Ask a Question

Making Settings for Using a Microphone (XF200 / XF205)

Article ID: ART116451 | Date published: 05/12/2015 | Date last updated: 08/15/2015
 

Description

Making Settings for Using a Microphone (XF200 / XF205)

Solution

Making Settings for Using a Microphone (XF200 / XF205)
ID : 8202082400 _ EN _ 1
Solution

The camcorder features 4-channel or 2-channel linear PCM audio recording and playback for MXF clips and 2-channel AAC audio recording and playback for MP4 clips. The sampling frequency is 48 kHz for all audio recording modes. You can record audio using commercially available microphones (INPUT 1/INPUT 2 terminal, MIC terminal), line input (INPUT 1/INPUT 2 terminal) or the built-in microphone. The same audio channels that are being recorded in the camcorder can also be output with the video signal from the 3G/HD-SDI terminal* or MON. terminal*. You can record this audio signal on an external recorder.

Audio Settings and Recorded Audio Channels

Which audio inputs are recorded to which audio channels is determined by a combination of menu settings, audio-related controls on the camcorder and whether an external microphone is connected to the MIC terminal. The following table gives an overview of the possible combinations. For MXF clips, all the combinations listed are available. For MP4 clips, when the video format is set to MP4 or to MXF+MP4 using 2-channel audio recording, only the combinations marked as (A) are available. When the video format is set to MXF+MP4 using 4-channel audio recording, with the [ Audio Setup] -> [Audio Input] -> [MP4 Channels] setting you can select which two channels of the four (B) or (C) to record with the MP4 clip.

2-channel audio recording
Menu settingsAUDIO IN selection switchesMIC terminal
used		Recorded audio channels/
audio sources
[4-Channel
Input]1		[CH2 Input]2CH1 CH2CH1 (A)CH2 (A)
[Off] (2)[INPUT 2]INPUT 1INPUT 2INPUT 1
terminal
(XLR)		INPUT 2
terminal
(XLR)
[INPUT 1]INPUT 1
terminal
(XLR)

INT.MIC/MICNoBuilt-in
microphone
(monaural)
YesMIC terminal
(monaural)
INT.MIC/MICINPUT 2NoBuilt-in
microphone
(monaural)		INPUT 2
terminal
(XLR)
YesMIC terminal
(monaural)
INT.MIC/MICNoBuilt-in
microphone
(L)		Built-in
microphone
( R)
YesMIC terminal
(L)		MIC terminal
( R)

4-channel audio recording
Menu settingsAUDIO IN selection switchesMIC terminal
used		Recorded audio channels/
audio sources
[4-Channel
Input]1		[CH2 Input]2CH1 CH2CH1 (B)CH2 (B)CH3 (C)CH4 (C)
[On] (4)[INPUT 2]INPUT 1INPUT 2NoINPUT 1
terminal
(XLR)		INPUT 2
terminal
(XLR)		Built-in
microphone
(L)		Built-in
microphone
(R)
YesMIC terminal
(L)		MIC terminal
(R)
[INPUT 1]NoINPUT 1
terminal
(XLR)		Built-in
microphone
(L)		Built-in
microphone
(R)
YesMIC terminal
(L)		MIC terminal
(R)
INPUT 1INT.MIC/MICNoINPUT 1
terminal
(XLR)		Built-in
microphone
(monaural)		Built-in
microphone
(L)		Built-in
microphone
(R)
YesMIC terminal
(monaural)		MIC terminal
(L)		MIC terminal
(R)
INT.MIC/MICINPUT 2NoBuilt-in
microphone
(monaural)		INPUT 2
terminal
(XLR)		Built-in
microphone
(L)		Built-in
microphone
(R)
YesMIC terminal
(monaural)		MIC terminal
(L)		MIC terminal
(R)
INT.MIC/MICNoBuilt-in
microphone
(L)		Built-in
microphone
(R )		Built-in
microphone
(L)		Built-in
microphone
(R)
YesMIC terminal
(L)		MIC terminal
(R )

*1 [ Audio Setup] -> [Audio Input] -> [4-Channel Input].
*2 [ Audio Setup] -> [Audio Input] -> [CH2 Input].

NOTE
On the [Audio] status screen, you can check the audio level adjustment mode and input source for each of the audio channels.

Selecting the Number of Recorded Audio Channels

You can select how many audio channels (2 or 4) will be recorded with MXF clips. Since MP4 clips can only record 2 audio channels, when the movie format is set to MXF+MP4 using 4-channel audio recording, you can select which 2 audio channels will be recorded with the MP4 clip.

