Canon 550d with Focusrite Saffire Pro 56

[Accall]

Condenser mics usually need phantom power (48v). As far as I know, 3.5mm can't provide that, let alone a DSLR (unless it specifically has a 48v switch on it). However, if you were to use a dynamic microphone, this might work.

[UpNorthSound]

Thanks for the reply!

The mic has its own power supply and then is plugged into to Focusrite Saphire 56 that provides the phantom, i'm then going on the output of the Saphire to the 3.5mm with the 1/4 to 3.55mm adapter but I just get a small fuzz and no audio.

Any ideas please people?

[UpNorthSound]

Can't seem to do it on the DAW I have I think I'll need somehting like this..

BeachTek DXA-SLR Pro Audio XLR Preamp

Anybody shed some light as to if I can actually do this on the Saffire 56 before I purchasee one?

Really need some good audio for my video tonight ;D

[UpNorthSound]

Ok so I just went from the Gemini MK2 straight to the camera and got an absoloutely awful sound.

Do I need something like the Beachtek or the JuicedLink RM/RA333?

Please put me out of my misery somebody :(

[Uncle Bob]

Don't record to the camera - that's the best sounding solution. Get an audio recorder like the Tascam DR-40, DR-100, HD-P2, Fostex FR-2, Marantz PMD-661 or whatever you can fit into your budget.

Forget about using the Sapphire; it's meant to be a computer interface, not a production sound unit unless you want to use your laptop as the audio recorder.

Units like the BeachTek DXA-SLR "solve" the separate audio issue, but you are still, in the end, using the very substandard audio implementation of the DSLR camera, and they have present problems of their own.

BTW, the SE Gemini MK2 is a terrible choice for a production sound mic; it will be very prone to handling noise, is very heavy (at least as far as production sound mics are concerned) and very difficult to boom properly.


It sounds like you're music guy trying to get into sound-for-picture; film sound is a completely different discipline. You'll need to break a lot of habits and learn a new way of thinking and some new skills.

[maddog]

I would never use sound from a dslr. I and most professionals use small external recorders that have long battery life and 24 bit audio. They are around 200 to 300 but are totally a professional solution. Since the canon has its own mic that creates a reference track, it's easy to sync the two. Either buy a visual/ audio slate like a clapper board and setting your in and out points in an video NLE, using cheap software such as plural eyes or using fcpx that has auto sync capabilities. Go with the film style approach and record seperate system. If you are looking for an all in one solution the Dslr is not for you.

[UpNorthSound]

Thanks for that guys I did think that was the way around I was just rushing to get a quick recording done and the shops were closed. I'm now looking at buying the tascam external