View Full Version : Mini-to-XLR cable


Stylianos Moschapidakis
July 7th, 2005, 03:24 PM
I need a mini male plug to female XLR cable to connect a mono XLR mic (the pd150 native mic, ECM-VM1) to a TRV33 camera. Would this Hosa cable work?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=158476&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

Any other (better) options? Is there anything else I should aware of when it comes to connecting a mono mic to stereo mini jack?

Thank you.

David Ennis
July 7th, 2005, 04:19 PM
Yes, that's the one.

It would be good to check the specifications of the TRV33's mic jack to see how strong a signal it expects compared to the -62 dB jack that the mic normally serves.

Glenn Chan
July 7th, 2005, 05:55 PM
How is the microphone going to be powered? It probably needs battery power, since the camera won't put out phantom power (and the cable/adapter may have a capacitor to block the "consumer mic plug-in power").


The different levels may or may not be a problem. I really wouldn't know.

2- The micrphone will also need a shockmount? The camera body can transmit motor vibrations, and the camera itself may be a little noisy.

Stylianos Moschapidakis
July 7th, 2005, 07:27 PM
How is the microphone going to be powered? ... a capacitor to block the "consumer mic plug-in power").

Glenn, that's a good question. I just assumed that the mic would be powered by the camera. Is there a cable/adaptor that would allow the camera to power the mic?

Glenn Chan
July 7th, 2005, 09:38 PM
There are some units available that will provide phantom power. This has been discussed before, a search may bring it up.

2- It might just be easier to get a Rode Videomic? It's got everything basically...
shockmount, hot shoe for mounting, windscreen, mini-plug connector.
It needs a battery I believe.

3- There's an off-chance that the mic jack might provide enough power for the microphone to work??
I don't know enough about this to tell you whether or not it'll fly.

EDIT: My guess is that it won't work.
A proper XLR-mini adapter cable (for camcorders) should block DC current (i.e. the power flowing through the cable to power consumer-type microphones) so there's no hum/buzz in your audio.
Even if that wasn't there, the voltage being sent (on my Panasonic GS70 consumer cam) is only 2.5V, which is below 11V-48V needed for phantom power.

David Ennis
July 7th, 2005, 11:19 PM
I don't believe the Hosa has a blocking capacitor, Glenn, but you're right about the voltage inadequacy. I checked the TRV38 manual. 2.5-3V also.

Glenn Chan
July 8th, 2005, 07:49 AM
Another option is to get a device along the lines of a Beachtek XLR adapter. Some of those models provide phantom power, limiters, and preamps.
You'd still need the shock mount though.

I don't believe the Hosa has a blocking capacitor
For some reason I always thought it did? Anyways, definitely worth double-checking.