juicedLink DT414 User manual

juicedLink
TM
User’s Manual
DT414 (No Phantom Power, No AGC Disable) / DT4 4
XLR Adapter / Preamplifier
© 2011 juicedLink, LLC. ENGLISH
All Rights Reserved. DT414/DT454 User Manual: Rev1.12

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Contents
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Contents ..............................................................................................2
Read This First ....................................................................................4
Warnings - General ...........................................................................4
Notes Regarding Specific Cameras ...................................................
Canon D Mark II, 60D .....................................................................
60D and DMKII Firmware Release 2.0.4 and Later....................
MagicLantern 3rd Party Firmware (for DMKII) ............................6
Canon T2i, 7D, 1D Mark IV (DT4 4 Only) ........................................8
Nikon D300s, D3s .......................................................................... 10
General ............................................................................................. 12
Features / Specifications .............................................................. 12
Switch / Panel Descriptions and Photos ...................................... 13
Photos.......................................................................................... 13
DT414 Bottom ............................................................................. 14
DT4 4 Bottom ............................................................................. 1
Front Panel Switches ................................................................. 16
Side / Back Inputs ....................................................................... 17
Bottom Switches ........................................................................ 18
Included Items............................................................................... 20
Accessories ................................................................................... 20
Block Diagram (Basic) .................................................................. 21
Basic Operation................................................................................ 22
Mounting to Camera ...................................................................... 22
Mounting to Tripod ........................................................................ 23
Output Connection to Camera ...................................................... 24
Powering ........................................................................................ 2
Alkaline Battery Life................................................................... 2
Rechargeable Batteries ............................................................. 2
Input Connections ......................................................................... 26
TIP-L / RING-R Unbalanced Input............................................... 26
XLR-L / XLR-R Balanced Input.................................................... 27
XLR-L / XLR-R with Unbalanced Sources (Wireless, Etc.)........ 27

DT414/DT454 – XLR Adapter / Preamplifier Page 3
Phantom Power (DT4 4 only) ....................................................... 28
MIC/LINE Switches ........................................................................ 30
MONO / STEREO Switch ................................................................ 31
PAN TO L / NORM (DT4 4 only) .................................................... 32
GAIN Settings ................................................................................ 33
TRIM Potentiometers .................................................................... 34
Camcorder Settings ...................................................................... 3
Low-Noise Performance ............................................................. 3
Dynamic Range Performance..................................................... 3
AGC Disable (DT4 4 only) ............................................................. 36
Tone ............................................................................................. 37
Safety Mode – Noise ................................................................... 37
Metering: Setting the Appropriate Gain/Trim Levels .................. 39
Headphone Monitoring .................................................................. 41
Playback Headphone Monitoring.................................................. 41
Advanced Topics.............................................................................. 43
Post Production – Removing Right Track (DT4 4 only) .............. 43
Appendix........................................................................................... 4
Subscribe to the juicedLink Blog ................................................. 4
Care and Maintenance .................................................................. 4
Warranty, Service, and Returns.................................................... 4
Compliance .................................................................................... 4

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Read This First
Before operating the unit, please read this manual thoroughly.
Any future revisions will be posted on the website and available for download.
Get notified on new revisions of this User Manual, product updates, new product
releases, and tutorial videos. Subscribe to the blog:
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Notes regarding documentation in this manual are as follows:
- References to markings/labels on the unit are denoted in underline/bold.
For example: HPF.
- Warnings will be preceded with WARNING.
Warnings - General
WARNING: Failure to read and observe notes and warnings may result in
personal injury, and/or possible damage to this device and your other equipment.
WARNING - LOSS OF HEARING: This device, as well as any device with a
headphone amplifier, is capable of driving the signal at levels that can be
damaging to hearing. Always operate the headphone volume at the lowest
practical level. Do not wear the headphones over your ears in any of the following
circumstances:
- While plugging the headphones into the headphone driving device.
- While plugging the mixer into the headphone driving device.
- While turning on or off the mixer.
- While turning on or off the phantom power.
- While plugging a device into the input of the mixer.
WARNING - RISK OF ELECTRICAL SHOCK: This device, its enclosure, and the
connections to cable shields that plug into this device are conductive. Avoid
electrocution and observe caution with cable runs near areas where high-voltages
and/or currents may exist.

