Sony CCD-TR600 Hi8 Camcorder

• Lens
  Two-speed 12:1 optical zoom, f/1.8, 5.4-64.8mm focal length, 24x digital zoom
• Image sensor
  CCD
• Focus
  Auto with manual override
• Maximum shutter speed
  1/4000 of a second
• Exposure
  Program AE with manual override
• White balance
  Auto, no override
• Digital effects
  Mosaic, solarize, black & white, sepia tone, negative, slim and stretch
  
• Audio
  AFM Stereo
• Inputs
  Composite video, stereo audio, external stereo microphone
• Outputs
  Composite video, stereo audio, stereo headphone
• Edit interface
  Control-L
• Other features
  Diopter control, viewfinder indicators, camera mode edit search, remote, SteadyShot image stabilization
• Record & playback
  • Horizontal resolution (camera)
    450 lines
  • Horizontal resolution (playback)
    400 lines
• Performance times
  • Pause to record
    0.5 second
  • Power up to record
    3 seconds
  • Fast forward/rewind (30 min. tape)
    1 minute, 50 seconds
• Dimensions
  4 1/2 (width) by 4 3/8 (height) by 8 1/4 (depth) inches
• Weight (sans tape and battery)
  2 pounds

The AT-MX341a comes in a very simple black metal box with a gray front panel. It takes up far less space than a phone book, and is very light. All controls are on the front panel, including an on/off switch, four level knobs, a master threshold knob, four mini-dip Priority Pre-select switches and a recessed master level trim pot.

The most important control is the bank of Priority Pre-select switches. Any switch set in the up position assigns priority to that channel over other channels. In other words, as a speaker talks into a priority-set microphone, it locks out all other mikes whose switches are in the down position. You can set any combination of channels for priority. For example, these switches would allow you to assign priority to any talent on a set--his or her mike would then override all others when in use.

The four gain knobs adjust each channel for proper level. Under each knob is a red LED (light-emitting diode) which indicates when each channel is active. The factory has pre-set the recessed master level knob to provide maximum output level, but you can readjust it with a small screwdriver if necessary.

To the far right of the panel is the threshold control knob. This sets the level that any mike must achieve to be active, allowing you to keep ambient background sounds from triggering the mikes. When this knob is switched to the Manual position, the AT-MX341a becomes a standard four-channel mixer without automatic features. An LED under this knob aids in properly setting the threshold adjustment.

Finally, on the top right of the front panel is a set of LEDs indicating the output level. These range from -20dB to +6dB.

There are four XLR inputs and one XLR output on the rear panel. You can internally switch the XLR inputs to accept line- or mike-level signals. Likewise, the XLR output will generate line-level or mike-level signals. The latter is handy for plugging directly into a camcorder without needing an attenuator or line-matching transformer. An internal switch provides phantom power (12 volts DC) to condenser mikes.

Four control voltage outputs become "hot" when a given mike is active. This allows you to automatically control various devices as new a speaker talks--these could be a specific camera or indicator light for each mike.

Also on the back panel are the Link In/Out 8-pin din-style connectors. You can use these connectors to daisy-chain several AT-MX341a mixers if you need more than 4 inputs. When you connect more than one unit together, the priority switches work as if the connected units were one large mixer.

Once you hook up your mikes, you have a choice of three modes of operation based on the settings of the priority switches. The first mode is with all priority switches in the up position. This mode does not lock out any mikes, but the threshold feature will still mute out unwanted background sounds below a certain level.

Next is with all priority switches down. In this mode only one mike can be on at a time, and it will lock out all other mikes until that speaker or sound source is silent. Interactive discussion is still possible in this mode, thanks to the Audio Technica's fast switching speed.

Finally, you can flip any combination of priority switches into the up position. In this mode, the priority mikes will override all other channels. This mode works great for those situations where you want more than one priority channel.

A clear and fairly concise manual gives full instructions for removing the top cover and making internal adjustments. These adjustments include choosing mike or line input and output levels, -20dB to -6dB attenuator adjustments for each input, and a switchable 10dB pad for each input. Further, you can switch the meter to indicate peak or RMS (average) signal level.

The AT-MX341a SmartMixer sounds very good. All mike switching is quiet, and goes virtually unnoticed as the mixer works its magic.

It's easy to set the threshold level too high, causing the mikes to remain muted even when spoken into. It will take a little experimentation to get the threshold set properly for each shooting location.

My biggest gripe with this mixer is its lack of stereo outputs. While I understand the reasoning behind it (dialog between speakers doesn't require stereo), the unit would be considerably more versatile with stereo outputs.

My second gripe is the power supply. Its a 12-volt AC unit, putting out a scant 150 milliamps. It would have been a simple design alteration to make the AT-MX341a run off a 12-volt DC supply. You probably see where I'm headed with this--a DC supply would make the unit capable of running off batteries for portable use. This unit was designed for indoor studio use, but why limit it to that? Perhaps future versions will have such a feature.

Aside from these gripes, the AT-MX341a SmartMixer certainly has a place with professional videomakers, semi-professionals and serious amateurs looking for better control over their audio. If you're planning to buy an audio mixer for studio shooting, check out the Audio Technica AT-MX341a. It's one smart mixer.

Audio Technica AT-MX341a SmartMixer

• Input channels
  4
• Inputs
  4 balanced XLR, mike or line level
• Outputs
  1 mono XLR, mike or line level
• Effects sends/returns
  None
• EQ bands
  None
• Other features
  Phantom power, auto input switching/gating, threshold control, daisy-chain multiple unit operation, LED metering
• Dimensions
  11 1/2 (width) by 2 3/4 (height) by 10 1/4 (depth) inches
• Weight
  7 pounds
• Audio Performance
  • Frequency response
    60Hz to 30kHz (-3 dB)
  • Maximum output level
    > 70 dB