Lavalier question at DVinfo.net

Marco Leavitt · October 26th, 2003, 12:03 PM

Can anyone recommend a good lavalier that runs off of plug in power from a Sony minidisc? All of the professional lavs I've seen require phantom power and would probably be too hot for my purposes. I want to put the minidisc in a groom's pocket and put the lav on his lapel to record the vows, so this means no room for pre-amp or attenuator cables or anything. Sony makes a lav for their minidiscs, but I don't have a lot of faith in them.

Jun Galinato · October 26th, 2003, 02:00 PM

I bought a clip omni directional microphone from Radio Shack, it's a mono with battery, but I cut the switch with battery and replaced the connector with a stereo mini-plug and works really good with my new MZ-N707 mini disc recorder. I set the record mode to LP2, 160 minutes for 80 blank MD.

Matt Stahley · October 26th, 2003, 05:18 PM

http://www.soundprofessionals.com

Have a look here.

Marco Leavitt · October 26th, 2003, 06:23 PM

I've been looking at the Sound Professionals microphones. Do you have any experience with them? I don't know of anyone who has used their stuff, but it looks to be pretty good quality.

Marty Wein · October 26th, 2003, 06:34 PM

Microphonemadness.com makes real good stuff. if you are looking for higher quality they also offer mics that are made with Sennheiser Capsules

Dave Largent · October 26th, 2003, 07:05 PM

Anyone know the exact voltage coming to a mic from a minidisc?
Is this something listed in the specs of the owners manual? I'm in the same situation of trying to use a minidisc with a mic requiring power, as I've been told by an audio guy that all dynamic lavs are terrible, atleast in comparison to condenser.

Matt Stahley · October 27th, 2003, 03:24 PM

Marco I have no experience with the SP's mics but have been looking at them my self as well. I know the higher end use Audio-Technica capsules and all the mics seem to be well built.

Dany Nativel · October 27th, 2003, 04:35 PM

I cut the wire going to the power module of my Sony ECM55 to make it MD compliant. After cutting it I put a mini-XLR connector at each end so I can use the ECM in two modes :
- Battery powered (XLR mode)
- Mini-Disc powered (MD mode)

It's been working very well
Dany

Mike Rehmus · October 27th, 2003, 07:54 PM

Sony makes a fairly nice lav that has a removable power module. The MD recorder (3 Volts, usually) will supply the power for the microphone. $45 at B&H.

Sony ECM-T145

Good for voice. Not great on level overloads like hanging one in front of a speaker.

Marco Leavitt · October 27th, 2003, 08:32 PM

Dany,
Really? That's wild! But maybe a little too adventurous for me. :)

I may give the ECM-T145 a try. At $45, it seems like a good place to start. Thanks Mike.

Dany Nativel · October 28th, 2003, 06:37 AM

Marco,

It's really not that hard, you should try because that will enable you to use some pretty good lavalier.

Check out the PDF below. I'm preparing a couple of articles to present the different custom cables I've been building over the years for the microphone, light...

http://www.natzo.com/hardware/ECM.pdf

For other brand/models of lavalier you can go to Lectrosonic website. They have the pinout for almost all lavaliers.
Adding the mini-XLR connector gives you a lot of flexibility (Mini-Disc, Power module, UHF module).

Dany

October 26th, 2003, 12:03 PM	#1
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	Lavalier question Can anyone recommend a good lavalier that runs off of plug in power from a Sony minidisc? All of the professional lavs I've seen require phantom power and would probably be too hot for my purposes. I want to put the minidisc in a groom's pocket and put the lav on his lapel to record the vows, so this means no room for pre-amp or attenuator cables or anything. Sony makes a lav for their minidiscs, but I don't have a lot of faith in them.

October 26th, 2003, 02:00 PM	#2
Jun Galinato Major Player Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Auburn, Washington Posts: 231	I bought a clip omni directional microphone from Radio Shack, it's a mono with battery, but I cut the switch with battery and replaced the connector with a stereo mini-plug and works really good with my new MZ-N707 mini disc recorder. I set the record mode to LP2, 160 minutes for 80 blank MD. __________________ Sony Z7U, Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 24-105 F4L, Canon 70-200 F2.8L, Canon 580 EXII, Zoom H2.

October 27th, 2003, 07:54 PM	#9
Mike Rehmus Wrangler Join Date: May 2002 Location: Vallejo, California Posts: 4,049	Sony makes a fairly nice lav that has a removable power module. The MD recorder (3 Volts, usually) will supply the power for the microphone. $45 at B&H. Sony ECM-T145 Good for voice. Not great on level overloads like hanging one in front of a speaker. __________________ Mike Rehmus Hey, I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel!

October 26th, 2003, 05:18 PM	#3
Matt Stahley Major Player Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Waynesboro, PA Posts: 648	http://www.soundprofessionals.com Have a look here.

October 26th, 2003, 06:23 PM	#4
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	I've been looking at the Sound Professionals microphones. Do you have any experience with them? I don't know of anyone who has used their stuff, but it looks to be pretty good quality.

October 26th, 2003, 06:34 PM	#5
Marty Wein Major Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 229	Microphonemadness.com makes real good stuff. if you are looking for higher quality they also offer mics that are made with Sennheiser Capsules

October 26th, 2003, 07:05 PM	#6
Dave Largent Trustee Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,483	Anyone know the exact voltage coming to a mic from a minidisc? Is this something listed in the specs of the owners manual? I'm in the same situation of trying to use a minidisc with a mic requiring power, as I've been told by an audio guy that all dynamic lavs are terrible, atleast in comparison to condenser.

October 27th, 2003, 03:24 PM	#7
Matt Stahley Major Player Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Waynesboro, PA Posts: 648	Marco I have no experience with the SP's mics but have been looking at them my self as well. I know the higher end use Audio-Technica capsules and all the mics seem to be well built.

October 27th, 2003, 04:35 PM	#8
Dany Nativel Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Odenton, MD Posts: 106	I cut the wire going to the power module of my Sony ECM55 to make it MD compliant. After cutting it I put a mini-XLR connector at each end so I can use the ECM in two modes : - Battery powered (XLR mode) - Mini-Disc powered (MD mode) It's been working very well Dany

October 27th, 2003, 08:32 PM	#10
Marco Leavitt Inner Circle Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Albany, NY 12210 Posts: 2,652	Dany, Really? That's wild! But maybe a little too adventurous for me. :) I may give the ECM-T145 a try. At $45, it seems like a good place to start. Thanks Mike.

October 28th, 2003, 06:37 AM	#11
Dany Nativel Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Odenton, MD Posts: 106	Marco, It's really not that hard, you should try because that will enable you to use some pretty good lavalier. Check out the PDF below. I'm preparing a couple of articles to present the different custom cables I've been building over the years for the microphone, light... http://www.natzo.com/hardware/ECM.pdf For other brand/models of lavalier you can go to Lectrosonic website. They have the pinout for almost all lavaliers. Adding the mini-XLR connector gives you a lot of flexibility (Mini-Disc, Power module, UHF module). Dany