BeachTek has something exciting up their sleeves for BMPCC users...

...and it's called the DXA-Pocket.

It also works on the EOS-M too, in addition to virtually any other camera with a mic input jack and no AGC:

And yes, you can mount it on a hot shoe too, if you prefer. It's unbelievably versatile and simple, not to mention that it works really well with a light camera such as the EOS-M outfitted with a small lens. Everything you need in a pint-sized package.

The unit shown is a prototype, but the final product won't differ much from what you see here.

More on the DXA-Pocket soon...

-Kurt
"Man with the 5D...and BMCC...and a few others"

The DXA-POCKET shown here was supplied to me by BeachTek. No monetary compensation was provided for this review. The comments above were not screened by BeachTek prior to publication and reflect the actual views of the author's experience with the product.

Man with the 5D is now the Man With the BMCC

Face it: James Bond is cool, but nobody would have cared without a camera to film him with.

Let the 13 stops of dynamic range fun begin - and look out for an upcoming review of the latest Bond camera gadgetry from Q-Branch BeachTek.

-Kurt
"Man with the 5D...and BMCC"

BeachTek DXA-Connect DSLR Audio Adapter Review

This is BeachTek's latest, portable DSLR audio preamp - the DXA-CONNECT (one of the first batch, as a matter of fact):

Brand new, out of the box.

If you're familiar with other BeachTek adapters, the Connect looks nothing like any previous offering. Strange appearance notwithstanding, it is an ideal unit for users of Canon cameras with Magic Lantern, those who utilize Zoom H4N/H6 external recorders, and any other DSLR that has onboard preamp control and shutoff.

DXA-CONNECT - LISTEN TO IT:

For those who want to hear it before anything else:

 

DXA-CONNECT - INTERNAL TECH:

DXA-CONNECT at left, DXA-SLR at right

As an indirect successor to the DXA-SLR, the DXA-Connect improves upon it by providing a comfortable range of gain with three selections: 0dB, +20dB, and +30dB; individually adjustable on each channel. This amplification alone (the DXA-SLR has a maximum gain of +15dB) is worth the price of admission for those users running cheaper dynamic microphones due to cost, and allows one to ramp down the camera's preamp to 10-20%.

The Connect was designed with the latest generation of equipment in mind and the execution of such is evident. Though we lose the AGC Disable function of the earlier BeachTek units, the point is moot with the number of cameras that now have AGC shutoff included directly in their firmware, plus the Canon bodies supported by ML.

Phantom power is available in 12 and 48V, with a single switch for voltage selection, and an on-off switch under each gain knob to control phantom power supply per individual channel. 

DXA-CONNECT - USABILITY:

Standing tall and proud on the 5DM2

The DXA-Connect does away with the bottom-mount orientation, and slides directly into your flash shoe. Though this new mount takes a bit of getting used to - mainly because I'm accustomed to the old design - the new position is far more workable over the old "box-on-the-bottom" ergonomics.

To begin with, the removal of the unit from the bottom keeps the weight of the camera low (43cm lower than when running a conventional DXA-SLR under the camera body), providing a significant benefit in weight distribution.

Secondly, the DXA-SLR gets in the way of any follow focus rings mounted close to the camera body. The DXA-Connect doesn't even come near them.

Perhaps the best benefit of all is that you don't have to pull the camera body off the unit to change a battery. What a joy!

The loss of one flash shoe is irrelevant, because you get FOUR MORE from the one you had to give up. You can mount ANYTHING to this thing (light units, microphone receivers, audio recorders, hood ornaments, worry beads, and Donald Trump's ego, to name a few things - though I wouldn't necessarily suggest trying it), and in just about any direction.

The DXA-Connect does not have an onboard V/U meter, but with the number of cameras that are coming with live view meters (plus those supported by Magic Lantern), you do not need a superfluous display to begin with.

However, we have since lost the ability to monitor the audio directly from the DXA-Connect without plugging a TRS 1/8" T connection between the adapter and the camera. It may not be live monitoring, but being able to double-check the adapter's output against the camera gives me some peace of mind.

The only thing that I've yet to get used to is the orientation of the controls vs. the XLR input plugs. Quite logically, the left channel controls are to the left, and the right channel controls to the right. This is repeated on the opposite side with the XLR input plugs.

Problem is, this means the left XLR plug's direct opposite are the controls for the right channel, and the right XLR plug is opposite the left channel controls. Given the unusual shape of the unit, I envision the controls based on their vertical placement on the unit, rather than from the side, which leads to a fair amount of confusion:

Erm...

As simple as this was to figure out, I was completely mystified for the first 5 minutes of using it and I'm still getting used to it. You'd think the clear-cut "LEFT" and "RIGHT" markings on the unit would make it easy, but the human mind is sometimes less logical than the conscious efforts of careful engineering.

I'm sure that there are many others who would feel the exact opposite if the adapter had been set up the other way around. To each their own.

DXA-CONNECT - FINAL THOUGHTS:

HAL9000 or a new Pixar character?

For me, the DXA-Connect does all I could need in the field. It may appear to be stripped down at first glance, but - for the most part - in all the right places.

