Connecting lav mic without phantom power at DVinfo.net

Peter Berger · November 15th, 2013, 04:52 PM

Is there a lav mic I can plug into the camera that doesnt have phantom power. I tried to plug Sennheiser lav mic into my old Canon HV20 and it doesnt work. Its working only with the wireless system, but I dont need expensive wireless system when I am shooting seated interviews, so is there a solution for this? I mean solution for lav mics (I dont want to use shotgun mic etc.).

Richard Crowley · November 15th, 2013, 06:54 PM

There are dynamic (magnetic) microphones which do not need phantom power.
But they are rather large, and very rare to find as a clip-on lav mic.

Virtually all modern lav mics are electret which DO require power of some kind.
The most convenient way is to use plug-in power from the camera.
But if your camera doesn't provide plug-in power, then you need a self-powered lav mic.

A relatively inexpensive self-powered lav mic is....
Amazon.com: Audio-Technica ATR-3350 Lavalier Omnidirectional Condenser Microphone: Musical Instruments

Gary Nattrass · November 15th, 2013, 08:04 PM

Low cost lav mics such as the ultradisk 4016 do not need full phantom power at 48v and can work with 3-10v across the twin cable connectors. This is also known as plug in power and it is possible to build a very simple box to.provide such power as per the radio shack pzm mics from the 80's.

Search for ultradisk 4016 and you will hear examples of these mics that can be used direct with radio mics or with a power box like the one that akg make.

Battle Vaughan · November 15th, 2013, 08:15 PM

+1 on what Richard said. I have one of these for videos on my Nikon D7000, have also used it with a field mixer, quality and sensitivity are
pretty amazing considering the price. Just don't get the battery in backwards, it will still work but very badly, and some people have thought the mike was faulty because of this. And DON"T plug it into phantom power. Don't ask how I know this.

Peter Berger · November 16th, 2013, 03:10 PM

Thanks, I will probably try that Audio Technica lav.

Gary Nattrass · November 17th, 2013, 03:30 AM

A low cost dual lav solution for DSLR's etc would be to get one of these: http://www.akg.com/B29+L-779.html?pid=113

and two of these and off you go: http://www.uket.co.uk/ultradisk-4016...ier-microphone

The AKG is around £50 and will provide mixing and power facilities for two mics, the 3.5mm jack output is also DSLR and smaller camera friendly but they also do version with XLR output: http://www.thomann.de/gb/akg_b29l.htm

This will give you a system ideal for interviews as you have two lav mics but you can still adjust the levels before you feed your camera and all for less than £100.

Rick Reineke · November 18th, 2013, 08:51 AM

The Ulltradisk 4016 is a unidirectional lav mic which is subject to volume drop-outs from 'head turns', wind, cable noise, proximity and other unwanted abnormalities. An omnidirectional is usually preferable.. unless it is being used in conjunction with live sound system where feedback is an issue.

Gary Nattrass · November 18th, 2013, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Reineke

The Ulltradisk 4016 is a unidirectional lav mic which is subject to volume drop-outs from 'head turns', wind, cable noise, proximity and other unwanted abnormalities. An omnidirectional is usually preferable.. unless it is being used in conjunction with live sound system where feedback is an issue.

They say they are unidirectional but I have found them to work fine upside down and they are not very directional at all, here is a clip of two being used last week:

November 15th, 2013, 04:52 PM	#1
Peter Berger Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 136	Connecting lav mic without phantom power Is there a lav mic I can plug into the camera that doesnt have phantom power. I tried to plug Sennheiser lav mic into my old Canon HV20 and it doesnt work. Its working only with the wireless system, but I dont need expensive wireless system when I am shooting seated interviews, so is there a solution for this? I mean solution for lav mics (I dont want to use shotgun mic etc.).

November 15th, 2013, 06:54 PM	#2
Richard Crowley Trustee Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 1,238	Re: Connecting lav mic without phantom power There are dynamic (magnetic) microphones which do not need phantom power. But they are rather large, and very rare to find as a clip-on lav mic. Virtually all modern lav mics are electret which DO require power of some kind. The most convenient way is to use plug-in power from the camera. But if your camera doesn't provide plug-in power, then you need a self-powered lav mic. A relatively inexpensive self-powered lav mic is.... Amazon.com: Audio-Technica ATR-3350 Lavalier Omnidirectional Condenser Microphone: Musical Instruments

November 15th, 2013, 08:04 PM	#3
Gary Nattrass Trustee Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Cornsay Durham UK Posts: 1,992	Re: Connecting lav mic without phantom power Low cost lav mics such as the ultradisk 4016 do not need full phantom power at 48v and can work with 3-10v across the twin cable connectors. This is also known as plug in power and it is possible to build a very simple box to.provide such power as per the radio shack pzm mics from the 80's. Search for ultradisk 4016 and you will hear examples of these mics that can be used direct with radio mics or with a power box like the one that akg make. __________________ Over 15 minutes in Broadcast Film and TV production: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1044352/

November 15th, 2013, 08:15 PM	#4
Battle Vaughan Trustee Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Miami, FL USA Posts: 1,505	Re: Connecting lav mic without phantom power +1 on what Richard said. I have one of these for videos on my Nikon D7000, have also used it with a field mixer, quality and sensitivity are pretty amazing considering the price. Just don't get the battery in backwards, it will still work but very badly, and some people have thought the mike was faulty because of this. And DON"T plug it into phantom power. Don't ask how I know this.

November 16th, 2013, 03:10 PM	#5
Peter Berger Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Czech Republic Posts: 136	Re: Connecting lav mic without phantom power Thanks, I will probably try that Audio Technica lav.

November 17th, 2013, 03:30 AM	#6
Gary Nattrass Trustee Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Cornsay Durham UK Posts: 1,992	Re: Connecting lav mic without phantom power A low cost dual lav solution for DSLR's etc would be to get one of these: http://www.akg.com/B29+L-779.html?pid=113 and two of these and off you go: http://www.uket.co.uk/ultradisk-4016...ier-microphone The AKG is around £50 and will provide mixing and power facilities for two mics, the 3.5mm jack output is also DSLR and smaller camera friendly but they also do version with XLR output: http://www.thomann.de/gb/akg_b29l.htm This will give you a system ideal for interviews as you have two lav mics but you can still adjust the levels before you feed your camera and all for less than £100. __________________ Over 15 minutes in Broadcast Film and TV production: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1044352/

November 18th, 2013, 08:51 AM	#7
Rick Reineke Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New York Posts: 2,038	Re: Connecting lav mic without phantom power The Ulltradisk 4016 is a unidirectional lav mic which is subject to volume drop-outs from 'head turns', wind, cable noise, proximity and other unwanted abnormalities. An omnidirectional is usually preferable.. unless it is being used in conjunction with live sound system where feedback is an issue.