Beta SX

[<DownSouth>]

Sx cameras in my opinion are better quility than the Pro's but you have to watch out for the channel 1 input on the camera it is sodderd ( I think I spelled that right) straight to the circut board so it constantly breaks, but it is farely easy to fix, you just can't keep doing it!!

[Curves Ahead]

solderd

[<Nope>]

Soldered

[<renegade>]

SX ROCKS!!

[Shadowphantom]

This is another example of half-a## Sony engineering. Funny the simple fix is to have the XLR inputs mounted to the body of the camera, but not directly connected to the board. Unfortunatly Sony didn't engineer most cameras to be used in ENG situations (funny thinking). I Always thought it had to do with Sony wanting to make money on the repair/replacement segment of the business (and I still do). We junked our SX and went to DVCAM. I loved SX. It is a far superior format to DVCpro or DV, but they have poorly designed and expensive cameras for ENG work. If you look at the shops that have SX vs. those that don't you will find the SX shops are happier. I personaly like my DVCAM cause of the firewire out. Makes editing a snap. I just miss the quality I got with SX.

[Gil]

Screw all this format BS... let's go back to 3/4"... or even 1/2" reel to reel... yea that's the ticket!!!!! :D

[livedownunder]

My station has been using SX for a few years now, and we have seen a few other re-occurring problems.

1. The internal solder connections on the battery connector tend to break apart after a few hundred battery changes.

2. Total loose of power to the SX camcorder when the circuit board tracks "burn out" between the main on/off switch and the power board.

The main design fault that we have found is that the front volume control (under the lens mount) does not control levels going into either the rear XLR input or the builtin wireless mic RX.

[Sportsguy]

Originally posted by livedownunder:
The main design fault that we have found is that the front volume control (under the lens mount) does not control levels going into either the rear XLR input or the builtin wireless mic RX. This is true. However, the knob on the front of my DNW-7 controlled CH 2 audio rather than CH 1. That's probably the same as yours... Try it.

[<Sycophant>]

I am fairly sure the settings on that front volume knob can be altered, although possibly only through the engineering menus.

At least I believe that was the case with the DVCAM camcorders.

[Curves Ahead]

damn it! I meant solderED. grrrrrrrr. :rolleyes:

[<GolpeoRapidamente>]

Originally posted by &lt;Sycophant&gt;:
I am fairly sure the settings on that front volume knob can be altered, although possibly only through the engineering menus.IIRC, the "switch" (such as it is) is actually on one of the circuit boards.

Our engineers went in and changed ours two or three years ago so that now the front volume knob controls the rear audio inputs intstead of just the front input. The knob is in such an awkward place, though, that I rarely use it.

I've been shooting on SX for four and a half years and the location of that front audio knob is my only real complaint. What was wrong with having it on the front of the viewfinder housing, Sony? :rolleyes:

[Lost in Alaska]

The SX cameras here have the front audio knob controling the built on mic going to channel 3. We run a wireless to channel one and our nat shotgun to channel two, both into the rear inputs. We then can use ch. 3 as a back-up nat mic if something happens.

You got to remember, SX can record 4 seperate channels of audio.

[sprocket]

I've just changed this on my SX. I'll be in the office Monday and have a look at the board and let all know exactly where the internal circuit board switch is.

[sprocket]

Ok here we go.
Undo the 4 screws that hold the panel with the display on it. The one closest to your face when it's on your shoulder.
Gently pull out ..it's hinged at the bottom with some plastic bits. The circut board with the switch on it is on the exterior panel that you've just flipped out under the silver shielding. You need to lift the silver shielding from the bottom right corner. It has a ribbon cable running through it. This won't need to be removed to access the switch which is indicated on the board as CH1 FRONT MIC VR.
If you look from the rear of the camera you'll see a a group coloured wires connecting to this board it's near these that this switch is.
It's also between line 5 and 6 on the board.
Another hint on how to find it is that it has a silver side to the switch which lays flat on the board. It should be in the OFF position, Just slide to ON and put the camera back together. It might pay to test before you do. Just make sure nothing is going to short the board when you power it up to test.
You'll now be able to control the CH1 audio from the front dial when in manual level mode.

If you are worried about doing this yourself get your engineers to do it or contact Sony it's a common complaint and they should have a bit more detailed step by step guide. But beleive me it's takes 5 min.

I know on the first model SX cameras it was a dip switch set up. I don't know the fix for this as it was a few years ago. May be some one else can help if this fix doesn't apply to your camera.