For those of us with cameras and audio recorders that feature gain correction control, the DXA-Connect is amongst BeachTek's best. Functionality is just as good as previous models, and the 30dB of gain is reason enough to have it.

-Kurt "Man with the 5D"

The DXA-CONNECT shown here was supplied to me by BeachTek. No monetary compensation was provided for this review. The comments above were not screened by BeachTek prior to publication and reflect the actual views of the author's experience with the product.

BeachTek DXA-Connect Review - Coming This Week

Just arrived today - looks every bit as good as I had expected.

The hot shoe mount is also excellent (the entire DXA-Connect exudes a reassuring feel of solid construction) and despite this heft, poses no problem when mounting to the 5D Mark II or the EOS-M. I dare say the same applies to most all Canon DSLRs.

Look for a complete review this week - subscribe if you wish to get an email update when the review is posted.

-Kurt "Man with the 5D"

One production sample of the DXA-Connect was provided by BeachTek for evaluation. No monetary compensation was provided. The commentary I have made on this product are of my own personal experiences with it - whether favorable or unfavorable, my comments are unbiased.

I love it when a rig comes together.

The last bits to (satisfactorily) complete my 5D Mark II rig arrived today:

Though I've run it in various configurations previously, the final setup is nothing short of a joy to use.

-Kurt

Powering a BeachTek audio adapter with an external battery source

I run my rig off an Anton-Bauer Dionic 90 battery (through a 3rd-party battery adapter), a 3-hour-rated lithium-ion setup which has more stored power than I know what to do with. Given this convenient power source (with 5v, 7.2v, 12v and 15v connections on the adapter), I prefer that all the accessories on the rig run off the same power source to avoid last-minute confusion as to what on the camera has fresh batteries and what doesn't.

That, and it sure saves on batteries.

Amongst the accessories on my rig is a BeachTek DXA-5Da audio adapter, which - unlike my monitor - does not have any source for power other than a 9V battery box. Granted, the 9V power source is used only for the VU meter and headphone amp - audio devices hooked up to the unit will pass the signal to the camera with or without a battery - but it's nice to have these features at hand without worrying about battery life.

Granted, in the time that I've run it, I've used alkaline 9V batteries, not lithium - which probably account for my assessment of 9V battery life in any electronic equipment. You mileage may vary.

The unmodified BeachTek DXA-5Da

With that said, I contacted BeachTek about the voltage requirements of the unit, wherein I found out it will run equally as well on 12 volts as 9, with no issue.

EDIT: The 12V source caused an unreasonable amount of static and electronic noises when shooting. I later installed a 12-to-9V step-down adapter in the box, which I have added to the list below.

As my Anton-Bauer adapter has a 12v power source, I figured I'd take advantage of it - in a home-spun method.

Anton-Bauer adapter plate w/12v output

I located a power plug and wire off a useless Chinese doo-dad that would mate with the cable provided with the adapter and stripped the wires for soldering to the BeachTek:

Donor 12v wire

So, out came the screwdriver, and apart came the BeachTek.

WARNING: 
These photos are for example purposes only. Opening up any electronic device as shown will void its warranty and most certainly cause possible injury or death to your person and/or others. Doing so will also ruin your sex life forever. Do not try this at home or on the moon. Your stupidity will never be my responsibility in a court of law, because you free me and everybody else in the world of liability by opening your electronic stuff.

Now that that's over with, let me continue.

The DXA-5Da comes apart via the four screws at the base (hidden by four adhesive caps). Not much room to work with, particularly as the battery leads limit your ability to move the bottom half of the box aside to work in.

One drill bit later:

After a bit of debate, I decided that this location near the battery door would be the most ideal location to place the wire. Nothing would be in the way inside, and it'd be equally free of the controls at the front.

Adapter wires soldered - note tie wrap to keep the wire from pulling through

Soldering the wires into the existing 9V leads couldn't have taken more than 30 seconds.

EDIT: These procedures show the 9V unit being connected directly to the 12V source. Due to the issues relating to this combination, I purchased a 12V-to-9V step-down converter on eBay and wired it in-line with the 12V power input. The step-down unit would not fit in the BeachTek without modification, so I cut a hole in the 9V battery box, and glued the unit in from the back as shown:

 
It's a convenient and quick way about it, but given that there is no switch to re-direct the source power from the battery leads or the wire, I'd be hesitant about allowing someone other than myself to use it - combining a 9V battery and the 12V power source on the same circuit could be a nice invitation to fry something (probably the most expensive thing on your rig, as Murphy would have it).

EDIT: Now that the step-down unit takes up the area where the 9V battery would otherwise be, there is no risk of someone running the unit off of the 12V lead and a 9V battery at the same time. I did not solder the new leads to the 9V contacts either, so it wouldn't work even if one jumped it with alligator clips.

From the outside, neat and clean.

At any rate, it works perfectly off the 12V from the Chinese A-B adapter, with the step-down unit installed in the BeachTek. Excuse the funky look of the VU meter; it looks normal in person. Must have had the polarizing filter set wrong.

Success!

During my discussions, BeachTek informed me that they are working on a new adapter for release in the future that may interest me. No word of what it is.

I'm already going nuts in anticipation.

-Kurt - "Man with the 5D"