CAMERA CALIBRATION

Calibrating today's digital cameras has become much easier due to the commonality of the functions. For example, once you learn how to calibrate a Sony XD CAM to the various mixer and mic configurations, you'll be able to calibrate pretty much all the cameras on the market today.

PROFESSIONAL FIELD MIXER INPUT

To prevent damaging the camera's pre-amps, perform the camera calibration in descending order. This order will also prevent a possible screw up on cameras that have the ability to generate tone on their own. Also, DO NOT put your headphones on until instructed!

SET UP CAMERA AND MIXER AS FOLLOWS

1.  Perform the Set-Up procedure on the mixer. See Chapter 3,   
           pg. 45.

2.  Connect Mixer to the camera: the mixer's left output into the

    camera's CH1 input; mixer's right output into the

    camera's CH2 input, mixer's mini monitor return

    cable into the headphone jack if you are using a control

    cable or snake.

3.  Set the Input Level on the camera to “Line”. Make sure the

    mixer's outputs are also set to “Line”.

4.  Set the AGC for both channels on the camera to

    “Manual”.

5.  Set the VJ Attenuator on the front of the camera to “10”.

6.  Engage the Tone button on your mixer and turn the Master

    Fader “Off”.

7.  Calibrate the camera with the two assigned Audio Level

    controls. Depending on the type of meters on the mixer and

    camera, and if the camera is analog or digital, you need to

    calibrate as follows:

• If you are using a mixer with VU meters and the camera is analog with VU meters, calibrate the camera to 0dB.
  

• If you are using a mixer with PPM meters and the camera is analog with VU meters, calibrate camera to -4dB.
  

• If you are using a mixer with VU meters and the camera is digital with PPM meters, calibrate the camera to -20dB.
  

       8. Switch the camera setting to "Bars".

       9. Record 30 seconds of bars and reference tone.

       10. Disengage the tone button and return the Master Fader on the
           mixer to "0" or unity.

AGC set to "Manual", Audio In set to "Rear" XLRs

Excerpt from LocationAudioSimplified - Chapter 9: Camera Calibration

Excerpt from LocationAudioSimplified - Chapter 9: Camera Calibration

Input level set to "Line" with control cable into XLR inputs

VJ attenuator set to "10"