Applies to: P1
If you are working with video, you may want to record the audio from your P1 into a video camera. This article describes the connection, the setup steps, and answers to common questions.
Connecting your camera
P1 has a dedicated output connector for this purpose, marked with a camera icon. You can connect this output to the microphone input on your camera using a 3.5 mm TRS jack-to-jack cable. If your camera's microphone input uses a different connector, use a suitable adaptor cable.
You need to select your camera's external audio source rather than its internal microphone.
P1's camera output carries the same mix as the USB recording output, and what you hear in your headphones or speakers. You can set the mix and level going to the camera with the Monitor & Camera knob.
Setup
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Connect Plug one end of the 3.5 mm TRS cable into P1's camera output, and the other end into the microphone input on your camera. Switch the camera on after making the connection.
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Set the gain Speak into the microphone at a normal level, and turn the gain knob until the level indicator stays green and only turns yellow briefly on peaks. The gain setting affects every output that follows, so set it first.
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Switch on Direct Monitor Press the Direct Monitor button; the button lights green. If Direct Monitor is off, the camera receives no microphone signal.
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Set up your camera In your camera's audio settings, select the external microphone as the audio source, set the recording level to manual and switch off automatic level control, then set the recording volume to 1 to 3 steps or close to minimum. Your camera's built-in preamp is not intended for professional microphones, so keep its gain low and let P1 provide the gain.
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Set the level Turn the Monitor & Camera knob until the camera's level meter peaks at around -6 dB when speaking at a normal level (-20 dB to -3 dB is a usable range). Peaks that reach 0 dB will clip.
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Monitor Connect your headphones to the camera's headphone output. The Monitor & Camera knob has already been set for the camera's level, so use the camera's headphone volume to adjust what you hear; this control does not affect the recording level.
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Check Record a test clip of around 10 seconds and play it back. Check that there is no unwanted noise and no clipping, and that both the left and right channels carry a signal.
Notes
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Keep 3.5 mm cables to 4.5 m or less. Longer cables may introduce noise.
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If you are using a condenser microphone, switch on 48 V phantom power.
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Some cameras have a mono microphone input. If only one channel carries a signal in the recording, duplicate that channel when editing.
- You can also use a wall adapter or USB power source to power the P1 without connecting it to a computer.
Troubleshooting
No sound from the camera after connecting
Check that Direct Monitor is switched on and lit green. If there is still no signal, check that the cable is connected to the microphone input on the camera, and that the camera's audio source is set to the external microphone rather than the built-in mic.
The recording level is too low
Check the camera's level meter first. If it does not reach -6 dB, turn up the Monitor & Camera knob. If it does reach -6 dB but monitoring is quiet, adjust the camera's headphone volume; this does not affect the recording level.
There is noticeable noise in the recording
Reduce the camera's recording volume to 1 to 3 steps, and check that the camera is not in automatic level mode. The camera's built-in preamp introduces noise at higher gain settings.
The recording sounds distorted
If the recording is clipping, reduce the Monitor & Camera knob so that the camera's level meter peaks around -6 dB and does not reach 0 dB.
Only one channel carries a signal
Some cameras have a mono microphone input, which is normal; duplicate the channel when editing. A four-pole TRRS cable can produce the same result, so use a TRS cable instead.
Can I connect to a computer and a camera at the same time?