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Notes Regarding Specific Cameras
Canon D Mark II, 60D
60D and 5DMKII Firmware Release 2.0.4 and Later
With firmware release 2.0.4 on the 5DMKII, Canon has provided manual control
for audio!!! It also provides for a meter. But, the meter is only visible during setup
(not during recording).
This is a welcome addition. We hope to see firmware updates from all DSLR
manufacturers, for all cameras to add audio features.
For lowest noise performance while recording fine audio detail, you will want to
manually throttle back the camera gain, and replace that noisy gain with clean
gain from the juicedLink low-noise preamplifier. Follow the directions from Canon
for how to navigate the firmware menus.
The lowest noise performance will be achieved with the lowest gain setting on the
camera (1 click above the lowest (off) setting). This may be just a little outside the
factory calibration for the DT METER HI setting. You can run the DT meter a little
hot. Or, you can try and get the DT454 calibration a little bit closer to the camera
1-click setting:
NOTE: We have posted a video on our website which may be helpful to illustrate
steps in general. However, please refer to this user Manual for the exact details.
1. CALIBRATE THE DT METER:
a. Set the camera gain on the 1-click (above off) setting
b. Set the AGC Disable switch to the OFF position (DT454 only).
c. Set PAN TO L / NORM switch to the NORM position (Since AGC
Disable is not used) (DT454 only)
d. Set the METER switch to the HI position
e. Connect a mic to your DT, and adjust the GAIN and TRIM (volume
potentiometer) settings so that when you speak into your microphone,
the meter on the camera peaks splash up to the -12dB full scale point.
f. Just above the “HI” lettering on the bottom of the DT, locate small hole
in the aluminum enclosure. Behind this hole is a potentiometer that
calibrates the meter sensitivity for the HI setting.
g. Using a small screwdriver (1/16”) adjust the HI METER potentiometer
so the 3rd LED is illuminated as the camera meter splashes up to the -
12dB full scale point while you speak into your microphone. The meter

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has a limited calibration range, but you should be able to get the
correlation fairly close.
i. From the factory setting, you will typically be adjusting the
potentiometer counterclockwise.
ii. If you reach full counter-clockwise and the meter calibration is
not exactly there, then leave the adjustment in the full counter-
clockwise position. This is OK, as it will just give you an extra
couple of dB of headroom. You can bump up the camera gain if
a bit if you wish to reach exact calibration.
2. WHILE RECORDING:
a. Set the camera gain on the 1-click (above off) setting
b. Set the AGC Disable switch to the OFF position (DT454 only).
c. Set PAN TO L / NORM switch to the NORM position (Since AGC
Disable is not used) (DT454 only)
d. Set the METER switch to the HI position, and adjust the GAIN and
TRIM (volume potentiometer) settings to keep the peaks below the red
LED of the Meter.
e. The other settings (phantom power, etc) operate like any typical mixer.
3. POST PRODUCTION
a. There’s no need to follow any of the post-production steps presented
in this Manual, since there was no need to use any of the AGC disable
features of the DT454.
Return to Contents
MagicLantern 3rd Party Firmware (for 5DMKII)
MagicLantern is 3rd party firmware that was written by a genius for the 5D
platform. It is not from Canon, so you need to do your due diligence to understand
the risks of what you are getting yourself into. It has very useful tools and has a
lot of users (you can converse with the users on the typical video production
message boards), but as it is not from Canon, it is not a solution for everybody.
However, MagicLantern provides for even more control than the Canon firmware
does. It has meters that are always visible, so those will be the final arbiter for
level settings. It allows you to control the camera’s analog gain (the Canon
firmware throttles back the digital gain), so you can achieve even lower signal-to-
noise performance with a 5D running MagicLantern being fed by juicedLink low-
noise preamplifiers. Since the DT has even more available gain than the
juicedLink CX family of preamps, the 5D analog gain can be set to 0dB gain, for
even lower noise performance than was even achievable before.

