Rode videomic extension cable at DVinfo.net

Ernesto Llano · June 26th, 2006, 12:30 PM

I am buying the rode videomic, rode boom pole, and I am also getting a cheap Samsung SCD-363. Let me say right away that I have an extremely tight budget since I'm in high school, hence the cheap equipment. I wanted an extension cable for the microphone so I could back away with the camera&tripod, zooming in to get shallow DOF in close ups, as well as for having more mobility with the boom and mic.

The camera says it has a "Mini Microphone Input", so I was wondering what extension cable I would need to get in order to connect my camera to the videomic.

Thanks,

Ernesto.

Steve House · June 26th, 2006, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ernesto Llano

I am buying the rode videomic, rode boom pole, and I am also getting a cheap Samsung SCD-363. Let me say right away that I have an extremely tight budget since I'm in high school, hence the cheap equipment. I wanted an extension cable for the microphone so I could back away with the camera&tripod, zooming in to get shallow DOF in close ups, as well as for having more mobility with the boom and mic.

The camera says it has a "Mini Microphone Input", so I was wondering what extension cable I would need to get in order to connect my camera to the videomic.

Thanks,

Ernesto.

The Rode is a mono output but uses a stereo TRS miniplug on its cable. The "tip" and "ring" on the plug are wired together so the same signal is fed to both the left and right channels in the camera if it has a stereo external mic input while a mono jack would get a mono signal. Any conventional shielded stereo minijack to miniplug extension cable would work fine. You ahould try to find a high quality cable that is well shielded to reduce the chance of noise - something like a stereo headphone extension cable from Radio Shack would work fine from a connection standpoint but many of the cheap ones are not really designed to carry low level signals and would likely be subject to noise pickup. Rode makes an extension cable specifically for the Videomic and I'd go with it if you can find one as it's likely to be better quality than the Shack's blister-pack specials.

Ernesto Llano · June 26th, 2006, 12:50 PM

Yes, but the VC1 cable that Rode makes for the Videomic I believe is for XLR inputs or something like that. I found this at B&H:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...goryNavigation

Would that be a bad cable to buy? I find that one really cheap, but that's not always bad. I could probably pay up to $20 for a cable, but it'd need to be at least 10'.

Stu Holmes · June 26th, 2006, 12:55 PM

Ernesto

Here's a link for the cable Steve's talking about. $19.95 :

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=392841&is=REG

Ernesto Llano · June 26th, 2006, 12:59 PM

Thanks Stu,

but my camera does not have an XLR input, only has a mini input. So I don't understand how that cable would work. I mean that cable says Mini Male which would fit into my camera, as well as the videomic, to XLR female, which I don't think fits into either? Am I wrong somewhere?

Thanks,

Ernesto.

Steve House · June 26th, 2006, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ernesto Llano

Yes, but the VC1 cable that Rode makes for the Videomic I believe is for XLR inputs or something like that. I found this at B&H:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...goryNavigation

Would that be a bad cable to buy? I find that one really cheap, but that's not always bad. I could probably pay up to $20 for a cable, but it'd need to be at least 10'.

Nope - 1/8 to 1/8 - there's a misprint on the B&H site that says its XLR to mini. Maybe it includes the Rode 1/8 to XLR adapter along with the cable.

Ernesto Llano · June 26th, 2006, 01:03 PM

Ohh ok, so buying that 19.95 cable should meet my needs? How much room will 10 feet give me? Does it have to be run down the length of the boom pole?

Steve House · June 26th, 2006, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ernesto Llano

Ohh ok, so buying that 19.95 cable should meet my needs? How much room will 10 feet give me? Does it have to be run down the length of the boom pole?

Yep - BH Photo has a couple of longer cables by Hosa and Comprehensive if you think you'll need it

Guy Cochran · June 27th, 2006, 02:13 PM

Get the genuine RODE extension cable if 10' will meet your needs.

I can guarantee that the "Headphone Extension cable" by Radio Snak will give you distortion. I have two types and they both produce audible distortion when used with the RODE Videomic.

Steve House · June 27th, 2006, 03:15 PM

Another option is to get some top quality TRS miniplug and minjack connectors, some bulk Canare or Mogami mic cable, warm up to old soldering iron and make your own in whatever lengths you need. Recently got me one of those "cold soldlering" kits you see advertised on TV and I think this is just the sort of project where it'd shine.

June 26th, 2006, 12:30 PM	#1
Ernesto Llano Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Minnesota, USA Posts: 39	Rode videomic extension cable I am buying the rode videomic, rode boom pole, and I am also getting a cheap Samsung SCD-363. Let me say right away that I have an extremely tight budget since I'm in high school, hence the cheap equipment. I wanted an extension cable for the microphone so I could back away with the camera&tripod, zooming in to get shallow DOF in close ups, as well as for having more mobility with the boom and mic. The camera says it has a "Mini Microphone Input", so I was wondering what extension cable I would need to get in order to connect my camera to the videomic. Thanks, Ernesto.

June 27th, 2006, 02:13 PM	#9
Guy Cochran DVCreators.Net Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 892	Get the genuine RODE extension cable if 10' will meet your needs. I can guarantee that the "Headphone Extension cable" by Radio Snak will give you distortion. I have two types and they both produce audible distortion when used with the RODE Videomic. __________________ Guy Cochran DVinfo Sponsor, Cool Gear - DVeStore!

June 27th, 2006, 03:15 PM	#10
Steve House Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,742	Another option is to get some top quality TRS miniplug and minjack connectors, some bulk Canare or Mogami mic cable, warm up to old soldering iron and make your own in whatever lengths you need. Recently got me one of those "cold soldlering" kits you see advertised on TV and I think this is just the sort of project where it'd shine. __________________ Good news, Cousins! This week's chocolate ration is 15 grams!

June 26th, 2006, 12:50 PM	#3
Ernesto Llano Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Minnesota, USA Posts: 39	Yes, but the VC1 cable that Rode makes for the Videomic I believe is for XLR inputs or something like that. I found this at B&H: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...goryNavigation Would that be a bad cable to buy? I find that one really cheap, but that's not always bad. I could probably pay up to $20 for a cable, but it'd need to be at least 10'.

June 26th, 2006, 12:55 PM	#4
Stu Holmes Major Player Join Date: May 2005 Location: Europe Posts: 844	Ernesto Here's a link for the cable Steve's talking about. $19.95 : http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...=392841&is=REG

June 26th, 2006, 12:59 PM	#5
Ernesto Llano Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Minnesota, USA Posts: 39	Thanks Stu, but my camera does not have an XLR input, only has a mini input. So I don't understand how that cable would work. I mean that cable says Mini Male which would fit into my camera, as well as the videomic, to XLR female, which I don't think fits into either? Am I wrong somewhere? Thanks, Ernesto.

June 26th, 2006, 01:03 PM	#7
Ernesto Llano Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Minnesota, USA Posts: 39	Ohh ok, so buying that 19.95 cable should meet my needs? How much room will 10 feet give me? Does it have to be run down the length of the boom pole?