Wiring a mic
 

Here's an easy question that I can't quite figure out.

I have a Beyerdynamic dynamic mic with the usual XLR connector. I want to make up a lead to connect it to the XLR input of an M-Audio USB preamp. I have the XLRs - problem is, I only have unbalanced instrument cable. As I'm only going to be using it for some karaoke fun at home with the kids, I don't need balanced. How do I wire up the cable to the XLRs?

Thanks in advance.

Stephen

Wiring a mic
 

Stephen McLuckie wrote:
Here's an easy question that I can't quite figure out.
I have a Beyerdynamic dynamic mic with the usual XLR connector. I want
to make up a lead to connect it to the XLR input of an M-Audio USB
preamp. I have the XLRs - problem is, I only have unbalanced instrument
cable. As I'm only going to be using it for some karaoke fun at home
with the kids, I don't need balanced. How do I wire up the cable to the
XLRs?

Thanks in advance.

Stephen

With those connectors on the ends, yes you do need balanced. Screened
twin is pretty cheap stuff. You can get away with instrument cable if
you run two lengths of it twisted together. Join the earth braids
together and connect them to pin 1 at both ends. The two inners can then
connect to pins 2 and 3.

d

Wiring a mic
 

Thanks, Don - that's brilliant. Unfortunately, I don't live anywhere near a shop that sells screened twin cable. I'll just double up on the instrument cable until I can get hold of the proper stuff. Much appreciated.

Stephen

Wiring a mic
 

In article ,
Stephen McLuckie wrote:
Here's an easy question that I can't quite figure out.

I have a Beyerdynamic dynamic mic with the usual XLR connector. I want
to make up a lead to connect it to the XLR input of an M-Audio USB
preamp. I have the XLRs - problem is, I only have unbalanced instrument
cable. As I'm only going to be using it for some karaoke fun at home
with the kids, I don't need balanced. How do I wire up the cable to the
XLRs?

Have you got any round 3 core mains flex lying around? It won't be ideal
but will work better than co-ax.

Thanks in advance.

Stephen

--
*Why is a boxing ring square?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Wiring a mic
 

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

Have you got any round 3 core mains flex lying around? It won't be ideal
but will work better than co-ax.

Yes, plenty - it would be a lot easier to connect up, too. Cheers.

Stephen

Wiring a mic
 

"Stephen McLuckie"

I have a Beyerdynamic dynamic mic with the usual XLR connector.
I want to make up a lead to connect it to the XLR input of an M-Audio
USB preamp. I have the XLRs - problem is, I only have unbalanced
instrument cable. How do I wire up the cable to the XLRs?


** At the mic end, link pins 1 and 2.

Then connect the screen to 1 and the inner to pin 3.

At the other end, link pins 1 and 2 again.

This will work perfectly.

IGNORE the other posts that say differently as they are from congenital
morons.




...... Phil

Wiring a mic
 

"Don Pearce"
Stephen McLuckie wrote:
Here's an easy question that I can't quite figure out.
I have a Beyerdynamic dynamic mic with the usual XLR connector. I want to
make up a lead to connect it to the XLR input of an M-Audio USB preamp. I
have the XLRs - problem is, I only have unbalanced instrument cable. As
I'm only going to be using it for some karaoke fun at home with the kids,
I don't need balanced. How do I wire up the cable to the XLRs?


With those connectors on the ends, yes you do need balanced.

** Absolute ******** !!!



Screened twin is pretty cheap stuff. You can get away with instrument cable
if you run two lengths of it twisted together.


** Stupid and unnecessary.

What a pathetic moron you are.



...... Phil

Wiring a mic
 

"Dave Plowman (Nut Case MORON)


Have you got any round 3 core mains flex lying around? It won't be ideal
but will work better than co-ax.


** This ASININE cretin needs to be taken out and shot.




.... Phil

Wiring a mic
 

Phil Allison wrote:


** At the mic end, link pins 1 and 2.

Then connect the screen to 1 and the inner to pin 3.

At the other end, link pins 1 and 2 again.

This will work perfectly.

IGNORE the other posts that say differently as they are from congenital
morons.

So, basically I would be shorting one of the signal lines to earth and using just the second one. That's logical.

Seems my question wasn't quite as straightforward as I imagined. Any other thoughts before I pick up the soldering iron?

Stephen

Wiring a mic
 

"Stephen McLuckie" wrote in message
et...
Phil Allison wrote:


** At the mic end, link pins 1 and 2.

Then connect the screen to 1 and the inner to pin 3.

At the other end, link pins 1 and 2 again.

This will work perfectly.

IGNORE the other posts that say differently as they are from congenital
morons.

So, basically I would be shorting one of the signal lines to earth and
using just the second one. That's logical.

Seems my question wasn't quite as straightforward as I imagined. Any other
thoughts before I pick up the soldering iron?