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That said, most people will find that the performance with the Canon 2.0.4
firmware is more than sufficient for quality audio performance.
This will be your typical DT setup while using MagicLantern:
1. SETUP OF DT (this does not provide a guide of MagicLantern settings)
a. Set the AGC Disable switch to the OFF position (DT454 only).
b. Set PAN TO L / NORM switch to the NORM position (Since AGC
Disable is not used) (DT454 only)
c. Since MagicLantern has its own built and meters, you will not be using
the METER on the DT (you’ll simply ignore them).
2. WHILE RECORDING
a. Adjust the GAIN and TRIM (volume potentiometer) settings on the
DT454 to keep the peaks below the red region of the MagicLantern
meter displayed on the 5D.
b. The other settings (phantom power, etc) operate like any typical mixer.
3. POST PRODUCTION
a. There’s no need to follow any of the post-production steps presented
in this Manual, since there was no need to use any of the AGC disable
features of the DT454.
Return to Contents

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Canon T2i, 7D, 1D Mark IV (DT4 4 Only)
Different camera platforms, with varying gain lineups and firmware
implementations, vary in terms of their required input signal level to optimize
signal-to-noise while also having sufficient margin to headroom distortion.
The factory HI and LO meter settings try to balance the needs across platforms.
But, the may not be optimal for every camera.
This section will describe some simple steps to get the DT454 meter more
precisely calibrated to the gain needs of your camera while using the AGC Disable
feature of the DT454.
We will use the known output signal level of the AGC Disable’s noise signal for
calibration. So, we will take the output of the DT454 with the noise signal, and
feed that back to the DT454 input. Then, you will adjust a potentiometer to a pre-
determined position and signal level. Then, you will use a small screwdriver to
adjust one of the meter potentiometers, so the meter is calibrated to that signal
level.
Follow these steps:
NOTE: We have posted a video on our website which may be helpful to illustrate
steps in general. However, please refer to this user Manual for the exact details.
a. CALIBRATE THE DT454 METER:
a. Start with all of the front panel potentiometers (volume controls for
XLR-L, XLR-R, etc) turned all of the way down (counterclockwise).
b. Take the stereo minijack cable, and connect one end to the DT454
OUT minijack, and the other end to the DT454 TIP / RING INPUT
minijack.
c. Set MONO / STEREO to STEREO, and PAN TO L / NORM to PAN
TO L.
d. Set the AGC Disable switch to the NOISE setting.
e. Set the GAIN for the RING/TIP INPUT to the LO setting on the bottom
of the DT454.
f. On the front panel, turn the RING-R potentiometer (volume control) to
the eleven o’clock position.

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g. Set the METER switch to the LO position on the bottom of the DT454.
h. Just above the “LO” lettering on the bottom of the DT454, locate small
hole in the aluminum enclosure. Behind this hole is a potentiometer
that calibrates the meter sensitivity for the LO setting.
i. Using a small screwdriver (1/16”) adjust the LO METER potentiometer
so the 3rd LED is illuminated
b. WHILE RECORDING:
a. Set the AGC Disable switch to the NOISE setting.
b. Set PAN TO L / NORM switch to the PAN TO L position (Since AGC
Disable is being used)
c. Set the METER switch to the LO setting, and adjust the GAIN and
TRIM (volume potentiometer) settings to keep the peaks below the red
LED of the Meter.
d. The other settings (phantom power, etc) operate like any typical mixer.
c. POST PRODUCTION
a. Refer to the section “Post Production – Removing Right Track” to
remove the AGC Disable noise signal from the right recording track, to
leave you with the clean recorded left track.
The AGC Disable technique yields very good results, and is a vast improvement
beyond the camera’s standard noisy performance. However, you should know
that it will not be quite as good as a camera which already has manual gain
control.
On our website, you will find videos demonstrating the performance improvement
of the AGC Disable technique.
Special note regarding Canon Cameras and Noise AGC Disable:
1. The microphone input on the camera does not get activated until the camera
begins to RECORD for the first time.
2. Until you hit RECORD and activate the microphone input, you will hear noise
in the DT454 headphones. Once you hit RECORD, the noise in the
headphones goes away, and doesn’t return until the camera power gets
cycled.
3. After the camera power gets cycled, you will need to hit RECORD again to
eliminate the noise in the headphones.
Return to Contents