  • Recording 4 audio channels with MXF clips.

1. Hold down the button on the <POWER> switch and slide the switch to <CAMERA>.

2. Press the <MENU> button.

3. Select [ Audio Setup] > [Audio Input] > [4-Channel Input].

4. Select [On] for 4-channel audio recording and then press <SET>.

: Joystick
: In the following procedures, 'Press <SET>' refers to the action of pressing the joystick straight down to select the desired setting.

- During 4-channel audio recording (), will appear on the right of the screen.
- 2-channel audio recording will be performed when [Off] is set.

  • Selecting the Audio Channels for MP4 Clips
When the movie format is set to MXF+MP4 using 4-channel audio recording, you can select which 2 audio channels will be recorded with the MP4 clip.

1. Press the <MENU> button.

2. Select [ Audio Setup] -> [Audio Input] -> [MP4 Channels].

3. Select [CH1/CH2] or [CH3/CH4] and the press <SET>.

Microphone Selection Options (Built-in Microphone / MIC Terminal, or External Microphone)

Set the AUDIO IN selection switch of the desired channel to INT.MIC/MIC.
If you connect a microphone to the MIC terminal while the AUDIO IN switch is set to INT.MIC/MIC, the camcorder will switch automatically from the built-in microphone to the external microphone.

  • Selecting the Microphones Low-Cut Filter
The setting is separate for the built-in microphone and for an external microphone connected to the MIC terminal.

1. Press the <MENU> button.

2. Select [ Audio Setup] -> [Audio Input] -> [Int. Mic Low Cut] or [MIC Low Cut].

3. Select the desired option and then press <SET>.

[Off]: For recording audio under usual conditions.
[LC1]*: For recording mainly peoples voices.
[LC2]*, [On]**: For reducing the background sound of wind when recording outdoors in windy surroundings (for example, on a beach or close to buildings). Note that when you use this setting some low-frequency sounds may be suppressed along with the sound of wind.
* Only for [Int. Mic Low Cut].
** Only for [MIC Low Cut].

  • Selecting the Built-in Microphones Sensitivity

1. Press the <MENU> button.

2. Select [ Audio Setup]- > [Audio Input] -> [Int. Mic Sensitivity].

3. Select the desired option and then press <SET>.

[Normal]: For recording audio under usual conditions.
[High]: For recording audio at a higher volume (+6 dB).

  • Activating the Microphone Attenuator
If the audio level is too high and the sound sounds distorted when recording with the built-in microphone or an external microphone connected to the MIC terminal, activate the microphone attenuator.

1. Press the <MENU> button.

2. Select [ Audio Setup] -> [Audio Input] -> [Int. Mic Att.] or [MIC Att.].

3. Select [On] and then press <SET>.
- Microphone Attenuator : (12 dB for the built-in microphone, 20 dB for an external microphone).

Using the INPUT 1/INPUT 2 Terminals

Using the INPUT 1/INPUT 2 terminals, you can record audio independently to two audio channels from a microphone or analog audio input source.

1. Set the AUDIO IN selection switch for CH1 to INPUT 1 and the AUDIO IN selection switch for CH2 to INPUT 2.

2. To select the audio source, set the INPUT 1 or INPUT 2 switch to LINE or MIC as necessary.
  • When connecting a microphone or device that does not support phantom power, make sure to set the INPUT 1/ INPUT 2 switch to MIC or LINE, respectively. If you set the switch to MIC+48V, the microphone or device may be damaged.

  • Recording a Single Audio Input to Two Audio Channels
By default, each XLR audio input is recorded to a separate audio channel (INPUT 1 to CH1 and INPUT 2 to CH2). If necessary (for example, as an audio backup recording), you can the audio input into the INPUT 1 terminal to audio channels, CH1 and CH2. In that case, you can adjust the audio recording levels of each channel independently of each other.

1. Press the <MENU> button.

2. Select [ Audio Setup] -> [Audio Input] -> [CH2 Input].

3. Select the desired option and then press <SET>.
[INPUT 2]: Records audio to each channel separately. Audio input into INPUT 1 is recorded to CH1, while audio input into INPUT 2 is recorded to CH2.
[INPUT 1]: Audio input into INPUT 1 is recorded to channels. Audio input into INPUT 2 will not be recorded.

  • Selecting the Microphones Sensitivity
When the AUDIO IN selection switch is set to INPUT 1 or INPUT 2 and the corresponding INPUT 1/INPUT 2 switch is set to MIC or MIC+48V, you can select the microphone sensitivity of the external microphone.