Ideally you should use shielded twisted pair, but unless your pre-amp
supplies phantom power (which your dynamic mic doesn't need) and which
cannot be switched off (unlikely) then wiring the mic unbalanced as Phil
suggested should work fine. OTOH the other suggestions should work fine as
well, you pays your money and you takes your choice.

David.

Wiring a mic
 

David Looser wrote:


Ideally you should use shielded twisted pair, but unless your pre-amp
supplies phantom power (which your dynamic mic doesn't need) and which
cannot be switched off (unlikely) then wiring the mic unbalanced as Phil
suggested should work fine. OTOH the other suggestions should work fine as
well, you pays your money and you takes your choice.

I appreciate the advice - thanks to everyone who replied. I'll eventually sort out a proper cable, but now have the information I need to cobble something up for the time being.

Stephen

Wiring a mic
 

In article ,
Phil Allison wrote:
Have you got any round 3 core mains flex lying around? It won't be
ideal but will work better than co-ax.


** This ASININE cretin needs to be taken out and shot.

Yet again you've proved you have absolutely no practical experience.
Mains flex will work perfectly well for a short run where there's no high
levels of interference - ie just about everywhere.

I'd suggest you try it before you make such a fool of yourself - again.

--
*Hard work pays off in the future. Laziness pays off now *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Wiring a mic
 

In article ,
Stephen McLuckie wrote:
Phil Allison wrote:


** At the mic end, link pins 1 and 2.

Then connect the screen to 1 and the inner to pin 3.

At the other end, link pins 1 and 2 again.

This will work perfectly.

IGNORE the other posts that say differently as they are from
congenital morons.

So, basically I would be shorting one of the signal lines to earth and
using just the second one. That's logical.

Seems my question wasn't quite as straightforward as I imagined. Any
other thoughts before I pick up the soldering iron?

Ignore the theorist Allison. What he suggests will 'work' - but not as
well as mains flex.

Some years ago I made up some XLR cables for 100 volt line use out of
1.0mm mains flex. Nice and shiny white. And of course the obvious happened
- someone used one for a in shot hand mic, which happened to be an Beyer
M100 dynamic. In a TV studio with lots of interference generating light
dimmers around. And it worked without problems...

--
*Windows will never cease *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Wiring a mic
 

In article , Phil Allison
scribeth thus

"Stephen McLuckie"

I have a Beyerdynamic dynamic mic with the usual XLR connector.
I want to make up a lead to connect it to the XLR input of an M-Audio
USB preamp. I have the XLRs - problem is, I only have unbalanced
instrument cable. How do I wire up the cable to the XLRs?


** At the mic end, link pins 1 and 2.

Then connect the screen to 1 and the inner to pin 3.

At the other end, link pins 1 and 2 again.

This will work perfectly.

IGNORE the other posts that say differently as they are from congenital
morons.




..... Phil





Its light in Oz again by the look of it;!...
--
Tony Sayer

Wiring a mic
 

In article , Stephen
McLuckie scribeth thus
David Looser wrote:


Ideally you should use shielded twisted pair, but unless your pre-amp
supplies phantom power (which your dynamic mic doesn't need) and which
cannot be switched off (unlikely) then wiring the mic unbalanced as Phil
suggested should work fine. OTOH the other suggestions should work fine as
well, you pays your money and you takes your choice.

I appreciate the advice - thanks to everyone who replied. I'll eventually sort
out a proper cable, but now have the information I need to cobble something up
for the time being.

Stephen

Isn't there a Maplins near you?..
--
Tony Sayer

Wiring a mic
 

In message , "Dave Plowman (News)"
writes
In article ,
Stephen McLuckie wrote:
Phil Allison wrote:


** At the mic end, link pins 1 and 2.

Then connect the screen to 1 and the inner to pin 3.

At the other end, link pins 1 and 2 again.

This will work perfectly.

IGNORE the other posts that say differently as they are from
congenital morons.

So, basically I would be shorting one of the signal lines to earth and
using just the second one. That's logical.

Seems my question wasn't quite as straightforward as I imagined. Any
other thoughts before I pick up the soldering iron?

Ignore the theorist Allison. What he suggests will 'work' - but not as
well as mains flex.

Some years ago I made up some XLR cables for 100 volt line use out of
1.0mm mains flex. Nice and shiny white. And of course the obvious happened
- someone used one for a in shot hand mic, which happened to be an Beyer
M100 dynamic. In a TV studio with lots of interference generating light
dimmers around. And it worked without problems...

And don't forget that mains flex also works very well for speaker leads.
To engineers, it is indistinguishable from the 'real thing'. [Which
proves, of course, that engineers really know nothing about audio.]
--
Ian

Wiring a mic
 

"Dave Plowman (****ing NUT CASE )"

Phil Allison

Have you got any round 3 core mains flex lying around? It won't be
ideal but will work better than co-ax.