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Nikon D300s, D3s
Different camera platforms, with varying gain lineups and firmware
implementations, vary in terms of their required input signal level to optimize
signal-to-noise while also having sufficient margin to headroom distortion.
The factory HI and LO meter settings try to balance the needs across platforms.
But, the may not be optimal for every camera. For these cameras, you will use
the factory LO meter setting.
It is always prefer below when a camera has full Manual control. This way, to
achieve the best signal to noise performance while recording fine audio detail, you
throttle back the noisy amplifiers in the camera, and replace that noisy gain with
clean gain from the juicedLink low-noise preamplifiers.
However, your camera does have three settings for microphone sensitivity (high,
med, low). You will use the “low” setting in your camera, which throttles back the
noisy camera gain as much as possible.
Because of this, you will not use the DT454 AGC disable feature. So, you also get
two tracks for recording.
Unfortunately, have a high analog noisy gain in the front end, which limits the
signal to noise performance of your system. Recordings from these cameras do
not have the signal to noise performance a can be achieved with are using
juicedLink low-noise preamplifiers with cameras that have Manual gain (like the
Canon 5D), or even the signal to noise performance of a camera which does not
have Manual gain (but not the fixed hi analog noisy gain in the front end) while
using the DT454 AGC disable technique (such as the Canon T2i, etc). The AGC
disable techniques offered no further signal-to-noise performance improvement for
these cameras.
Follow these steps:
1. CALIBRATE THE DT METER:
a. There’s no requirement for calibrating the meter. The factory setting
for the LO meter sensitivity will be used.
2. WHILE RECORDING:
a. Set the camera microphone sensitivity to “low”.
b. Set the DT METER switch to the LO switch position.

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c. Set the PAN TO L / NORM switch to the NORM position (since AGC
disable is not being used) (DT454 only).
d. Set the AGC DISABLE switch to the OFF position (DT454 only).
e. Adjust the GAIN and TRIM (volume potentiometer) settings to keep
the peaks below the red LED of the meter.
f. The other settings (phantom power, etc) operate like any typical mixer.
3. POST PRODUCTION:
a. There’s no need to follow any of the post-production steps presented
in this Manual, since there was no need to use any of the AGC disable
features of the DT454.
Return to Contents

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General
Features / Specifications
•General Features
o4 microphone channels (2 XLR, 2 unbalanced)
oMeters
4 segment LED (each right/left)
2 sensitivity settings (high/low); adjustable for calibration
valuable for new 5D firmware (where meters are not visible
during recording)
oAGC Disable (to get better SNR from cameras without manual control)
(DT454 only)
o30dB low noise max gain (single ended, stereo)
This is even more available max gain than the CX family of
preamps
This is additional gain is very valuable with the new Canon 5D
2.0.4 firmware release, as well as MagicLantern users
oHeadphone amplifier
oPlayback Monitor
o48V phantom, plus 12V phantom power saving mode (DT454 only)
oLow-noise preamp (see THAT1512 datasheet for details on XLR
preamp)
oPower:
Single 9V Alkaline or Li-polymer battery (not included)
See “Powering” Section for more details
oMechanical:
Black Anodized Aluminum enclosure for EMI protection and
rugged use
Mounts to bottom of camera and top of tripod
Case Dimensions: 4.5” x 3.2” x 1.5”
Weight: 10 ounces (no battery)
oIncludes: Stereo 3.5mm miniplug cable, 1/8” Allen wrench key
Features and Specifications are subject to change without notice.
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Switch / Panel Descriptions and Photos
Photos

