#Audio into Camcorder?
14 messages in this thread
I recently purchased a Sony TR-400, Hi8 camcorder,and I'm having trouble
getting an external mike into it. The built in mike is fine for nat sound
recording, but I'd like to use an external lav to mike for interviews (I want
to shoot news-style documentaries). All of the mikes I have are XLR outs, so
I'm adapting them to 1/8" mini pin to get them into the camera. My problem is
that with some mikes, I'm getting some static, whenever the mike is moved (with
different cords, and different mikes). With other mikes/cords, I'm picking up
local radio stations (so I assume those cords aren't shielded enough). All I
want is to get clean audio into my camera, so I can transfer to betam SP to
edit. If anyone has any hints, or has experience of this type with their own
camcorder, I'd appreciate any help.
Thanks,
Paul Muczynski
76312,3153
Paul:
>I recently purchased a Sony TR-400, Hi8 camcorder,and I'm having trouble
getting an external mike into it. The built in mike is fine for nat sound
recording, but I'd like to use an external lav to mike for interviews (I want
to shoot news-style documentaries). All of the mikes I have are XLR outs, so
I'm adapting them to 1/8" mini pin to get them into the camera. My problem is
that with some mikes, I'm getting some static, whenever the mike is moved (with
different cords, and different mikes). With other mikes/cords, I'm picking up
local radio stations (so I assume those cords aren't shielded enough). <
Sounds to me like maybe you should look at your XLR-minipin connectors
first–they may not be sufficiently shielded or connecting sufficiently well to
prevent static, esp. while you're moving. Also, check how a straight minipin
mike works w/your audio jack on your camcorder–you could have a problem there.
Unfortunately, you've run into Scotty's First Law w/the adaptors and the cables
and all that–"The more you overthink the plumbin', the easier it is to stop up
the drain" <g>. Have you considered just getting a VHF wireless lav that will
plug directly into a minipin connector? That way, you wouldn't have to worry
about XLR-minipin compatibility, nor would you have to worry that your cables
may not be sufficiently shielded…
Hope this helps,
Tim Liebe
Tim & Paul,
I've run into the same problems with my TR-700's mic jacks. They work great
with mic that already have mini plugs (i.e. these plugs were intended for mic
use), but it seems like anything I try to plug in that has been adapted using a
standard mono-mini connector gives me problems (particularly with the
camcorder's Right audio channel).
I suspect all of this has to do with the fact that the camcorder's stereo
miniplug receptacle seems to require either A) a real stereo miniplug with a
stereo signal, or B) a mono miniplug that was intended for use with either mono
or stereo receptacles. Having adapters with B) would be really nice, but Radio
Shack doesn't seem to have such an animal.
Whattapane!
-Chris
CNR Media Services
> I've run into the same problems with my TR-700's mic jacks. They work great
with mic that already have mini plugs (i.e. these plugs were intended for mic
use), but it seems like anything I try to plug in that has been adapted using a
standard mono-mini connector gives me problems (particularly with the
camcorder's Right audio channel).
I'm finding the exact same thing with the TR-500's mic jack (surprise!).
> I suspect all of this has to do with the fact that the camcorder's stereo
miniplug receptacle seems to require either A) a real stereo miniplug with a
stereo signal, or B) a mono miniplug that was intended for use with either mono
or stereo receptacles. Having adapters with B) would be really nice, but Radio
Shack doesn't seem to have such an animal.
It's rather disturbing that nobody seems to have found a solution for this.
Does anybody know what's so magic about the Sony mic jack, and exactly what
magic mini plug I need to search the planet for? I can't imagine that it would
be so rare to want to put an extension on an external camcorder mic.
– aj
Chris:
> I've run into the same problems with my TR-700's mic jacks. They work great
with mic that already have mini plugs (i.e. these plugs were intended for mic
use), but it seems like anything I try to plug in that has been adapted using a
standard mono-mini connector gives me problems (particularly with the
camcorder's Right audio channel).<
Jeez O' Pete! What a mess…
Best,
Tim
Tim,
I've considered a wireless lav, but first I'd like to see if I can solve my
problem with what I already have (and hopefully save some money).
Regarding the auctual camcorder audio jack, I plugged a lav with a mini pin
directly into the camera and it worked great. Once I used any type of cord to
extend, either the mike didn't work, or I got static again. Is there any way
to make this work without having to buy a wireless?
