topic XA70 Questions on how to record external audio using 3.5mm mic terminal in Professional Video

XA70 Questions on how to record external audio using 3.5mm mic terminal

anubhav4you — Sat, 30 Aug 2025 17:48:34 GMT

Hi, I have a XA70 camcorder and I want to record audio using a 'RODE VideoMic Pro+' shotgun mic. The mic connects using a 3.5mm cable to the 'MIC Terminal'.

I have read the manual a few times and the table on page 76 is a bit confusing.

Here are my settings:
- Movie format - XF-AVC, 23.98p
- Mode: Manual

I have these questions:
1- When I use the external Rode mic with 3.5mm cable, I am not sure if the audio using the external mic will be recorded to ch1/2 or ch3/4. As far as I know, Rode mic records two channels of mono.
2- How do I manually control the volume of signal coming from the external mic?
3- The first page (Menu page 1) of 'Audio Setup' is grayed up. I have performed complete camcorder reset a couple of times and have also tried to remove the supplied handle.
4- I can't get that page to become active -- no matter which mode I am in.
5- Is there a way to slow down the speed of zoom when using the front zoom ring?

Thanks!

Re: XA70 Questions on how to record external audio using 3.5mm mic terminal

Hazel_T — Sun, 31 Aug 2025 21:55:43 GMT

Hi anubhav4you,

The controls to set up your mic are all on the top handle of the camera. You do not need to use the menu to set up a 3.5mm mic.

First on the handle set switch either Input 1 or Input 2 to Int.MIC/MIC. If you set that for Input 1 your 3.5mm mic will record to Channel 1 and if you set that for Input 2 it will record to Channel 2. With that set if the camera doesn't detect a 3.5mm mic it will use the built in mic. If it does detect that a 3.5mm mic is plugged in it will use that mic for the channel. The Audio Setup page of the Menu will not be available when you have one of the inputs set to Int.Mic/Mic.

To adjust the audio levels on the handle set Ch1 to M if you are using Input 1 or set Ch2 to M if you are using Input 2. Then you can use the adjustment dial on the handle for that channel to increase or decrease the audio levels.

There is not a way to slow down the speed of the zoom ring on the camera.

Re: XA70 Questions on how to record external audio using 3.5mm mic terminal

anubhav4you — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 15:02:44 GMT

Thanks a lot Hazel.