Mic Adapter Info Here-Mini to XLR at DVinfo.net

Cate Poole · February 18th, 2005, 08:56 AM

I am going to use my external mics from my VX camera that have mini plugs. I thought it would be a cakewalk to find an adapter to XLR, but it was harder than I thought. If anyone has mini plug mics they want to adapt to XLR I'll save you some time and share what I found.

http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/adapters.html
Part # 35-469
$6.60

Shannon Rawls · February 18th, 2005, 01:25 PM

Pacific Radio (www.pacrad.com) on La Brea/Santa Monica in Hollywood has a bunch of em too. I bought 2 just to have in the sound kit.

What I need is an inexpensive adjustable XLRf to XLRm in-line pad/attenuator.

This should probably be moved to "Now Hear This"

- Shannon W. Rawls

David Ennis · February 18th, 2005, 03:03 PM

Shannon, the AT8202 attenuators are great. Switchable between -10, -20 and -30 dB. I have two. $43.50

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=68085&is=REG

Carlos E. Martinez · February 19th, 2005, 05:42 AM

<<<-- Originally posted by Cate Poole : I am going to use my external mics from my VX camera that have mini plugs. I thought it would be a cakewalk to find an adapter to XLR, but it was harder than I thought. If anyone has mini plug mics they want to adapt to XLR I'll save you some time and share what I found.

http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/adapters.html
Part # 35-469
$6.60 -->>>

That RAM adaptor won't really do for connecting a mic to your VX camera. You need a female XLR (or two for stereo) and a 1/8" stereo plug on the other end, not a jack.

Look here for two kind of adaptors:

http://www.equipmentemporium.com/audiofor.htm

They have one cable that is DC blocked and another that is not. If in doubt buy the blocked one. One is called "XLRH8/DV cable" and costs $49.95. The other is called "XLR-DV female XLR to stereo mini adapter cable" and costs $18.00.

Those are all mono cables, sending the mic signal to both channels.

If you are going to do stereo recordings you should get a "Y" cable. I think B&H sells one.

Carlos

James Connors · February 19th, 2005, 05:57 AM

I made a lil rig for hooking up my electret minijack to my XLR in... bought a Male XLR adapter that has a full size female jack input, then a standard mini to full size jack adapter. It sticks out a mile! I'm hoping someone can make me a smaller solution, but at least it works.

Carlos E. Martinez · February 19th, 2005, 03:57 PM

<<<-- Originally posted by James Connors : I made a lil rig for hooking up my electret minijack to my XLR in... bought a Male XLR adapter that has a full size female jack input, then a standard mini to full size jack adapter. It sticks out a mile! I'm hoping someone can make me a smaller solution, but at least it works. -->>>

If possible do not use one piece adapters, particularly 1/4" to 1/8" types. They tend to damage the fragile 1/8" jacks on your camera.

My advice is always to prefer short cables between the connectors, and never unplug them again from your camera. In that way you simply unplug the XLR end, that should and will stand use and abuse. At the URL above you will find them ready made for a reasonable price.

Carlos

James Connors · February 20th, 2005, 06:17 AM

Carlos, that adapter looks great, a lot better than the one I use currently. I'll see if anyone on the UK forum I use knows if there's anywhere over here before I buy, because thats exactly what I had in my mind when I invisioned "the perfect adapter" :) Cheers

Cate Poole · February 21st, 2005, 09:00 AM

I need to add an addendum to my first post. The RAM electronics mini to XLR adaptor has a female stereo input so if your mic has a mini mono plug it won't work. I had to get a 1/8 (3.5mm) mono to stereo adapter to get it to work, BUT I am concerned with this set up. Simply too many adapters. I think I'm going to have to bite the bullet and get the AT897-direct XLR input for clean sound.

