Zaxcom Miniature Digital Recorder User’s Manual____________________________________Chapter 2
19
Audio Gain page
GAIN 20dB
Page purpose:
This page adjusts the mic gain, using the
INC
or
DEC
key.
Parameters:
(value range:
0
to
52
, step:
2
)
When audio is applied to the microphone input, the LCD indicates the signal strength using a bar graph displayed
horizontally from left to right (-40 to 0 dBFS).
The gain should be set so that the meter is peaking between
-
20 and
-
10 dBFS. This is about half way between the
-
20 and 0 dBFS
markings below the meter.
If no microphone is
connected, the bar graph remains blank.
The recorder features a digitally controlled analog limiter that is situated before the A/D converter. This prevents
the A/D convertor from clipping by automatically attenuating the mic gain when excessive audio is detected.
The limiter engages before the signal exceeds the digital capabilities of the signal path. The limiter activates at -6
dBFS. The gain level should be set low enough to prevent it from engaging, even when talent is screaming.
Highpass Filter page
HIGH PASS: OFF
Page purpose:
This page maintains the cutoff frequency for the highpass filter.
Parameters:
(value range:
30
to
220Hz
, step:
10
)
OFF
Limiter page
LIMITER: OFF
Page purpose:
This page enables/disables the limiter function.
Parameters:
[
OFF
] \ [
ON
]
NOTE
: This page applies to the mic input only. It does not come into play for the STAxxx.
When the input signal is too high for the gain setting, it is clipped and results in distortion and popping. The limiter
is used to prevent clipping by beginning to engage around -10 dBFS. When using a microphone, normally you
would enable the limiter. However, if the input signal is coming from a mixer that is using a limiter, you should
disable this limiter.
Since it is implemented in the digital domain, the automatic limiter may engage even when you don‟t hear any
substantial audio. The purpose of the limiter is to prevent the mic preamp from over-driving the A/D converter,
so the limiter operates on audio before it has been processed by the highpass filter. If there is a massive amount
of low frequency audio content being filtered out, such as wind noise, you may hear the effects of the limiter
without hearing the audio that caused the limiter to engage. If this occurs, the gain is set too high and you must
reduce it to below the level that triggers the limiter.
Timecode Frame-rate page
TIMECODE 30NDF
GEN
00:00:00:00
Page purpose:
This page sets the frame-rate used to record audio on the inserted MiniSD card and displays the
timecode as it is being recorded.
Parameters:
[
23.98
] / [
24
] / [
25
] / [
29.97NDF
] / [
29.97DF
] / [
30NDF
] / [
30DF
]
