30Apr RODE Videomic pro 3.5mm to XLR input adapter
These adapters are pretty hand to have around. They work great with for the RODE Videomic Pro when dealing with XLR inputs and they also do a good job adapting wireless audio units like the Sennheiser units I normally use. You can find the cheaper version here for about $6.50 and the RODE branded version here for about $15.
If you are interested in trying to build one of these yourself, you can find the wiring diagram here. While it is possible to do, the Campro adapter is only $6.50 and for most people that price is worth it for the form factor and convenance. Also a few of you over the years have asked about signal cancellation in the XLR adapter. Because the signal output by the RODE Videomic Pro is the same on both the tip and ring, there is no common mode rejection going on inside the adapter. If you really want to know more about how that works, let me know and I can write something up on it, but really all that maters is that there is no signal cancellation.
April 30th, 2014 at 4:56 pm
Hi DeeJay, are you saying you can use one of these with a Sennheiser ME-2 or ME-4 from your wireless kit and power it off phantom power (say directly into a Zoom H4n?) Effectively turning a wireless lav into a wired lav?
Have you tested this?
I am asking because I thought you needed to use a transformer adapter like the overpriced Senn MZA 900P http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/387918-REG/Sennheiser_MZA900P_MZA_900_P.html
April 30th, 2014 at 5:15 pm
You can use this for your Sennheiser receiver to bring the Audio into an XLR box. But i’d have to look into the wiring for the ME-2 as well as the max phantom power, before I’d attempt something like that.
If you have a zoom h4n, you can set the 3.5mm jack on the back of the unit up for plugin power and plug your ME-2 or ME-4 directly into that if you need a wired lav. I think the same works with the Zoom h1 and the Tascam DR-05. It’s just a mater of sliding that locking collar up high enough to get it plugged in.
April 30th, 2014 at 5:29 pm
Yes, I can agree on using it on a Senn G1/2/3 receiver into an XCLR input, since the signal is powered, it just needs to be adapted. Makes sense.
My understanding is that the Senn ME-2/4 mics (as many lavs do) require ca. 5 volts to operate, that’s why the transformers are needed, to bring down the Phantom power.
Over at personal-view.com there was some research to find mics that could be powered off the ca. 2 volts coming out of the mic input on the GH2. Panasonic did make an external mic for the GH2, I am not sure how it was powered.
I’ve never tried to plug an ME-2/4 into the 3.5mm H4n jack ( I do have an H4n) but makes sense that it could work since I’ve heard it works on the H1. Is there anything that needs to be set in the H4n menus? I haven’t seen anything in the menus that looks like it would affect the 3.5mm input. It might just be that there is voltage on the connector, just like on the GH2, enough to get the job done, if the mic specs match.
April 30th, 2014 at 5:27 pm
Haven’t found any specs yet, but some Lav mics are rated for 9-48v phantom power. If that’s the case it could be doable.
April 30th, 2014 at 5:35 pm
I think the answers for the ME-2/4 is that since the Sennheiser MZA 900 P outputs 0.6v to 1.8v depending on the phantom power applied (P12-P48), it’s pretty safe to say you WOULDN’T want to use the adapter in your article, unless you were prepared to kill the mic in the experiment to find out. I am not an audio expert at all, but, know a little… Maybe soeone else can chime in eventually.
I quoted the specs from the “Technical Data” tab on Senn’s website: http://en-de.sennheiser.com/mza-900-p Damn, that’s expensive! That’s why no one has heard of it!
April 30th, 2014 at 7:05 pm
To turn on power for the h4n, your going to want to look for somthing labeled “plugin power on/off”. Switch that on and you’ll be good to go. As for phantom power, I have a sub $100 Lav I’ll be testing out from HMNsound in the next few weeks. Its rated for 9 to 48 volts phantom power input and you can get it in a number of connector types, including xlr for an extra $15 or so. Might be exactly what you need.
April 30th, 2014 at 11:22 pm
will this make my sound better instead of simply using the 1/8 input into my dr 60-d
May 1st, 2014 at 12:34 am
Probably not. But your audio will only take up a single channel instead of 2 channels with this option.