Thanks,
Paul Muczynski
76312,3153
Paul:
>Regarding the auctual camcorder audio jack, I plugged a lav with a mini pin
directly into the camera and it worked great. Once I used any type of cord to
extend, either the mike didn't work, or I got static again. Is there any way
to make this work without having to buy a wireless? <
I suspect that, since the miniplug mike signal's normally high-impedance (if I
recall my Audio 101 correctly <g>), the signal can only travel so far before it
doesn't work or starts to give you problems (for some reason, 18 feet sticks
in my mind). Your XLR jacks are for low-impedance mikes, OTOH (and so's its
cabling).
Now have you tried getting your hands on a well-shielded 15 foot or less length
of miniplug cable extension cable (Radio Shack *should* have it, and if not try
your local electronics store) and using that? Your XLR cable won't work well,
since it's designed to create less resistance than a high-impedance mike needs.
If that fails, then there's a problem w/the connections somewhere, and you'll
just have to play w/them until you get them working.
Oh, and BTW–make sure your audio extension cable isn't draped over any
electrical outlets or looped in odd ways…otherwise, it's acting as an antenna
for whatever electromagnetic signals are in the air (which could ALSO be
causing your static).
Hope this helps,
Tim
"Oh, and BTW–make sure your audio extension cable isn't draped over any
electrical outlets or looped in odd ways…otherwise, it's acting as an antenna
for whatever electromagnetic signals are in the air (which could ALSO be
causing your static)."
Nope.. the 'static' is definately due to the physical connection inside the
mic jack. I've tried mics with 1/4" plugs adapted to mini-size, and also
line-level signals with an attenuating adaptor: these should have no impedence
problems with the mic jack (and there are none… it sounds perfectly normal
until you wiggle the connector the slightest bit).
-Chris
CNR Media Services
Chris:
> Nope.. the 'static' is definately due to the physical connection inside the
mic jack. I've tried mics with 1/4" plugs adapted to mini-size, and also
line-level signals with an attenuating adaptor: these should have no impedence
problems with the mic jack (and there are none… it sounds perfectly normal
until you wiggle the connector the slightest bit).<
Sounds to me like it's time to take your camcorder in and get that mic jack
fixed! Hopefully, your camcorder's still under warranty, so you can demand they
repair it…
Best,
Tim
"Sounds to me like it's time to take your camcorder in and get that mic jack
fixed! Hopefully, your camcorder's still under warranty, so you can demand they
repair it…"
It's not broken. I have two of them, and they behave the same way. Again, they
work perfectly when using mini-plugs designed for mic use (attached to mics).
The problem is one of connector standards.
-Chris
CNR Media Services
Chris:
> It's not broken. I have two of them, and they behave the same way. Again,
they work perfectly when using mini-plugs designed for mic use (attached to
mics).
The problem is one of connector standards.<
Guess you'll just have to get shielded cables that use miniplugs, then…
Hope it works out for you,
Tim
You may have a problem with an unbalanced output from the XLR to miniplug
connector. You should make sure that you have an impedance matching transfer
built into the XLR connector and that everthing is grounded correctly.
There is a company Carlson-Strand that makes a mounted adapter for the VX3
allowing use of 2 XLR mics. The adapter is mounted to the bottom of the unit so
the unbalanced cable is short compaired to the longer balanced low impedance
cable from the mics. I don't know if there is a low-z to hi z transformer in
the step or not. The company advertises in the back of several video mags such
as videoMaker, video, so it might be worth a call to find out just what their
setup is.
Another solution — go to a music shop with a good service department, take you
camera/manual with specks and the mic you wish to use and have them make custom
cabling for you with any transformers (if necessary) added. You can test it
with them until it does the job you want. Most good shops (particularly if they
support live sound setups for bands) can do this quite easily.
Reg Harris
"There is a company Carlson-Strand that makes a mounted adapter for the VX3
allowing use of 2 XLR mics"
Carlson-Strand does not make this adapter. I would love to have one too for my
VX3 but will have to custom make one. I like the idea of mounting the adapter
on the bottom of the camera for rigidity – not having to worry about putting
strain on the camera mic cable. If anyone knows who does make this adapter, I
would appreciate hearing from you.