lavalier mic with xlr connection (can’t get it to work)

[Ty Ford]

Hello Allan and welcome to the Cow Audio Forum.

Perhaps, as stated, that mic will work with the advertised wireless systems. I’m not familiar with the adapter you chose, but it’s missing a power supply. Were I you, I’d send both pieces back and order something proper.

This AT is a good buy and included the power module:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/68267-REG/Audio_Technica_MT830R_MT830R_Miniature_Clip_On.html#specifications

The Countryman EMW and B6 are very good.
The Sanken COS 11 is also a winner
The Sony ECM 88b, also fine.

Just make sure you buy versions with the powering module.

Regards,

Ty Ford

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[Richard Crowley]

No, it is not likely that it will work. It is not just the connector type or gender that is the issue. If it were, then your adapter wold do the trick.

The problem is that lav mics that are configured for plugging in to wireless mic transmitters use a completely different scheme for powering the mic than the XLR kind use. Wireless mic transmitters use low voltage batteries and electret mic capsules generally need only a low power voltage. Wireless transmitters take advantage of this combination and provide only a few volts on that connector.

But standard mic preamp inputs that use the full-size XLR connector use the “P48” phantom power standard. This puts up to 48V on the balanced signal pins. Standard microphones are designed to use this voltage. But if you apply that kind of voltage directly to an electret lav mic capsule, it will almost certainly be ruined in milliseconds. NOT recommended.

There are proper adapters for this kind of combination. Not cheap.

[Alex Lesy]

Hey Ty,

I’m new to all this. I didn’t realize I needed the power module. I’m looking at the Audio-Technica you suggested. Could you break down how this would work? Lav mic connects to the power module, then a cord from the power module goes to the camera with an xlr connection and I’m good to go? Do I have that right?

BTW my camera provides +48V phantom power. Not sure if that’s useful info.

-Allan

[Ty Ford]

Hey Allan,

Yup. You got it right and, yes, the power module takes your camera’s phantom power.

Don’t feel too bad. I remember having the exact same thoughts years ago when I first encountered this.

Another thing that confuses some people is the Sennheiser modular boom mics. You can buy different capsules for them, but they all require the power supply. Some folks have ordered just the capsule trying to save a few bucks thinking that their phantom supply would take care of the power. not quite!

Regards,

Ty Ford

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[Alex Lesy]

Thanks for the help. Now off to purchase a new mic/power supply.

[Ty Ford]

Allan,

The countryman B6 is absolutely the smallest lav I know. If your shooting depends on not seeing the mic on the talent, this is the best mic. I own two. Countryman sells it with a “link” (a pair of end to end connectors in the cable) so you can unplug it at the link and plug the mic into your wireless transmitter, or just connect into the power supply and go hard wired.

If you already have a wireless body pack transmitter, you need to make sure you get the correct connectors for the link.

The place you buy it from needs to know this, or you can call countryman direct and have them guide you.

Regards,

Ty

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[Jordan Wolf]

Ty Ford – “Were I you, I’d send both pieces back and order something proper.”

I completely agree with Ty. You need to get your money back and invest it in something that will work for you.

Basically, they microphone requires a small amount of electricity to work. The adapter your bought does not have the circuitry to provide the element with said power, and that is why it only gives you audio when you’re right up on the mic and/or the gain is cranked all the way up.

The reason it only works with the wireless systems mentioned is because there are different pin-outs used by manufacturers when building their gear. If the pins don’t match, power and signal will be applied to the appropriate pins, etc.

Stick with a wired microphone unless you need the freedom of movement that wireless allows. You’ll want to look at the Sennheiser ew100G3 series as the absolute lowest you can spend (it only goes up from there!). With wireless, you absolutely get what you pay for.

Look for some used Sony wired lavs…I’m sure there are some floating around on eBay, etc,

Wolf
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[John Fishback]

This is a bit off-topic, but have any of you worked with Voice Technologies lavs? A soundman I hired a while back used them, and at the time I thought they sounded great.

John

MacPro 8-core 2.8GHz 8 GB RAM OS 10.5.8 QT7.6.4 Kona 3 Dual Cinema 23 ATI Radeon HD 3870, 24″ TV-Logic Monitor, ATTO ExpressSAS R380 RAID Adapter, PDE enclosure with 8-drive 6TB RAID 5
FCS 3 (FCP 7.0.2, Motion 4.0.2, Comp 3.5.2, DVDSP 4.2.2, Color 1.5.2)

Pro Tools HD w SYNC IO & 192 Digital I/O, Yamaha DM1000, Millennia Media HV-3C, Neumann U87, Schoeps Mk41 mics, Genelec Monitors, PrimaLT ISDN

[Ty Ford]

John,

I have. They used to (may still) make the mics that came with Lectro, and a paddle style lav for AT.

Regards,

Ty Ford

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[John Fishback]

Ty, how do they compare to your favorites?

John

MacPro 8-core 2.8GHz 8 GB RAM OS 10.5.8 QT7.6.4 Kona 3 Dual Cinema 23 ATI Radeon HD 3870, 24″ TV-Logic Monitor, ATTO ExpressSAS R380 RAID Adapter, PDE enclosure with 8-drive 6TB RAID 5
FCS 3 (FCP 7.0.2, Motion 4.0.2, Comp 3.5.2, DVDSP 4.2.2, Color 1.5.2)

Pro Tools HD w SYNC IO & 192 Digital I/O, Yamaha DM1000, Millennia Media HV-3C, Neumann U87, Schoeps Mk41 mics, Genelec Monitors, PrimaLT ISDN