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AT803 and Zoom H4n? Bypass the power supply?
- Thread starter beanthere
- Start date
Richard Crowley
Veteran
Huh? If you want to connect your AT803 to an XLR input with phantom power, then you will need the power supply box (or functional equivalent).
It makes no difference at all whether the XLR input is on a Zoom H4n or any other piece of gear. XLR is XLR and phatom power is phantom power.
OTOH, if you want to re-wire your AT803 to put a 3.5mm plug on it (or make an adapter), you could conceivably plug it into the "external mic input"
on the bottom of the H4n and power the mic from the H4n's "plug-in power".
It makes no difference at all whether the XLR input is on a Zoom H4n or any other piece of gear. XLR is XLR and phatom power is phantom power.
OTOH, if you want to re-wire your AT803 to put a 3.5mm plug on it (or make an adapter), you could conceivably plug it into the "external mic input"
on the bottom of the H4n and power the mic from the H4n's "plug-in power".
Well the H4N provides phantom power so I figured or was wondering if i hooked up the at803s mini xlr to a mini xlr to xlr adapter I could hook it straight into the H4N as opposed to having to run around with an at803 power box in one pocket and the bulky zoom H4N in another. If phantom power is phantom power it shouldn't matter if it comes from that box or the H4N itaelf right? Saves me pocket space for street interviews if it can be done. I just want to make sure it can?
Richard Crowley
Veteran
If "AT803 power box" means what I think it means, it is an adapter that takes the 48V phantom power from the XLR connector and converts it into the 3~5V that the microphone uses.
If you connect your mic directly to the XLR connector without this converter box in the circuit, you will FRY your microphone.
Now, the 3.5mm stereo mic jack on the BOTTOM of the H4n provides the kind of "plug-in power" that the microphone uses, so you could conceivably use a mini-XLR to 3.5mm adapter cable to do what you seek.
If you connect your mic directly to the XLR connector without this converter box in the circuit, you will FRY your microphone.
Now, the 3.5mm stereo mic jack on the BOTTOM of the H4n provides the kind of "plug-in power" that the microphone uses, so you could conceivably use a mini-XLR to 3.5mm adapter cable to do what you seek.
That's what i was afraid of...Unfortunately I am having a really hard time figuring out what is best suited for my needs. At most I'm going to need two lavs running XLR for interviews. Its ok for power boxes to be used in these situations however I also do hidden camera street interviews where it would just be a pain to have both of those bulky boxes around. I was originally looking at the Giant Squid lav mics due to the price...but you can't run two of those at once.
If I got a minixlr to 3.5mm adapter (do they exist) am I missing out in quality from using that as opposed to running XLR?
I suppose I could use the At803 power adapters for the interviews since space won't be an issue but for the street interviews I could use said adapter you mentioned.
If I got a minixlr to 3.5mm adapter (do they exist) am I missing out in quality from using that as opposed to running XLR?
I suppose I could use the At803 power adapters for the interviews since space won't be an issue but for the street interviews I could use said adapter you mentioned.
Richard Crowley
Veteran
I have >95% confidence factor that you could use a special "Y-cable" that would have two mini-xlr connectors for your AT lav mics, and terminate in a stereo 3.5mm plug for the H4N stereo mic input.
However I doubt that such a thing exists, although it would be pretty easy to make assuming you can get the specifications for how those mini-XLR connectors are wired.
And likewise, you could use a special "Y-cable" to connect two GS mics to the N4n stereo mic input jack. Again, assuming you can figure out how the GS mics are terminated.
Since neither AT nor GS appear to publish this information, the major barrier to implementing either of these solutions is getting the microphone pinout details.
However I doubt that such a thing exists, although it would be pretty easy to make assuming you can get the specifications for how those mini-XLR connectors are wired.
And likewise, you could use a special "Y-cable" to connect two GS mics to the N4n stereo mic input jack. Again, assuming you can figure out how the GS mics are terminated.
Since neither AT nor GS appear to publish this information, the major barrier to implementing either of these solutions is getting the microphone pinout details.
Richard Crowley
Veteran
Yes, I would expect that the 3.5mm input will have equivalent quality to the XLR inputs.
Richard Crowley
Veteran
As I said before, what you need probably does not exist, it would need to be custom made.
In order to make it, we need to know how your microphones are wired.
You say they have mini XLR connectors. Do they go with a wireless transmitter system?
In order to make it, we need to know how your microphones are wired.
You say they have mini XLR connectors. Do they go with a wireless transmitter system?
The lav is a wired set up AT803 the lav connects to the power supply through TA3F connector at power module. Which then the power module has a standard 3 pin XLR connector so you can hook it up to the h4n. For these street interviews I want to bypass having to use that power module since I'm going to be using phantom power anyways. So if there IS a way to get this mic to 3.5mm that would be amazing.
Here is the lav
http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/wired_mics/697235da7c34d03d/index.html
Here is the lav
http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/wired_mics/697235da7c34d03d/index.html