Lav to XLR...

[gorillaonabike]

So... I'm going on a shoot where I'm using a Sound Devices mixer, MKH416 and then the following:

- Mixer to camera (C500) XLR input. Eventually ends up in a 7Q+
- Mixer to Zoom H5N (think it's an H5)

Now the issue is I've been told someone's going to be providing a lav... I personally have a Sennheiser C2 setup - I'm not really a sound specialist but if this gig works out, there's a lot more to come.

So assuming someone's providing a half-decent lav, I'm guessing I can somehow XLR it into the second XLR input on the H5N. And then somehow spit the signal so the H5N is recording off two, different tracks. Is this correct?

[Alcove Audio]

Originally Posted by gorillaonabike

So... I'm going on a shoot where I'm using a Sound Devices mixer, MKH416 and then the following:

- Mixer to camera (C500) XLR input. Eventually ends up in a 7Q+
- Mixer to Zoom H5N (think it's an H5)

I think you mean the Zoom H6; it's a popular piece of gear recently.

You didn't specify which Sound Devices mixer; some of them can do extensive routing.

Originally Posted by gorillaonabike

Now the issue is I've been told someone's going to be providing a lav... I personally have a Sennheiser C2 setup - I'm not really a sound specialist but if this gig works out, there's a lot more to come.

Never heard of the Sennheiser C2; is that a European lav/trans/rec kit?

Originally Posted by gorillaonabike

So assuming someone's providing a half-decent lav, I'm guessing I can somehow XLR it into the second XLR input on the H5N. And then somehow spit the signal so the H5N is recording off two, different tracks. Is this correct?

The H6 has four (4) XLR inputs and a stereo mini-pin input. So yes, you can record up to six signals on separate tracks. How you get the supplied lav into the mixer and/or recorder will depend upon what type of tail it has; most lavs have connectors for specific transmitter packs. There are a number of "budget" lavs that have mini-pin or XLR-3M or other type of connectors, so you may need an adapter. How you route will depend upon your mixer. I would think to send a reference mix to the camera from the H6 rather than the SD if you have limited routing possibilities.

[gorillaonabike]

Originally Posted by Alcove Audio

I think you mean the Zoom H6; it's a popular piece of gear recently.

You didn't specify which Sound Devices mixer; some of them can do extensive routing.



Never heard of the Sennheiser C2; is that a European lav/trans/rec kit?



The H6 has four (4) XLR inputs and a stereo mini-pin input. So yes, you can record up to six signals on separate tracks. How you get the supplied lav into the mixer and/or recorder will depend upon what type of tail it has; most lavs have connectors for specific transmitter packs. There are a number of "budget" lavs that have mini-pin or XLR-3M or other type of connectors, so you may need an adapter. How you route will depend upon your mixer. I would think to send a reference mix to the camera from the H6 rather than the SD if you have limited routing possibilities.

Thanks for the heads-up and the comment on the connectors was good. The full setup is:

- MKH416
- C2 (Sennheiser lavs)
- SD 2 input mixer
- Zoom H5
- Boom, shockmount, sound bag, XLRs, cans etc...
- Canon C500 fully loaded.

What we'll do is a bit like playing twister with XLRs but we're doing this:

- MKH 416 into mixer. Mixer to both C500 and Zoom
- Lav to Zoom. The client will supply me with a different lav but I have an adaptor now - thanks for the heads-up on that.

I've done a few corporate and narrative sound gigs. Apparently, some people think I'm OK at it but I'm unsure. I can still hear things that I don't want although other people can't seem to hear them.

Also, can you recommend some decent XLRs? What's the difference for you between one XLR and another.

[Alcove Audio]

Originally Posted by gorillaonabike

Also, can you recommend some decent XLRs? What's the difference for you between one XLR and another.

The differences are the quality of the cabling and the connectors.

I'm partial to Pro Co cables. I've been using them for a very long time and have no complaints. That's not to say that other brands aren't just as good, I just stick with what has always worked for me. I used to use the Excelline series when I was a working musician. Now that I spend 95% of my time in the studio and I don't need anything quite as heavy duty, I use the StageMaster series. If you need something really heavy duty you can go with the Ameriquad or MasterMike series.

[AcousticAl]

Originally Posted by gorillaonabike

What we'll do is a bit like playing twister with XLRs but we're doing this:

- MKH 416 into mixer. Mixer to both C500 and Zoom
- Lav to Zoom. The client will supply me with a different lav but I have an adaptor now - thanks for the heads-up on that.

I'm curious... you have a 2-input SD mixer (MixPre? MixPre-D?) and you'll be using two mics (shotgun and lav), so why are you running only one mic through the mixer to the camera?

Isolating the lav to the Zoom recorder is going to create a little bit of a headache in post. You'll be better off running both mics through the mixer, split to L and R outs, so that you have identical redundancy between the camera, 7Q+, and Zoom. This also simplifies signal flow and centralizes monitoring to the mixer.