Build 18 with new Audio Board confusion

[Tom Gleeson]

Just come off a film that was recorded double system but we also attempted to record audio to the camera to simplify dailies delivery.

We had very mixed results and due to the hectic pace of production I had to leave the sound issues with the sound department. We had low levels, distorted levels and missing audio. We were Build 18 with new Audio Board installed.

I have had a look at the manual and I did refer sound department to the manual as well but I am a camera dude and I could not understand the manual. On Betacam style cameras it always seemed easy. The sound guy sent you zero level tone from a mixer and you adjusted the cameras VU meters to zero and off you went.

For future reference what should I say to the sound guy who wants to plug into the camera and how should the camera be set up?

Tom "what did he say sonny?" Gleeson

[Brent@RED]

Sounds like you may be recording to a RED ONE with prior gen audio board and used the wrong XLR cables. What is the serial number of the camera?

BC

[jimhare]

Hey Brent, what would happen if they used the new audio board but the OLD cables? Aren't the old ones all capacitored up or something?

Would that stuff it up?

Cheers,

Jim

[Tom Gleeson]

Brent,

No serial number as camera has been returned to owner but it had definitely been updated to the new audio board but the wrong XLR cables are a possibility I will check out.

Assuming the correct cables and new audio board what is the correct procedure for recording line level audio sent from the audio boys?

Dumb ass camera jockey

[Brent@RED]

I am no audio expert, so I will leave that to others on this forum :)

Basically, if new audio board - you need to use mini-XLR to mini-XLR cables in conjunction with mini-XLR to XLR adaptor. Old audio board - just one component - the RED mini-XLR to XLR cable.

BC

[Tom Gleeson]

Basically, if new audio board - you need to use mini-XLR to mini-XLR cables in conjunction with mini-XLR to XLR adaptor

Brent,

I dont get it. So you are saying I need to plug into the camera the mini-XLR to mini-XLR cable and then plug the mini-XLR to XLR adaptor and then plug the XLR audio feed from the Soundo into that? And I alsom assume that the mini-XLR to mini-XLR cable and the mini-XLR to XLR adaptor are proprietary Red cables?

Tom "need a hearing aid" Gleeson

[fatfatjames]

Brent,

I don't understand too... do you have picture of them?

[Brian Chapman]

From the sounds of it, the OLD board cables (mini-XLR to XLR) can't handle the new boards signal.

So we need a mini-XLR to mini-XLR cable, the adaptor to turn it XLR and then plug the XLR cable into finish it. And that all 3 of those pieces must be the new cable type to handle the signal?

((Not an expert, just making sure that's what you're saying to we're all on the same level. Because that's how we're reading it.))

[Tom Visser]

The old board had limited dynamic range, so the cables used with the older board padded the audio down a bit, about -10dB I believe. so if you were using those old cables with the new board, which is supposed to accept a full range signal, all your audio would be attenuated, probably much too low to be particularly useful. The mixer might have been trying to mix hotter with hotter sends, but then he runs the risk of distorting his signal as he tries to compensate for the attenuation built into the cables.

Any combination of new cables adapters should fix this problem, assuming they do not have the -10dB pad in them.

[Tom Gleeson]

I checked with the owner and was assured we were using the correct cables with the Audio upgraded board. Is there any online resource anywhere that has a simple plain speak guide to Audio with Red with the new boards?

Tom "don't ask much" Gleeson