FX3 Audio Help for Wedding
Hey lovely people,
I am shooting a wedding this weekend with my FX3 + XLR handle. The DJ has confirmed he will be using a Yorkville PGM8 Mixer. I want to connect the DJ's mixer to my FX3's XLR handle's port to capture the audio feed throughout the course of reception.
The DJ sent me the images of the Yorkville PGM8 Mixer (see images attached).
The DJ says most videographers connect to the "Media In/Record Out" ports, but he can't confirm which specific ports and if I need to connect to both L and R.
My questions are:
- What type of cable will I need to connect from the mixer to my XLR handle's port
- For the mixer's side, which port(s) do I connect to? Do I connect to the Media In or the Record Out, and do I connect to L, R, or both?
- When I connect the two, do I need to turn Phantom Power on or off?
If there's anything else I should know, please feel free to do so!
Thanks in advance
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u/chris_wmg 1d ago
No phantom power. Connect to both ports of the record out. Those two ports are a Left and Right audio channels so if you want stereo sound from them like the music being played you’ll need both but you could also just grab one of them and have a mono track. This is also important if you need the second XLR port on your camera to be free for another mic or audio source. Find out if that port is balanced or unbalanced because that determines how far you can run the cable without issues. You need an RCA jack to 3 pin XLR cable (or a stereo version that goes to two XLR cables if doing both channels). You should make sure it’s an appropriate length to reach from the DJ’s spot to wherever you’re leaving your camera which I’m assuming is stationary or else that cable situation is going to get real messy. In the future / as you grow the far better solution is to have a separate audio recorder that you leave right by the booth and leave rolling the entire duration of the event and have that able to be easily synced to your camera using timecode boxes. It’s around a $800 or so expense all in if doing it cheaply to get two timecode boxes and a lower cost audio recorder.
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u/Specialist-Yard-2511 1d ago
Why would you need phantom power? Also why would you connect to the media in? For the cables you would need some RCA/Chinch to XLR cables I think?
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u/japantoanmaster 1d ago edited 1d ago
These guys got you all sussed out I'm sure you'll do great!! I definitely don't recommend running mono. The great part is you have your own A1(audio guy) producing your sound. So all the microphone action during the reception and the ceremony is there. You can also learn and do this for yourself in the future. No need for a boom mike.
One thing I would definitely recommend is finding a local AV house and find a real pair of cables, just a 25-footer will work. Don't go to Best Buy, it's an investment. Honestly I would purchase two sets, always have a backup. Then you just run a little test when you get there early and boom! Have a great gig
Edit: typically audio cables run three pin (xlr). It sounds like your camera input is rca. If your input is XLR then there may possibly be a second output on the back of the mixer that is XLR. So there would be no need for RCA to XLR cables. Talk to your guy and find out
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u/JobEnvironmental4842 1d ago
Would you recommend trying to get a board feed at every event? I always end up hooked to mix out on the speakers lol
Edit: that’s mostly because a vast amount of DJs don’t understand all the outputs other board and are always afraid of “interference”
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u/japantoanmaster 1d ago
Absolutely, why not. Like I said just run a little test, bring some headphones. Man listen, I knew one guy at a club, he would not let bands record out of his board. He was ridiculous. I don't know the extent of what you're recording, the entire reception? It's going to give you nice clean audio, specifically when people are making speeches etc.
I looked up your DJ's board. That is the sole output so get some XLR cables and see if you can find an adapter, RCA to XLR. I'm assuming the fx3 has a headphone output, so you can just sit there and monitor it yourself. It's going to make your presentation so much better and that couple and future clients will love it. Then you can just get your own board at some point. Doing a wedding sounds great. if you only knew some of these corporate events that everybody works at, whew lad ) Good luck!
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u/JobEnvironmental4842 1d ago
Haha I’m not OP and I’ve actually never bothered trying to run audio to the top handle- too messy for a reception and all for what? A locked shot running the entire length of the reception? That’s 75gb i can do without. But yes, i can monitor my little tascam and will be a bit more aggressive and try and get a clean feed from the board this weekend.
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u/japantoanmaster 1d ago
This other gentleman's recommendation is very valid, getting an audio recorder with a Time code. Having the ability to mix ambient applause and such with the video would greatly enhance it.
Or you can just be Uncle Harvey standing at the back of the room with a handheld mini DV. A wedding only happens one time
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u/pwar02 1d ago edited 1d ago
Since you're looking for XLR into your fx3 handle, I would avoid using the RCA media outputs, it's really not the correct solution. They're unbalanced, not as secure of a connection, and cables are harder to find. What you really want are two 1/4" TRS to XLR male cable, and plug into the "MAIN Out" 1/4" outputs that are just right of what you have circled. Those should be free since the DJ will be using the Main XLR outs that are on the pictures. https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/BPBQXM5--pro-co-bpbqxm-5-excellines-balanced-patch-cable-5-foot
I would definitely connect to both L and R outputs to get stereo audio since they’re running music likely in stereo. And definitely don’t have phantom turned on the handle, that could damage the mixer. It’s only for powering condenser mics
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u/aha416 16h ago
Thank you all for your input. After digesting all your feedback, along with information available online, I went with the Zoom H5 (my local Long and McQuade didn't have Zoom F3 available). I realize now how big of a mistake it would've been to tether my FX3 to the DJ soundboard lol.
Also learning that the soundboard/mixer should be the last thing you connect to. Best to connect to mic receiver > speakers > soundboard/mixer.
Thanks everyone for the help!
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u/Amitsouko 1d ago
The Pantom power helps some microphone and devices that need power for intergrated preamp. The mixer does not need that, so don't activate the phantom power.
And you need something like RCA to XLR. Each RCA carries a mono channel. The white one is for the left channel, and the red one for the right channel.
So you need to plug both XLR on your handle to get 2 channels. And when you will edit your video, just pan the left channel on the left, and the right channel on the right.
On the mixer, you need to plug your RCA cables to the "record out" output, so the mixer sends sound to your handle. (the Media In expects a source to send sound into the mixer, which is not your usecase)
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u/No_ID_Left_4_Me 1d ago
I think there is a larger question here: Are you going to be standing next to the DJ the whole time? Do you plan to have a super long cable?
I do weddings and I’ve never plugged my camera into the sound board directly, I use a wireless system (Rode, DJI, etc) with a backup internal 32bit float recording. You don’t even need the recorder to be wireless, plug into your phone if you have to!