Saramonic SR-AX104 - 2-channel XLR Audio Adapter Manual

The SARAMONIC SR-AX104 is a 2-channel XLR audio adapter with preamplifiers and phantom power, ideal for any DSLR cameras with a built-in microphone jack.

PRODUCT INTRODUCTION

General Introductions

The SARAMONIC SR-AX104 is a 2-channel XLR audio adapter with preamplifiers and phantom power, ideal for any DSLR cameras with a built-in microphone jack. Wide-variety of audio devices like professional condenser microphones, wireless microphones, external audio mixers, sound boards and more can be connected to the camera via this adapter.

The SR-AX104 makes your recording work much easier. Level meter allows you to verify the proper input levels in real time, the output signal can be adjusted by the level controls for optimum recording. The phone jack lets you monitor the audio from the adapter during recording, or from camera during playback. The AGC disable feature reduces noise during quiet moments of recording.

Product Structure

1. XLR Inputs
   Two balanced XLR inputs
2. Monitor In
   Monitor input jacks for connecting the AV cable
3. Battery Compartment
   Operates on one 9 volt battery (not included).

You could use an alkaline or lithium type battery for the longest operating type.

The adapter can also operate without a battery for limited functions

4. Level Meter
   Indicates the sound level in dB for each channel
5. Gain Switches
   Selects LOW for unity gain or HIGH for +20dB boost
6. Peak Switches
   Turn on/off the LED signal indicators which flash red for overload
7. AGC ON/OFF
   Turn the AGC switch to ON to active camera AGC function
   Turn the AGC switch to OFF to disable camera AGC function

Note: The AGC ON/OFF is only applied to cameras with built-in AGC function.

8. M/S Switch
   Select mono or stereo output mode
   The mono mode is for one mono microphone recording. It can send the mono audio signal to each channel and output stereo audio signal.
   The stereo mode is for two channels recording. It provides two separate channels of audio.
9. GND1/GND2 Ground Switch
   Eliminate ground hum and noise for getting the best sound
   GND1: Separate the output signal ground from the input signal ground. To avoid the noise of the input signal passing to the output signal. This noise is usually caused by AC power, for instance, mixer with AC power adapter
   GND2: Connect the output signal ground to the input signal ground
10. POWER Switch
    Main power switch for adapter
11. PH 12V/OFF/48V
    Optional 12 or 48 volt phantom power for condenser microphones that require phantom power to operate.

Many microphones will operate on 12V to save battery power.

12. LINE/MIC/PH Switches
    Select LINE or MIC or Phantom levels
    The MIC level is for self powered microphones or wireless system.
    The LINE level is for mixers and other audio devices with a line level output, set the switch to LINE to attenuates the signal to about 40dB.
    The PH level is for microphones that require phantom power.
13. XLR/RCA Switch
    Select XLR for headphone monitoring audio from the microphones during Recording.
    Select RCA for headphone monitoring playback audio from the camera.
14. Aux Input
    1/8" (3.5 mm) auxiliary mini-jack input
15. Audio Output
    One stereo 1/8" (3.5 mm) mini-jack output
16. Left and Right Control Knobs
    Adjust the signal of each channel to the optimum recording levels
17. Volume Control Knob
    Adjusts the headphone volume level
18. PHONES
    Headphone jack to monitor the audio from microphones or camera

19. 3/8" Female Screw
20. 1/4" Female Screw

1. Install the battery.
   Lift up and pull out the drawer from the battery compartment.
   Insert 9V battery into place aligning + and - polarity as shown.
   Slide the drawer closed until it clicks into place.
2. Attach the SR-AX104 to the base of the camera. Spin counter-clockwise to tighten up the adapter with the camera. Mount the adapter to a tripod with the tripod socket on the bottom of the adapter.
3. Connect the supplied signal transmission line from the output jack (OUT) of adapter to the MICinput of camera. If there is a MIC/Line switch on the camera, select it to MIC.
4. For monitor audio from the camera during playback, connect the red and white RCA plugs on the supplied AV cable, or the AV cable that came with the camera to the corresponding red and white MONITOR IN jacks on the adapter. Attach the other end to the AV output of the camera.
5. Connect balanced XLR microphones, wireless mics or other audio sources to the LEFT and RIGHT XLR or AUX inputs on the SR-AX104.
   Note: The AUX Input is ideal for connecting wireless devices with a 3.5mm output. As it sends signal to the right channel, please do not use the right XLR Input while using the AUX Input.
6. Set the GAIN switches.
   Set the Gain switches to HIGH for most microphones.
   Set the Gain switches to LOW for very sensitive condenser microphones or recording very loud sounds.

AGC Operation Guide

Automatic gain control (AGC) provide a controlled signal amplitude at its output, despite variation of the amplitude in the input signal. By disabling AGC function, the hiss can be eliminated when the camera is recording during quite moments.

When recording under stereo mode and set the AGC switch to off, a 20kHz sine wave will be sent from left channel to the camera to turn off the AGC function. The 20kHz sine wave can be easily filtered out, and the left channel can still be used for normal recording.

When recording under mono mode, you could set the M/S switch to S and recording only on the right channel. Leaving the left channel unused, so the 20kHz sine wave will not be recorded into the audio file.

Suggestion:

1. When turn the volume of each channel to the maximum but the recording sound is still low or not clear, you could turn off the AGC.
2. When turn the volume of each channel to the minimum but the recording sound is still high, you could turn off the AGC.

Warranty

1. Saramonic International provides one-year warranty under normal use and lifelong paid maintenance from the date you purchase this product.
2. Saramonic International will repair or replace the product that under the warranty for free during the one-year valid period, but customers should pay for shipping and insurance charges for returning the product to Saramonic International.
3. This warranty only applies where a defect has arisen, wholly or substantially, as a result of faultymanufacture, parts or workmanship during the warranty period.
4. This warranty does not cover: