Related to my last question about strapping a camera into a Cardinal...

any ideas from more audio/videophile types on how I
might be able to get both the engine sound and the microphone sound
onto the tape?

There are a few ways, they all involve mixing at the source.

1: If you have stereo inputs, run the radio into the left channel, and
an audio mic into the right one. You can then mix them later. You may
need to experiment a bit with levels, as the radio is probably line
level and the mic is mic level. To do this you need a Y connector which
will separate the two channels. This is available at Radio Shack.

2: If you don't have stereo inputs, you could try using a regular mono
Y connector to yoke the two sources (mic and radio) into the same input.
You again will need to experiment with audio levels for the same
reasons as above. It's more critical because you can't isolate and mix
later, but it's easier once you've got the balance you want.

3: Get a mixer (cheap at radio Shack, but requires power). Run one
input into each channel, mix them down, and route the output of the
mixer into the camera.

4: Record at least one channel of audio separately with a digital
device. Video and digital will stay in sync for half an hour or more.
I'd reccomend recording the radio into the camera, and the ambient audio
in the digital device, but try both ways. You'll need to edit later to
combine the two channels.

5: Tape a microphone near the speaker, and monitor the audio with the
speaker (as well as the headphone). By putting the mic in different
positions, you can choose the balance you want. Run the mic directly
into the camera's audio input.

Jose
--
"There are 3 secrets to the perfect landing. Unfortunately, nobody knows
what they are." - (mike).
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

Thanks for the advice, I personally prever the mono-y-connector
solution, simple and gets the job done quickly... thanks for your help.

wrote in message
ups.com...
Thanks for the advice, I personally prever the mono-y-connector
solution, simple and gets the job done quickly... thanks for your help.

With no adjustability, I would say the chances of hitting on an acceptable
balance level will be slim to none.

There could be feedback problems with the inputs backfeeding from one to the
other, possibly.
--
Jim in NC

With no adjustability, I would say the chances of hitting on an acceptable
balance level will be slim to none.

There could be feedback problems with the inputs backfeeding from one to the
other, possibly.


I've plugged one of the cables into the intercom system and I can
adjust volume going into that with the intercom panel and cut out the
cabin speaker to prevent an echo. The second microphone can go to a
poition where the engine noise is best, a little experimentation and
I'm there, I'm going to work on it tomorrow.

PS. Vibration was a non-issue due to the amazingly smooth flat-4 engine
up front; or maybe it's the stabilizer in the Camera? Either way...
it's ok.

"Jose" wrote

5: Tape a microphone near the speaker, and monitor the audio with the speaker
(as well as the headphone). By putting the mic in different positions, you
can choose the balance you want. Run the mic directly into the camera's audio
input.

That sounds like the best, and least expensive idea. With a spare headset and a
little thin foam rubber, you could put the camcorder mike inside one earcup,
than put one wrap of foam around it. Experiment , and add more wraps as needed
to muffle the engine noise.
--
Jim in NC