Camcorder - line in vs Mic in?

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rayonline

1734 posts

Uber Geek

#248012 6-Mar-2019 20:43

Hi all

I have been asked to look for a video camera. They want for a hall that accommodates about 100 people to the speeches can be recorded. No panning etc. On a tripod and held still. The camcorcders seems easier than a stills camera. The more affordable ones are only Mic In. How does one get around using Line In? There is a sound desk which they can plug in the Line In. The speakers etc would have Microphone etc.... Other than that the Lin In camcorders I have seen begins at $1,600.

Cheers.

kiwiharry

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#2192555 6-Mar-2019 21:05

Hi.

You would need to get something like this, which would work with camera's with "mic in" inputs.

https://www.rubbermonkey.co.nz/Saramonic/Saramonic-SR-AX101-Universal-Audio-Adapter

The Saramonic SR-AX101 is a two-channel audio adapter, which provides balanced inputs to camcorders or DSLR cameras equipped with a built-in microphone mini jack. Easy to use, it quickly attaches to the bottom of your camera and allows you to connect professional audio devices such as balanced XLR microphones, wireless receivers, external audio mixers, preamps, and more.

If you can't laugh at yourself then you probably shouldn't laugh at others.

rayonline

1734 posts

Uber Geek

#2192564 6-Mar-2019 21:15

kiwiharry:

Hi.

You would need to get something like this, which would work with camera's with "mic in" inputs.

https://www.rubbermonkey.co.nz/Saramonic/Saramonic-SR-AX101-Universal-Audio-Adapter

The Saramonic SR-AX101 is a two-channel audio adapter, which provides balanced inputs to camcorders or DSLR cameras equipped with a built-in microphone mini jack. Easy to use, it quickly attaches to the bottom of your camera and allows you to connect professional audio devices such as balanced XLR microphones, wireless receivers, external audio mixers, preamps, and more.

Thanks for that. It has a tripod socket on the bottom of that unit right? Who in NZ would stock these (walk in store)? Went to Photo Warehouse and they don't.

kiwiharry

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#2192569 6-Mar-2019 21:25

The description on the linked webpage says it has a tripod socket. I've not used that particular one, but have used similar adapters.

The link I posted was from Rubber Monkey. They have a physical store in both Auckland and Wellington. Says that it is in-stock at both branches.

If you can't laugh at yourself then you probably shouldn't laugh at others.

rayonline

1734 posts

Uber Geek

#2192570 6-Mar-2019 21:27

kiwiharry:

The description on the linked webpage says it has a tripod socket. I've not used that particular one, but have used similar adapters.

The link I posted was from Rubber Monkey. They have a physical store in both Auckland and Wellington. Says that it is in-stock at both branches.

Thanks for that. Will have a look. I thought they were a online store only.

kiwiharry

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#2192581 6-Mar-2019 21:36

rayonline:

kiwiharry:

The description on the linked webpage says it has a tripod socket. I've not used that particular one, but have used similar adapters.

The link I posted was from Rubber Monkey. They have a physical store in both Auckland and Wellington. Says that it is in-stock at both branches.

Thanks for that. Will have a look. I thought they were a online store only.

The Auckland "superstore" is on Khyber Pass in Newmarket. Driven past it many times, but never been in. Always ordered online from them myself.

If you can't laugh at yourself then you probably shouldn't laugh at others.

DonH

230 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#2192596 6-Mar-2019 21:51

rayonline: ... Who in NZ would stock these (walk in store)? ...

The URL was a clue... Rubber Monkey have shops in Wellington and Auckland.

Edit: Beaten to it.

People hear what they see. - Doris Day

rayonline

1734 posts

Uber Geek

#2192968 7-Mar-2019 12:57

After some thought, I will give them some options but I think the more expensive camcorder with the Line-In builtin might be better for them. They would have diff age groups (many that have only ever used a smartphone) that would operate the video camera. At the end there will also be no video editing but just a simply upload to Youtube. It's just recording the presentation.

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nitro

657 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2193090 7-Mar-2019 15:16

you might be served by a sescom cable from the sound desk (line output) to the video camera (mic input).

https://www.rubbermonkey.co.nz/Sescom/Sescom-LN2MIC-ZOOMH4N-H4N-Line-to-Mic-In-Attenuation-Cable-for-HDSLR-Cameras

this drops the line-level output to mic-level so it would be usable for the video camera (or dslr).

unless, of course, the audio mixer only has xlr outputs.

rayonline

1734 posts

Uber Geek

#2193093 7-Mar-2019 15:25

nitro:

you might be served by a sescom cable from the sound desk (line output) to the video camera (mic input).

https://www.rubbermonkey.co.nz/Sescom/Sescom-LN2MIC-ZOOMH4N-H4N-Line-to-Mic-In-Attenuation-Cable-for-HDSLR-Cameras

this drops the line-level output to mic-level so it would be usable for the video camera (or dslr).

