rec.arts.movies.production.sound

jamesbmarnold@ wrote:
> On Oct 1, 7:59 pm, Matt Mayer wrote:
>> jamesbmarn...@ wrote:
>>> Thanks Matt. I've been monitoring just off the recorder as was going
>>> with pre-fade direct outs, also from the mixer when I needed to re-
>>> plug up to the camera for interviews. (Hadn't thought of putting the
>>> HP out into the B return - doh!) Seemed to be a similar issue on both.
>>> Should the HP amp really be distorting when the HP peak lights come
>>> on? I'm not driving it that hard. Is it adjustable in any way (as
>>> opposed to me just turning it down!)?
>>> It's will be a disappointment to me if the SQN HP ouput can handle
>>> such levels and the Sound Devices can't. Guessing if distortion is on
>>> tape or just on the headphones is not really acceptable.
>> James,
>>
>> That is just the point of the HP Clip light. If you hear distortion and
>> the clip light doesn't illuminate, the problem is in the input. If you
>> hear distortion and the Clip light is illuminated, you know that it is
>> the HP Amp.
>>
>> What model headphones are you using?
>>
>> ---Matt
>
> Cans? HD 25's - the soundmans friend.
>
> I get the theory of the clip light, but my problem is that its
> happening at all. If I'm not looking at the mixer whilst shooting -
> booming etc, and I get clipping I'm going to have to go back and check
> stuff and in all probability find that it's the HP amp. SQN doesn't
> have this problem at all and takes an awful lot to distort the phones
> as well as the input. Why is the SD so sensitive on the phones output?
>

James,

Not sure if the HP output is your problem. I did a quick test with a
744. Pumped music into it so I got a consistent level of -8 dBFS. It
took about 2/3rds of the rotation of the HP Pot before I got the HP Peak
light to illuminate.

At that point the level was so loud, I could hear the music clearly with
the phones on my desk. I wouldn't even put them on at that level.

In practical use, I rarely see the HP Peak illuminate. And that is
usually because I plugged something into the return that is at a
smoking level without realizing it.

I guess the easiest thing to try is to turn down the phones and see if
the problem continues.

---Matt