** This ASININE cretin needs to be taken out and shot.

Yet again you've proved you have absolutely no practical experience.


** No - it is an absolute fact that ASININE ****WITS like YOU
definitely need to be taken out and SHOT.

Nothing less has any effect on them.

A large strychnine bait might just work too.





....... Phil

Wiring a mic
 

"Stephen McLuckie"
Phil Allison wrote:

** At the mic end, link pins 1 and 2.

Then connect the screen to 1 and the inner to pin 3.

At the other end, link pins 1 and 2 again.

This will work perfectly.

IGNORE the other posts that say differently as they are from congenital
morons.


So, basically I would be shorting one of the signal lines to earth and
using just the second one.


** WRONG !!!!!!!!!!!

Doing this short out *nothing* - it simply connects one of the terminals
of the mic's capsule to ground.

Full signal level is obtained with no quality loss whatever.



...... Phil

Wiring a mic
 

"Dave Plowman ( ****ing Nut Case & TOTAL ASSHOLE)


Ignore the theorist Allison. What he suggests will 'work' - but not as
well as mains flex.


** The urgency has increased.

This ****WIT cretin needs to be taken out an shot NOW.

Do not delay - he is a public menace.




....... Phil

Wiring a mic
 

"Ian Jackson" wrote in message
...


To engineers, it is indistinguishable from the 'real thing'.

And what is "the real thing"?, Coke?

[Which proves, of course, that engineers really know nothing about
audio.]
--

Without engineers there wouldn't *be* any audio.

David.

Wiring a mic
 

Stephen McLuckie wrote:

Here's an easy question that I can't quite figure out.

I have a Beyerdynamic dynamic mic with the usual XLR connector. I want to make up a lead to connect it to the XLR input of an M-Audio USB preamp. I have the XLRs - problem is, I only have unbalanced instrument cable. As I'm only going to be using it for some karaoke fun at home with the kids, I don't need balanced. How do I wire up the cable to the XLRs?

Well you could make it work but it would probably be cheaper to buy this .....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Balanced-Mic-L...3286.m14.l1318

Or similar.

Graham

Wiring a mic
 

tony sayer wrote:


Isn't there a Maplins near you?..

Over an hour to get there though.

Stephen

Wiring a mic
 

Phil Allison wrote:
"Stephen McLuckie"


** WRONG !!!!!!!!!!!

Doing this short out *nothing* - it simply connects one of the terminals
of the mic's capsule to ground.

Full signal level is obtained with no quality loss whatever.

OK, Phil. Just trying to figure it out. I'm not pretending to be an expert - just looking for some join-the-dots advice.

Stephen

Wiring a mic
 

Eeyore wrote:



Well you could make it work but it would probably be cheaper to buy this .....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Balanced-Mic-L...3286.m14.l1318

Or similar.

Graham


You are probably right, Graham. But I've got a pile of Neutrik XLRs - so I might as well put them to use. And I could spend the £6 on a bottle of wine instead.

Stephen

Wiring a mic
 

In article ,
Phil Allison wrote:
Yet again you've proved you have absolutely no practical experience.


** No - it is an absolute fact that ASININE ****WITS like YOU
definitely need to be taken out and SHOT.

Nothing less has any effect on them.

A large strychnine bait might just work too.

I know you probably wouldn't know how - but get an engineer to make up
an XLR mic lead using ordinary round 3 core mains flex and try it for
yourself.

Your grovelling apology will be graciously accepted here...

--
*Nostalgia isn't what is used to be.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Wiring a mic
 

"Dave Plowman Congenital Anencephalic Illiterate "


** No - it is an absolute fact that ASININE ****WITS like YOU
definitely need to be taken out and SHOT.

Nothing less has any effect on them.

A large strychnine bait might just work too.






....... Phil

Wiring a mic
 

In article ,
Phil Allison wrote:
"Dave Plowman Congenital Anencephalic Illiterate "


** No

At least you've got that bit right.

--
*It ain't the size, it's... er... no, it IS ..the size.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Wiring a mic
 

Stephen McLuckie wrote:

Eeyore wrote:

Well you could make it work but it would probably be cheaper to buy this .....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Balanced-Mic-L...3286.m14.l1318

Or similar.


You are probably right, Graham. But I've got a pile of Neutrik XLRs - so I might as well put them to use. And I could spend the £6 on a bottle of wine instead.

Oh come on , don't be cheap ! There are less expensive mic cables on ebay too IIRC. Just browse.

For your application an unbalanced would probably work acceptably though. Just link pin 3 to 1 at both ends.

Geaham

Wiring a mic
 

Stephen McLuckie wrote:

Thanks, Don - that's brilliant. Unfortunately, I don't live anywhere near a shop that sells screened twin cable.

