Blackmagic Forum

My BMCC arrived yesterday (it really is a great camera!) yet I can't seem to record any audio when I have a rode video mic hooked up to it. So essential when I'm use the line in and not the camera's mic I have no sound.

I have the correct 3.5 to 1/4 inch jack adapter but it's the camera is not able to receive a signal.

I'm not sure if this is a firmware issue to address or if my camera actually has a major issue.

Any feedback or suggestions would be very helpful!!

What Rode mic? If its not from of the VideoMic range chances are you'll need phantom power and a preamp.
Most people use the NTG2, which will require phantom and a preamp, like something from Juicedlink.

Edit: sorry just saw you said you have 3.5mm plug, which means it probably is a videomic of some sort. Never used one of those ones, so not to sure of their needs sorry.

Hi,

It would be great if you can confirm which mic you have, and how you are checking the recorded audio. But please make sure that in the audio options in the camera that you have the microphone and input channels' volume turned up, and that you have the relevant input source selected; line or mic. I don't know much about Rode microphones but perhaps if the microphone is powered it's outputting a line level signal instead of mic level.

If you're still not getting anything, if possible try with another microphone. It would also be good to know if you disconnect your microphone, whether the internal microphone is recording anything. If you still have problems I think it would be best to give support a call using one of the numbers on this page.

Hi Chris,

It's the rode video mic pro. The input level was set around the 60% mark and the speakers up to 100%.

The microphone doesn't need phantom power and has it's own preamp. It works with all the common dslr's.

When I plug it in it automatically goes to a line signal.

I've also tried using the Rode lavalier mic directly into the camera using the 3.5 to 1/4 inch jack adapter.
http://www.videoguys.com.au/Shop/p/2230 ... dlav1.html

The microphone does work on the camera when I take the other mics out.

I will try setting the input setting to mic instead of line and see if by chance the other mics work.

Thanks Chris & thanks for the reply Josh

The NTG-2 can operate with phantom power but it does have an internal AA battery so it will operate without phantom power if need be. The NYG-3 is phantom power only. I would suspect your adapter. The 1/4 phono is balanced...might be a problem there.

Hi ben, exactly what kind of adapter do you use?

since the bmcc uses balanced inputs I think it needs special plug?

That's right, you need a balanced 1/4 adapter.

Also check this out:

Thanks Marc, Andrea and Frank!

I'm not sure what brand produce the adapter I have but it's just a standard adapter that looks identical to this one.

Ben you need to buy this instead of a straight 3.5 to 1/4 adapter like that. You need to split the signal into both 1/4 slots.

http://www.amazon.com/Hosa-CMP153-Cable ... N22H0KKOAL

That's right.
If you have the mono version of the Rode videomic you need a mono 1/4 adapter (the one of your picture is for stereo mic).
If you have the stereo videomic, you need the calble suggested by Hearnia, but with a female 3.5 jack.

I used a Rode Videomic Pro on my BMCC yesterday. It worked great. I must have had the correct mono plug. Let me know if you are having trouble and I can let you know what my settings were.

Thanks Frank and Hearnia

What brand is the mono plug you own? I'm glad it's working well for you!

I bought the Rode VideoMic and it does not work. The 1/4" adapter looks right. It powers up. No signal.
Am I missing something or should I be calling Rode?

Same problem with the Rode Video Mic (mono not pro stereo). Powered up, no signal through mono adapter into channel 1. Tested the mic on the laptop with the 3.5mm plug and honestly and quality was quite terrible. Already returned it and looking for another solution with its own power and some kind of mounting solution as the DSL mount doesn't work for the BMCC.

The Rode Video Mic plug needs to be rewired in a different manner to work on the non consumer inputs of the BMC, as far as I know.
It was made manly for DSLRs that require a different wiring scheme. Don't ask me how, I just saw that somewhere on the net, but can't remember where.

Maybe someone that is less an electronic idiot than I am can chime in. I think it has to do something with the ground and that some signals cancel each other out.

Frank Glencairn wrote:The Rode Video Mic plug needs to be rewired in a different manner to work on the BMC, as far as I know.
It was made manly for DSLRs that require a different wiring scheme. Don't ask me how, I just saw that somewhere on the net, but can't remember where.

Figured.. it's also doesn't help they have some 3 models by the same name. Anyhow, can anyone recommend a compact, self-powered, easy to mount on cam/rig mic that will work with the BMCC?

IMHO a low noise preamp like the JuicedLink Riggy or something similar is your best bet.
Gives you phantom power, XLR plugs and a clean signal to work with.

Those little preamps are self powered, have mounting points and a pretty small footprint on your rig.

I've posted elsewhere, but basically the same issue. I tried a 416t sennheiser, a Rode ntg2, I think, some off brand powered video mic, a dynamic mic, and all I get is a line signal on ultrascopes.

lustgarten wrote:I've posted elsewhere, but basically the same issue. I tried a 416t sennheiser, a Rode ntg2, I think, some off brand powered video mic, a dynamic mic, and all I get is a line signal on ultrascopes.

Were you using balanced adapters to plug the mic into the BMCC?

Howdy guys, thanks for the advice. I will buy a JuicedLink Riggy but for now I seem to be able to get audio on the Rode video mic when I switch it to "mic" instead on "line" this seem's quite odd to me.

I only use the camera for scratch audio and so if I can hear what going on from the RODE mic now then I'm happy for the time being.

Audio is very important to me though so I will end up getting cleaner scratch audio from the JuiceLink, thanks everyone.

benmunro wrote:Howdy guys, thanks for the advice. I will buy a JuicedLink Riggy but for now I seem to be able to get audio on the Rode video mic when I switch it to "mic" instead on "line" this seem's quite odd to me.

That's as it should be; even powered, the mic's output will be mic level, which is lower than line level. The preamps on the mics aren't made to apply a lot of gain, they're generally designed with the idea that you'll be using a preamp if you want line level. To get the most of the mic, regardless of whether you use the camera's audio or a separate recorder, you're going to want a preamp. I've gotten decent results recording directly to a camera with XLR inputs as well as directly to a recorder with XLR inputs, both cases using phantom power, but a good preamp gives you a lot to work with. We were able to get clean dialog with an Audio Technica shotgun mic on a boom 15 feet above our talent (a compromise due to circumstance, not our preference). It required a lot of gain, but we added the gain with a good preamp.

A better solution would have been to either use ADR or shoot the dialog in close up shots instead of relying on the wide shot for dialog, but the director wasn't the sort to actually listen to his crew's advice, so we just did the best we could.