show XLR.
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/M1Rode
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MCE86S2CAM

Assuming you have normal XLR microphones, the a box is nice, but you can also use a simple cable, provided it's wired correctly.

 

[Stefan Hegenberg]

Did you buy some custom modded microphones without 3.5mm plugs? Specs show XLR.
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/M1Rode
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MCE86S2CAM

Assuming you have normal XLR microphones, the a box is nice, but you can also use a simple cable, provided it's wired correctly.

thats right. Standard it´s XLR but the package also deliverd a XLR to 3.5 cable.

 

[Elliott Balsley]

Then your earlier statement is not correct; you have not plugged the mics "directly to the camera". Get a box or a 3.5mm cable wired specifically for RED. It's described on page 172 in the manual. http://www.red.com/store/products/xlr-microphone-cable-20

 

[Carlos Murphy]

The mics you mentioned use a professional XLR connection, which is balanced. Accordingly, you need to set the camera's audio input to be balanced. Also, you need to use an XLR - 3.5mm cable that is wired correctly for this application. There are different ways that adapter cable could be wired. This will fix your problem.

My audio was never balance. Thanks Elliott this fixed my problem also.

 

[Dave Blackham]

The best cable you can use for this is a Neutrik gold plated 35mm black 3.5mm jack short length of screened audio cable, intact we use FST cable for this and a Neutrik XRR 3M. The gold plated bit is important as the contact preasure on 3.5mm jacks is very small and the slightest bit of corrosion can cause crackles particularly with phantom power. if you don't need phantom on then turn it off as it can create crackles and splats.

We build our own and use a short cable that is about 14 inches long, the left hand connector is shorter by the distance between the two 3.5mm jacks so both XLRs are same place on the camera.

much as I hate 3.5mm jacks you can get away with it with careful use.

Note to Red, next time please can we have a line level option too if 3.5mm jacks are involved.