Ebay sells ready made cables that are made in China and they're probably cheaper than you could make one yourself.

Graham

Wiring a mic
 

Eeyore wrote:

Stephen McLuckie wrote:

Thanks, Don - that's brilliant. Unfortunately, I don't live anywhere near a shop that sells screened twin cable.

Ebay sells ready made cables that are made in China and they're probably cheaper than you could make one yourself.

Graham


If you already have the connectors, the wire and a soldering iron, I
seriously doubt that.

d

Wiring a mic
 

Phil Allison wrote:

"Stephen McLuckie"

I have a Beyerdynamic dynamic mic with the usual XLR connector.
I want to make up a lead to connect it to the XLR input of an M-Audio
USB preamp. I have the XLRs - problem is, I only have unbalanced
instrument cable. How do I wire up the cable to the XLRs?

** At the mic end, link pins 1 and 2.

HOT to SCREEN ?

Any special reason why ?


Graham

Wiring a mic
 

In article ,
Eeyore wrote:
For your application an unbalanced would probably work acceptably
though. Just link pin 3 to 1 at both ends.

You've not tried using mains flex with a balanced mic either? Do try it.
You'll be surprised.

--
*Keep honking...I'm reloading.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Wiring a mic
 

Ian Jackson wrote:

And don't forget that mains flex also works very well for speaker leads.

Very regularly, although for long runs I do use 4mm2 cable designed for speaker
use.

For short 8 ohm runs, 2.5 mm2 'mains cable' is fine..

Graham

Wiring a mic
 

Phil Allison wrote:

"Stephen McLuckie"
Phil Allison wrote:

** At the mic end, link pins 1 and 2.

Then connect the screen to 1 and the inner to pin 3.

At the other end, link pins 1 and 2 again.

This will work perfectly.

IGNORE the other posts that say differently as they are from congenital
morons.


So, basically I would be shorting one of the signal lines to earth and
using just the second one.

** WRONG !!!!!!!!!!!

Doing this short out *nothing* - it simply connects one of the terminals
of the mic's capsule to ground.

Full signal level is obtained with no quality loss whatever.

Whilst this will work perfectly under most conditions (especially at home), it
certainly isn't 'pro'.

Graham

Wiring a mic
 

In article ,
Eeyore wrote:


Ian Jackson wrote:

And don't forget that mains flex also works very well for speaker
leads.

Very regularly, although for long runs I do use 4mm2 cable designed for
speaker use.

For short 8 ohm runs, 2.5 mm2 'mains cable' is fine..

I just use a decent 2.5mm speaker cable from a variety of sources. I
wouldn't use TW&E because it's unsightly - and 2 core 2.5mm flex would be
difficult to find. It would also have heavier insulation than you need for
speakers.

Graham

--
*All those who believe in psychokinesis, raise my hand *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Wiring a mic
 

"Eeyore = Graham Stevenson = Congenital ****wit ****head "


Whilst this will work perfectly under most conditions (especially at
home), it
certainly isn't 'pro'.


** Peeeeuuuuukkkkeeeeeeee......






....... Phil

Wiring a mic
 

"Dave Plowman Congenital Anencephalic Illiterate "


** It is an absolute fact that ASININE ****WITS like

PLOWMAN definitely need to be taken out and SHOT.

Nothing less has any effect on them.

A large strychnine bait might just work too.

Works on most kinds of vermin.



....... Phil

Wiring a mic
 

Eeyore wrote:

Phil Allison wrote:

"Stephen McLuckie"

I have a Beyerdynamic dynamic mic with the usual XLR connector.
I want to make up a lead to connect it to the XLR input of an M-Audio
USB preamp. I have the XLRs - problem is, I only have unbalanced
instrument cable. How do I wire up the cable to the XLRs?
** At the mic end, link pins 1 and 2.

HOT to SCREEN ?

Any special reason why ?

Just look at the source of the suggestion.

--
Tciao for Now!

John.

Wiring a mic
 

"John Williamson"

HOT to SCREEN ?

Any special reason why ?

Just look at the source of the suggestion.


** Care to explain the actual distinction between " hot " and "cold" wrt
mics - John ??

We will all wait with baited breath for you erudite reply.

Like the cat who ate cheese did.


Meeeeooooow....




...... Phil

Wiring a mic
 

Don Pearce wrote:

Eeyore wrote:
Stephen McLuckie wrote:

Thanks, Don - that's brilliant. Unfortunately, I don't live anywhere near a shop that sells screened twin cable.


Ebay sells ready made cables that are made in China and they're probably cheaper than you could make one yourself.

If you already have the connectors, the wire and a soldering iron, I
seriously doubt that.

Depends on how you cost your time I guess ! Wouldn't take much for sure.

Graham