February 18th, 2005, 08:56 AM	#1
Cate Poole New Boot Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ocean Grove, NJ Posts: 17	Mic Adapter Info Here-Mini to XLR I am going to use my external mics from my VX camera that have mini plugs. I thought it would be a cakewalk to find an adapter to XLR, but it was harder than I thought. If anyone has mini plug mics they want to adapt to XLR I'll save you some time and share what I found. http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/adapters.html Part # 35-469 $6.60

February 18th, 2005, 03:03 PM	#3
David Ennis Fred Retread Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hartford, CT Posts: 1,227	Shannon, the AT8202 attenuators are great. Switchable between -10, -20 and -30 dB. I have two. $43.50 http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=68085&is=REG __________________ "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence..." - Calvin Coolidge "My brain is wired to want to know how other things are wired." - Me

February 19th, 2005, 05:42 AM	#4
Carlos E. Martinez Trustee Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brasil Posts: 1,138	Re: Mic Adapter Info Here-Mini to XLR <<<-- Originally posted by Cate Poole : I am going to use my external mics from my VX camera that have mini plugs. I thought it would be a cakewalk to find an adapter to XLR, but it was harder than I thought. If anyone has mini plug mics they want to adapt to XLR I'll save you some time and share what I found. http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/adapters.html Part # 35-469 $6.60 -->>> That RAM adaptor won't really do for connecting a mic to your VX camera. You need a female XLR (or two for stereo) and a 1/8" stereo plug on the other end, not a jack. Look here for two kind of adaptors: http://www.equipmentemporium.com/audiofor.htm They have one cable that is DC blocked and another that is not. If in doubt buy the blocked one. One is called "XLRH8/DV cable" and costs $49.95. The other is called "XLR-DV female XLR to stereo mini adapter cable" and costs $18.00. Those are all mono cables, sending the mic signal to both channels. If you are going to do stereo recordings you should get a "Y" cable. I think B&H sells one. Carlos

February 21st, 2005, 09:00 AM	#8
Cate Poole New Boot Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ocean Grove, NJ Posts: 17	Addendum to Adapter Info I need to add an addendum to my first post. The RAM electronics mini to XLR adaptor has a female stereo input so if your mic has a mini mono plug it won't work. I had to get a 1/8 (3.5mm) mono to stereo adapter to get it to work, BUT I am concerned with this set up. Simply too many adapters. I think I'm going to have to bite the bullet and get the AT897-direct XLR input for clean sound.

February 18th, 2005, 01:25 PM	#2
Shannon Rawls Major Player Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Los Angeles, California Posts: 853	Pacific Radio (www.pacrad.com) on La Brea/Santa Monica in Hollywood has a bunch of em too. I bought 2 just to have in the sound kit. What I need is an inexpensive adjustable XLRf to XLRm in-line pad/attenuator. This should probably be moved to "Now Hear This" - Shannon W. Rawls

February 19th, 2005, 05:57 AM	#5
James Connors Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cardiff, UK Posts: 223	I made a lil rig for hooking up my electret minijack to my XLR in... bought a Male XLR adapter that has a full size female jack input, then a standard mini to full size jack adapter. It sticks out a mile! I'm hoping someone can make me a smaller solution, but at least it works.

February 19th, 2005, 03:57 PM	#6
Carlos E. Martinez Trustee Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brasil Posts: 1,138	<<<-- Originally posted by James Connors : I made a lil rig for hooking up my electret minijack to my XLR in... bought a Male XLR adapter that has a full size female jack input, then a standard mini to full size jack adapter. It sticks out a mile! I'm hoping someone can make me a smaller solution, but at least it works. -->>> If possible do not use one piece adapters, particularly 1/4" to 1/8" types. They tend to damage the fragile 1/8" jacks on your camera. My advice is always to prefer short cables between the connectors, and never unplug them again from your camera. In that way you simply unplug the XLR end, that should and will stand use and abuse. At the URL above you will find them ready made for a reasonable price. Carlos

February 20th, 2005, 06:17 AM	#7
James Connors Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cardiff, UK Posts: 223	Carlos, that adapter looks great, a lot better than the one I use currently. I'll see if anyone on the UK forum I use knows if there's anywhere over here before I buy, because thats exactly what I had in my mind when I invisioned "the perfect adapter" :) Cheers