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DT414 Bottom

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DT454 Bottom
Return to Contents

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Front Panel Switches
1. ON / OFF switch, PWR indicator LED, LOW BATT low battery indicator LED
2. TRIM controls for XLR-L and XLR-R microphone (or line) input channels
3. TRIM controls for TIP-L and RING-R microphone (or playback monitor) input
channels
4. Left (L) and Right (R) channel signal level meters
5. Output (OUT) at an amplified mic level, which connects to the microphone
input of your camera through a stereo minijack cable (included)
6. Headphone (PHONES) minijack output and volume control
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Side / Back Inputs
1. Camera mounting screw (1/4-20)
a. USE HEX KEY (included) and insert into the bottom of the screw to
rotate the screw into the camera threads to mount to camera
2. 9V battery tray
3. Audio Inputs: XLR-L (left) and XLR-R (right) balanced mic or line inputs
(unbalanced capable)
4. Audio Inputs: TIP-L (left) and RING-R (right) unbalanced mic inputs (or
playback monitor inputs)
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Bottom Switches

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1. GAIN switch (HI / LO) for TIP-L / RING-R unbalanced inputs
a. Use LO setting when input is being used as a Playback Monitor
2. MIC / LINE switch settings for XLR-L / XLR-R balanced inputs
3. GAIN switch (HI / LO) for XLR-L / XLR-R balanced inputs
4. Phantom (PH) power switch (DT454 only). Generates either 48V or 12V in
the power supply circuitry.
a. Phantom voltage is not applied to the XLR input until the PH: ON /
OFF switch is set to ON for the corresponding XLR-L / XLR-R
balanced input
b. Mics which work from 12V phantom power can considerably extend
battery life
5. PH: ON / OFF (DT454 only)switch routes the phantom voltage generated by
the power supply circuit to the corresponding XLR-L / XLR-R balanced input
a. Only apply phantom power to condenser mics which require phantom
voltage
b. Never apply phantom power to unbalanced mic sources (wireless
mics, etc.) or mixing boards.
6. MONO combines the right and left inputs and presents the combination to
each of the right and left outputs. STEREO leaves the right and left inputs
separated, and only the corresponding input signal is presented to each the
of the right and left outputs.
7. PAN TO L (DT454 only) combines the right and left input channels, and
presents the combination to the left output channel.
8. METER sensitivity switch
a. HI to be used when either you have manual control of the camera
gain, and have throttled back its noisy gain, or if you are using the
AGC Disable feature of the DT454 to force the camera gain to throttle
back. This setting is most commonly used for typical operation.
b. LO setting when camera AGC is running
9. AGC DISABLE feature (DT454 only) of the DT454, to improve signal to
noise performance on cameras which do not have manual control
a. TONE is no longer a supported setting, starting December 2010. More
details about this change are available in the TONE section of this
manual.
b. Safety Mode NOISE AGC Disable approach injects a broadband noise
signal into the camera’s right track to spoof its AGC algorithm into
throttling back its noisy gain.
10. ¼-20 thread for mounting DT454 on top of a tripod (etc).
11. Hex key receptacle. USE HEX KEY (included) HERE TO TURN ¼-20
SCREW INTO CAMERA FOR MOUNTING TO BOTTOM OF CAMERA.
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Included Items
1. Stereo minijack cable. Use to connect mic output of DT454 to the mic input
on the camera.
2. Hex key. USE HEX KEY TO TURN ¼-20 SCREW INTO CAMERA FOR
MOUNTING TO BOTTOM OF CAMERA.
Return to Contents
Accessories
TBD Return to Contents