Three Audio Adapters for DSLR and Mirrorless Cameras: JuicedLink, beachtek and Saramonic

If you shoot with DSLR or mirrorless cameras and you want to connect multiple lavalier or XLR microphones, an audio adapter may be a good option for you. But can you really produce high quality audio with one of these adapters? Let’s have a listen to three adapters and see: The JuicedLink Riggy Assist 222, the beachtek DXA-Micro Pro, and the Saramonic SR-PAX2.

The audio for this episode was recorded entirely with these adapters (noted for each clip) along with a decent to good quality condenser microphone (RODE NTG2 and Audio Technica AT4053b).

So that you can evaluate the sound quality from each of these adapters, we did not do any processing of the audio clips aside from loudness normalizing each clip to -23 LUFS, the European broadcast standard for TV loudness. No EQ, no compression, no de-noising, etc.

Full disclosure: For this comparison, B&H lent me the JuicedLink RA222, beachtek gave me the beachtek DXA-Micro Pro, and Saramonic gave me the Saramonic SR-PAX2.

If you’d like to improve your sound recording skills for film, please have a look at our Sound Recording for Video course over at http://school.learnlightandsound.com

Visit us at http://learnlightandsound.com for more updates on how to improve your lighting and sound for video. Also be sure to subscribe to get new weekly episodes!

Gear mentioned in or used to record this episode:

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Juiced Link Riggy Assist 222 (2 XLR inputs)

B&H Photo: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/893487-REG/juicedLink_ra222_Riggy_Assist_2XLR_Phantom_Power_Meters_Preamp.html/BI/19904/KBID/12941/kw/JURA222/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xJURA222

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beachtek DXA-Micro Pro (1 XLR input, 3 3.5mm inputs)

Amazon: https://geni.us/nRnSsFt

B&H Photo: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1244123-REG/beachtek_dxa_micro_pro_dxa_micro_pro_active_xlr_compact.html/BI/19904/KBID/12941/kw/BEDXAMICROP/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xBEDXAMICROP

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Saramonic SR-PAX 2 (2 XLR inputs, 3 3.5mm inputs)

Amazon: https://geni.us/IfZv

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Also shot with Aputure Light Storm LS1s LED Light, Nikon D750, Audio Technica AT4053b Microphone, Sound Devices 633 Mixer/Recorder, Rycote Cyclone Windshield

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Aputure Light Storm LS1s LED Light

Amazon: https://geni.us/lfEA

B&H Photo: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1172653-REG/aputure_ls1sv_light_storm_ls_1s.html/BI/19904/KBID/12941/kw/APLS1SV/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xAPLS1SV

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Nikon D750

Amazon: https://geni.us/U2KwXf

B&H Photo: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1082599-REG/nikon_d750_dslr_camera_body.html/BI/19904/KBID/12941/kw/NID750/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xNID750

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Audio Technica AT4053b Hyper-cardioid Microphone

Amazon: https://geni.us/dwp7KB

B&H Photo: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/642499-REG/Audio_Technica_AT4053B_AT4053b_Hypercardioid_Condenser_Microphone.html/BI/19904/KBID/12941/kw/AUAT4053B/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xAUAT4053B

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Sound Devices 633 Mixer/Recorder

DVeStore: http://www.dvestore.com/guy-says-gear-reviews/audio/audio-recorders-mixers/sound-devices-633-six-input-compact-mixer-with-10-track-recorder/#aid=6242

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Rycote Cyclone Shockmount

B&H Photo/Video: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1245728-REG/rycote_89102_cyclone_windshield_kit_medium.html/BI/19904/KBID/12941/kw/RYCWJKS/DFF/d10-v2-t1-xRYCWJKS

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Copyright 2016 by Curtis Judd

Ethics statement: Some of the links above are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, or other affiliate links.