1. Press the <MENU> button.

2. Select [ Audio Setup] -> [Audio Input] -> [INPUT 1 Mic Att.] or [INPUT 2 Mic Att.].

3. Select one of the following options, and press <SET>.
+12dB, +6dB, 0dB, 6dB, 12dB

  • Activating the Microphones Attenuator
When the AUDIO IN selection switch is set to INPUT 1 or INPUT 2 and the corresponding INPUT 1/INPUT 2 switch is set to MIC or MIC+48V.

1. Press the <MENU> button.

2. Select [ Audio Setup] > [Audio Input] > [INPUT 1 Mic Att.] or [INPUT 2 Mic Att.]

3. Select [On] and then press <SET>.
- You can activate the external microphone's attenuator (20 dB).

IMPORTANT
  • When connecting a microphone or device that does not support phantom power, make sure to set the INPUT 1/ INPUT 2 switch to MIC or LINE, respectively. If you set the switch to MIC+48V, the microphone or device may be damaged.
  • When [CH2 Input] is set to [INPUT1] CH2 will not be recorded.

Adjusting the Audio Level

For CH1 and CH2, you can set the audio recording level to automatic or manual adjustment separately for each channel. However, when the AUDIO IN selection switches for CH1 and CH2 are set to INT.MIC/MIC (built-in microphone or external microphone connected to the MIC terminal), the audio recording level settings for CH1 are applied also to CH2.

  • Automatic Audio Level Adjustment
Set the (audio level) switch of the desired channel to A (automatic) to let the camcorder automatically adjust that channels audio level. The audio level for CH3 and CH4 can only be adjusted when [ Audio Setup] > [Audio Input] > [4-Channel Input] is set to [On] (4-channel audio recording). The audio recording level settings are common to CH3 and CH4.

NOTE
When CH1 and CH2 are set to record audio input from the INPUT 1/INPUT terminals and INPUT 1 and INPUT 2 switches are set to the same audio source (external microphone or external line input), if the audio level for channels is set to automatic, you can use the [ Audio Setup] > [Audio Input] > [INPUT 1&2 ALC Link] setting to link the audio level adjustment of channels.

  • Manual Audio Level Adjustment
You can set the audio level for each channel manually from to 18 dB. As a guideline, adjust the audio recording level so that the audio level meter on the screen will go to the right of the -18 dB mark (one mark right of the -20 dB mark) only occasionally. The audio recording level settings are common to CH3 and CH4.

The procedure for making level adjustments to CH1/CH2 is explained below.

1. Set the (audio level) switch of the desired channel to M.

2. Turn the corresponding dial to adjust the audio level.

  • For reference, 0 corresponds to -G, 5 corresponds to 0 dB, and 10 corresponds to +18 dB.
  • As a guideline, adjust the audio recording level so that the audio level meter on the screen will go to the right of the -18 dB mark (one mark right of the -20 dB mark) only occasionally.

3. Closing the protective cover will prevent the audio controls from being changed inadvertently.

This completes the level adjustment procedure for CH1/CH2.

The procedure for making CH3/CH4 level adjustments is explained below.

1. Set the audio level adjustment method to [Manual].

1-1. Select [ Audio Setup] -> [Audio Input] -> [CH3/CH4 Mode].

1-2. Select [Manual] and then press <SET>.

2. Adjust the audio level.

2-1. Select [ Audio Setup] -> [Audio Input] -> [CH3/CH4 Level].

2-2. Select one of the values and make the desired adjustments.
As a guideline, adjust the audio recording level so that the audio level meter on the screen will go to the right of the -18 dB mark (one mark right of the -20 dB mark) only occasionally.

2-3. Press <SET>.
This completes the level adjustment procedure for CH3/CH4.

REFERENCE
When recording audio input from the INPUT 1/INPUT 2 terminals, if either CH1 or CH2 is set to manual audio level adjustment, you can also activate the audio peak limiter to prevent audio distortions. When activated, the audio peak limiter will limit the amplitude of audio input signals when they exceed -6 dBFS. Use the [ Audio Setup] -> [Audio Input] -> [INPUT 1&2 Limiter] setting.
NOTE
  • We recommend using headphones when adjusting the audio level. If the input level is too high, audio may become distorted even if the audio level indicator shows an appropriate level.
  • If you set an assignable button to [Audio Level] , you can press the button to turn the onscreen audio level indicator on and off.


SIMS Doc Id

8202082400

Rate this Article
Was this article helpful?
Yes, This document is helpful
No, This document needs a clearer explanation
 
Please provide your comments