27Mar Better DIY Sescom USB to 3.5mm cable build
A few things to note, you can’t build this cable with a standard mini USB connector, so if you don’t have the Canon AVC-DC400ST cable that came with your camera this method is no longer cheap, as the cable is priced at around $30. Also the Ferrite bead is not a magnet, it is a Ferromagnetic material that is used to suppress high frequencies. I recommend you leave it on your cable if you attempt this project.
In the end you pay for convenience, if you have the time, equipment, and cable this is a pretty easy little project. If you don’t, an off the shelf cable is probably the easiest way to go.
March 27th, 2012 at 9:20 pm
You’re right it’s not a magnet. I didn’t know much about them and had to do some research. The reason I didn’t know much about the is because in my 15 years as a professional audio technician I have never had to remove one off of an audio cable…because we don’t use them on audio cables. I’m speculating but I think the reason it is there is because the cable has a mini USB connector and must meet certain specifications in terms of signal shielding. These USB specifications are designed to meet the needs of data shielding which are more critical than the needs of audio shielding.
I might bite my tongue in future but I’ve been using that cable for months now with not even a hiss.
March 27th, 2012 at 9:41 pm
I used to work as an electronics technician part time when I ran a recording studio, building and repairing amps, mixers and so on. The effect is more subtle then hiss and it’s something that is much easier to see on a spectrum analyzer. Some high frequencies above normal hearing range have additive and subtractive effects on frequencies within hearing range. It’s a long convoluted story about harmonics and other RLC circuit stuff, but even if you don’t notice a Hiss, it is helping to protect your audio signal.