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Scarlet-X Audio

Ryan Farnes

Ryan Farnes

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The tech specs page list the following under audio:

2 channel, uncompressed, 24 bit, 48KHz.
Optional 4 channel, and AES / EBU digital audio.
Click to expand...

The pictures of Scarlet-X seem to show 2 small 1/8" inputs on the front. Is there an audio module coming later with XLR inputs?
 
Ryan Farnes said:
The pictures of Scarlet-X seem to show 2 small 1/8" inputs on the front. Is there an audio module coming later with XLR inputs?
Click to expand...

Yes, or you can buy an adaptor cable to adapt them to XRL. I think Wooden Camera has a little module either coming, or already here.
 
i've been curious about audio solutions myself. Do the two inputs correspond to left and right channels?
I currently own a rode video mic pro but i am already doubting that it will work with Scarlet as the two channels on the mic are combined with one 3.5mm out. If so is there a workaround or solution?

looks like there have been similar inquiries about the epic:
http://reduser.net/forum/archive/index.php/t-63870.html?
 
that would be nice if a company could make a mini mic that plugs into the 2 inputs, kind of super compact mic module that plugs to the front of the cam. just to be able to synchronize the sound of an external recorder in post more easily or to hear the directions or anything else that's being said during the shooting. but without having all the complex additional setup requested by a good quality xlr microphone.
 
laurent delaroziere said:
that would be nice if a company could make a mini mic that plugs into the 2 inputs, kind of super compact mic module that plugs to the front of the cam. just to be able to synchronize the sound of an external recorder in post more easily or to hear the directions or anything else that's being said during the shooting. but without having all the complex additional setup requested by a good quality xlr microphone.
Click to expand...

agreed. I really just need "good enough audio" in camera.
 
laurent delaroziere said:
that would be nice if a company could make a mini mic that plugs into the 2 inputs, kind of super compact mic module that plugs to the front of the cam. just to be able to synchronize the sound of an external recorder in post more easily or to hear the directions or anything else that's being said during the shooting. but without having all the complex additional setup requested by a good quality xlr microphone.
Click to expand...

I believe you could just use a simple 1/8" to XLR adapter for that. Or maybe that's not what you're talking about?
 
Just out of curiosity, where and how are people planning to attach the Wooden Camera A-Box to SCARLET? On a rod connected to a riser at the bottom of the camera or to a rod at the top? I'm thinking about getting an A-Box, but I'm not sure what to attach it to.
 
Brian Iannone said:
Just out of curiosity, where and how are people planning to attach the Wooden Camera A-Box to SCARLET? On a rod connected to a riser at the bottom of the camera or to a rod at the top? I'm thinking about getting an A-Box, but I'm not sure what to attach it to.
Click to expand...

I have one and I'll probably just attach it to one of the side mounting holes of a top plate depending on my setup for the day... It should keep everything compact still.
 
Has anyone tested one of these on the Scarlet-X? I'm curious if it works to create a simple "scratch" track for helping to sync audio later?
 
The Scarlet and EPIC have two mono 3.5mm sockets. Mono means 'audio mono' - they are actually two stereo (3pole) sockets for left and right. A bit unusual, but they actually offer symmetrical signaling and phantom power even with these 'consumer type' connectors. So, adopting them to a full size XLR with symmetrical audio and 48V phantom power needs just a cheap passive converter cable. Just make sure the 3.5mm stereo plugs are of high quality. For a stereo mic, you need to occupy BOTH sockets with the left and right signals respectively, with their ring/In- grounded

Mono plugs do this by design. There are some 3.5mm Stereo -> twin 3.5mm Mono Y cables available that do the trick.
The audio menu also has a software selectable balanced/unbalanced option.


Adopting a conventional cheap On-Camera microphone with a stereo 3.5mm plug is also straight-forward. However, they need to be self powered, since the phantom power on Epic an Scarlet can not be used directly, these mics if not selfpowered need 5-10V plugin power on the tip.
For a stereo mic, you need to occupy BOTH sockets with the left and right signals, with their ring/In- grounded. Mono plugs do this by design. There are some 3.5mm Stereo -> twin 3.5mm Mono Y cables available that do the trick.

Very easy also to connect a standard dynamic interview microphone to the camera - a 1:1 cable.


The Scarlet manual has the pinout in Appendix D. Phantom power can be switched on/off in the camera menu. As a basic rule, keep it switched off most of the time unless you know what you are doing. If you own a proper condenser mic, you should know what to do anyway.

- Carsten
 
Hey Brian, in regards to wooden cameras "audio box' . There's a good setup in Tonaci's "1st Scarlet" thread, shooting in Vietnam part. I'm aiming at doing something similar.
 
There is no phantom power as such at present and any microphone must have its own power, the cable MUST be as the diagram in on page 155 appendix D Tip IN+, Ring IN-, Sleeve GND. Anything else won't work.
 
Kamilla Lusa said:
I'm pretty much uneducated about audio, please tell me whether I am right or wrong assuming that currently neither of these will work because phantom power is disabled:

http://www.giant-squid-audio-lab.com/gs/gs-oak.html (stereo mic)
http://www.giant-squid-audio-lab.com/gs/gs-minigold1.htm (mono mic)

Once phantom power gets enabled, will any of these mentioned above work?

Thanks,
Kamilla
Click to expand...

Phantom power will make no difference in the functionality of those mics.

Both of them use "plug-in power" aka bias power, which is a different way of energizing the mic from phantom power. It's common in consumer mics. The voltage differential in phantom power is between the ring(-) and the tip(+) on RED's minijacks. The voltage differential in bias power is between the sleeve (-) and the ring/tip (both ring and tip are (+) since each is a separate channel). As a side note, some "XLR to miniplug" adapter cords have a capacitor hidden inside to block the bias power being supplied by the consumer camcorder. I don't know enough to say definitively what difference this would make to sound, but it's not necessary for a RED adapter cable and I can imagine it could cause problems like clicking under certain circumstances.

Moreover, if you plug in that mono mic (which I assume delivers the same signal to both ring and tip, i.e. dual mono) and turn on phantom power, you will short out the phantom power circuit in the camera. Hopefully that circuit is protected.

People have posted that they are using other bias-powered mics like the Sony ECM-DS30P. They say it is noisy, but it works - apparently even without bias power. Someone else said they plugged in some ipod headphones and it worked. In both cases they said it was good enough for a scratch track.

Personally, I would not plug anything into my $10,000 Scarlet (whenever I get it) unless I KNEW it was designed to work properly with RED's circuit design. I know the circuits are not designed to work with bias powered mics, so I would never use one.

Even with proper mics, I would not insert or remove a miniplug with Brain audio circuits on. Miniplugs can cause temporary shorts as they are being inserted or removed. XLR's don't have that problem - one of their many advantages.

I have to wonder if some of the audio problems reported by some users (and not others) have to do with circuits damaged by plugging the wrong s--t into the camera. I also wonder if the delay in enabling phantom power has to do with damage RED is seeing due to incorrect adapter cords, mics, etc, being used. Some very early posts about audio made it seem that way.
 
So for those who want some scratch audio right now, and want one step higher quality than the ipod headphones, what should I shop for ?
 
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