Cutting XLR a bad idea?

R

Reinehc

New member
Hey there,
I recently got a Gitzo G556 boom pole and it has a port hole at the top for running an internal wire. I ordered an XLR cable along with it, but much to my surprise, there is no way to run the cable with the XLR connectors on the wire, it's simply not going to fit.

So what do people do to get the wire in the pole? Is cutting it and putting it back together an extremely bad idea? Are there XLR cables with connectors that disconnect? Should I have spent an extra couple hundred bucks on a decent boom pole?

Never mind that last one, I already know the answer ;)

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
 
Boom poles wired internally generally use specially made, tightly coiled wire which can lengthen and contract as the boom pole is extended and collapsed. They are available in various lengths and come without ends so you can add your own after inserting. Most prefer to use a 90 degree or right angle connector for the base so it can feed out the side of the pole allowing you to set the pole on your foot between takes without damaging the connector.

Here's an example that comes with ends attached . . .

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/292960-REG/K_Tek_K_18NK_KTK18NK_XLR_Male.html

Internally, XLR mic cables are 3 conductors and ends are readily available (Markertek - the neutrik line is excellent) - if you're not comfortable with soldering, any electronics repair shop could do it for you at minimal cost. Hope this helps.
 
I'm wondering if those cables give you any problem rattling around inside the pole. I figure that the ones made that way are designed to hug the cable. But if you are installing it yourself, I'm thinking the cable might be a little loose inside something like a paiter's pole.

Anybody have any thoughts on that?
 
Jim Brennan said:
I'm wondering if those cables give you any problem rattling around inside the pole. I figure that the ones made that way are designed to hug the cable. But if you are installing it yourself, I'm thinking the cable might be a little loose inside something like a paiter's pole.

Anybody have any thoughts on that?
Click to expand...

This is why i've never gone the internal cable route, for doco stuff I can see the advantage for speed perhaps but
1. the risk of having a clanging sound in an otherwise perfect take in drama makes it an obvious choice
2. drama you have time to set the boom length and secure the cable before a take
3. quite often have to change the cable from 3 pin to 5 pin from the boom anyway.
 
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