Scarlet Audio Distorted

[Jae Solina]

I am getting very weird static/distorted audio when recording with my new scarlet. I am using a juicedlink preamp and a sennheiser lav combo. I also tried using the sennheiser G3 directly to the brain but the levels were so low. I have searched here and people have gotten decent audio with these setups. I even tried the Zoom h4n route as well but its very distorted. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

Here is what it sounds like.

 

[Marc Wielage]

The Red audio inputs are mic levels and have problems with line levels. It's possible to distort the front end even before you attempt to turn it down with the level control. My advice would be to use a stepdown transformer, like a Shure A15AS inline attenuator, to take the line signal down by about 25dB before trying to feed it into the Scarlet, Epic, or Dragon:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/68600-REG/Shure_A15AS_A15AS_In_Line_Attenuator.html

The Juicedlink is not a very good preamp -- it's a $295 box really intended for very modest DSLRs setups. I think it's vaguely OK for "reference" audio but not much more than that.

 

[Todd T]

+1 on stepping down the line levels with a 20-25db attenuation pad.
Also, keep in mind that the epic/scarlet mic defaults to a mono balanced line configuration, and the jucedlink and h4n outputs are unbalanced stereo connections.
When you connect and unbalanced stereo signal to a balanced input, it is essentially subtracting the signal in the left channel from the signal in the right, so you end up with no or very little output at all.

 

[ericyoung]

Make sure you are using the correctly wired cables into your Scarlet. The mic sockets of the DSMC cameras are non-standard wiring for 2.5mm sockets. Ie they are two-pole "unbalanced stereo" sockets wired as "balanced mono", and expecting a mic level signal only.

The poor pre-amps of the DSMC cameras work best if you leave the input gains low at their defaults and feed them a "loud" mic level from your source. The body inputs of the Epic/Scarlet MX cameras are mic level only.

 

[Jae Solina]

I was able to fix ot but changing the pan switch on thr juicedlink thank you guys. By the way do you all know how to make the menu display (fps,shutterspeed) stay on permanently without having to press the side handle menu button? Its quite annoying having to press menu everytime you want to change shutter or aperture. I have googled and looked at the operations guide but nada. Thanks

 

[Terry VerHaar]

The mic sockets of the DSMC cameras are non-standard wiring ... they are ...wired as "balanced mono", and expecting a mic level signal only.

...The body inputs of the Epic/Scarlet MX cameras are mic level only.

These two things can't be stressed enough. They seem to be the cause of all consternation when it comes to DSMC audio. (Edited for simplicity and emphasis!)

 

[Justin Batchelor]

I'm running around with the seinnheisser g3 system directly connected to the camera. The trick is to find a good audio retailer (like a staging equipment company that builds there own gear) in your state/area and get them to make the cables for you by hand. I did this with my guys here in Melbourne and now can plug directly from the G3 receiver into the camera body, without the need for attenuator's etc. Works a treat for me and extremely happy with the sound.

 

[Justin Batchelor]

Just a follow up. Will source the wiring diagrams/specs from my audio man here in Melbourne and post them in the coming days. If you're wanting to achieve more than passable results, as long as you are not going for broadcast or The next incarnation of Transformers 8, this will do the trick.

An example anyways. No audio gear in between, just straight into camera from the wireless mic receivers.

https://vimeo.com/125430968

 

[Marc Wielage]

Just a follow up. Will source the wiring diagrams/specs from my audio man here in Melbourne and post them in the coming days. If you're wanting to achieve more than passable results, as long as you are not going for broadcast or The next incarnation of Transformers 8, this will do the trick.

If you have marginal audio on a $50,000 film, a $500,000 film, or a $5,000,000 film, people will still hear it.

 

[Justin Batchelor]

If you have marginal audio on a $50,000 film, a $500,000 film, or a $5,000,000 film, people will still hear it.

Won't deny that. Just hope that anything can assist the people playing on the much smaller scale such as myself.