juicedLink DT414 4-Channel DSLR Camera Microphone Preamplifier

Comments about juicedLink DT414 4-Channel DSLR Camera Microphone Preamplifier:

I'm a part-time professional videographer who shoots mostly corporate videos for internal use and at conferences and seminars. I've been shooting happily with a Canon prosumer camcorder but recently decided to augment my shooting with a Nikon D5100 DSLR.

Shooting professional quality video with DSLRs has some issues, but, by far the biggest one is getting quality audio. All DSLRs lack XLR inputs (essential for using quality microphones) and most lack a headphone jack, which is essential for monitoring sound. The Juicedlink DT414 is one of several devices available to remedy these audio issues. This unit is essentially the same as the DT454, but lacks phantom power and AGC defeat, which I didn't need. I use a variety of both balanced and unbalanced microphones, both electret condenser and dynamic. Beachtek makes a similar unit at the same price which I tested also. I preferred the Juicedlink.

Most important to me is sound quality, because that's the reason I bought it in the first place. The DT414 has a very low-noise preamplifiers and an open, clean sound. The overall quality is excellent. It also has 30db of very clean, quiet active gain which is essential if you use dynamic mics like a Shure SM58. (The Beachtek had only 20db gain.) The reason gain is so important is that this allows you to turn down the noisy pre-amps built into the SLR. The DT414 has four separate level controls and both XLR and 1/8" TRS inputs. Any mic that doesn't need phantom power can be used with it successfully. This unit uses very bright LEDs to indicate proper level and they're easily calibrated over a wide range. They should be accurate with almost any recording device. (One reviewer knocked this unit for not being usable right out of the box. Really? This is a professional device and most people who are serious about sound won't mind spending an hour setting it up once.)

The construction of the DT414 seems solid although slightly unrefined. But there are a few ergonomic issues. Some of the switches are on the bottom of the unit and need a small screwdriver to flip them. Most of these only need to be used once at setup. But the one that allows you to switch the TRS input from being mic level to line level to monitor your recording after you record it is also on the bottom and very inconvenient when you want to switch from one function to the other. Also, the 1/4" threaded hole for a tripod screw and the captive screw for attaching to the camera are too close together so a quick release plate covers the screw and must be removed first in order to remove the camera. But these are pretty minor inconveniences.

I did have reason to contact customer support, and both times I got a quick reply from Robert Rozak, who is the company president and chief engineer/designer. That level of personal, knowledgeable support is unusual and highly desirable in my book.

Overall, the DT414 is a very high performing and useful tool at a very reasonable price.