Thanks for that. A gender changer would still work right? On the sound desk there is a RCA type LEFT RIGHT audio output so the cable connects on on that L R then the other end is a 3.5mm.

What's the general quality of these things? I read online a customer was not satisfied.

Hi. My Tascam TM-2X don´t works in auxiliar conection, I think, that the power suply of microphone is too poor. The cable suply for you isn´t stable and generate noise conection, i put one cable mine, and works well. I love AX101. Thanks for all. (Sorry for my english, i´m spanish. :))

If some of the youngsters lose this cable they won't be able to use it. The more expensive video camera is still a bit easier to use. I will let them know anyway ...

Fred99

13684 posts

Uber Geek

#2193284 7-Mar-2019 22:20

Not sure, that attenuator is - 10dB which is more like what you'd need to drop consumer level hifi line level to mic level input, the line level output from the sound desk may be professional unbalanced line level, and need -30dB attenuation. The sound desk may or may not have a consumer line level output (as opposed to taking unbalanced line out from one of the XLR/TRS bal/unbal outputs from the sound desk). The attenuator adapter should work work ok with the "rec out" - if there is one - which usually has RCA connectors (not TRS or XLR).

Your best bet may be to first talk to the guy on the sound desk. There's about a 5% chance he'll know.

As for quality - don't worry about it too much. The circuitry is very simple, if it's not audiophile perfection embodied, then I assume you're also not working on a $200 million budget movie - it should be perfectly fine.

ResponseMediaNZ

518 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#2193352 8-Mar-2019 08:47

Have you looked into the price of a company that does this on a daily basis v all this gear you need and balancing the audio in the mixers?

You might find by the time you have brought everything set it up and then your time to "edit" and upload that it's cheaper to get someone in

rayonline

1734 posts

Uber Geek

#2193378 8-Mar-2019 09:02

ResponseMediaNZ:

Have you looked into the price of a company that does this on a daily basis v all this gear you need and balancing the audio in the mixers?

You might find by the time you have brought everything set it up and then your time to "edit" and upload that it's cheaper to get someone in

Yes they are wanting to do this on a weekly basis. They don't need any pro work, just recorded for members and families to see online. They are not editing. It's like Facebook quality. They just need to see it. They are just going to simply upload without any editing.

At the moment the sound desk has a RCA L R output then the other end of the cable is a single 3.5mm. For the last 5 or so years they have recorded just the audio using a old 2GB RAM Windows 7 HP computer. Now they are wanting to add video and the computer is getting dated. Again they used a freeware software, recorded the Mp3 and there is no editing. The thing with that setup also is that it is hard to share just audio where as, Youtube / Facebook does video and more accessible to everyone.

nitro

657 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2193436 8-Mar-2019 10:01

Fred99:

Not sure, that attenuator is - 10dB which is more like what you'd need to drop consumer level hifi line level to mic level input, the line level output from the sound desk may be professional unbalanced line level, and need -30dB attenuation. The sound desk may or may not have a consumer line level output (as opposed to taking unbalanced line out from one of the XLR/TRS bal/unbal outputs from the sound desk). The attenuator adapter should work work ok with the "rec out" - if there is one - which usually has RCA connectors (not TRS or XLR).

Your best bet may be to first talk to the guy on the sound desk. There's about a 5% chance he'll know.

As for quality - don't worry about it too much. The circuitry is very simple, if it's not audiophile perfection embodied, then I assume you're also not working on a $200 million budget movie - it should be perfectly fine.

good point about the attenuation level. the particular one i added a link to is normally used for portable recorders, e.g. zoom h1/h4. sescom does have one that is purportedly fit for standard lineout levels http://www.sescom.com/product.asp?item=LN2MIC-50DB.

OP,

quality shouldn't be an issue, as Fred mentioned, there's not much to this. also, the intent is to record speeches, which isn't full-range audio.

however, given the requirement of ease of use, including for those with very little (or none?) experience with the gear, a video camera with direct line level input, assuming the budget can stretch, might be the way to go.

rayonline

1734 posts

Uber Geek

#2193520 8-Mar-2019 11:41

nitro:

OP,

quality shouldn't be an issue, as Fred mentioned, there's not much to this. also, the intent is to record speeches, which isn't full-range audio.

however, given the requirement of ease of use, including for those with very little (or none?) experience with the gear, a video camera with direct line level input, assuming the budget can stretch, might be the way to go.

I will let them know the options so they can decide. Some of the camera operators are going to be 15 year olds who have never owned a pocket digital camera, only a smartphone. They have said the initial box device was too complex for them, not sure about the cable that was posted later.