Help! External Microphone Issues

[Jesse Brauning]

Now I know there's no saving the video I've already ruined with this issue, but I'm hoping someone can make a suggestion that could help me avoid it in the future.
I'm using an NTG2 on top of a GH1, with a very short XLR to 3.5mm cable with an adapter down to 2.5mm to hook into the GH1. The connection into the GH1 is so touchy that any time I touch the camera, I lose all audio for the rest of the clip, everything just goes into Hiss. Can anyone make a suggestion?

 

[Vitaliy Kiselev]

Go to good repair shop. Disassembly GH1 according to instructions.
And solder good cable with female 1/4" or, better, locking mini-xlr, instead of 1/8" connector.

 

[Blucross]

I love Tester13's idea. It would be AWESOME to have a locking mini-XLR port instead of the stock one. I may have to look into doing that myself.

In the meantime, you might find some helpful info in this thread, lots of good adapter advice for similar problems.

http://dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=212444

Good luck

 

[edinc90]

I would wire up my own XLR to right angle 2.5mm connector, bypassing the adapter issue all together. You could also use a Beacktek or Juiced Link adapter instead of a cable adapter.

 

[Barry_V]

A right angle 2.5mm adapter and a little strip of black gaffers tape.

http://www.jr.com/gmp467-2-5mm-male-to-3-5mm-female-headphone-adapter/pe/HOS_GMP467/

 

[RandyQ]

Maybe this is the next hack Tester13 is working on...

 

[Ozpeter]

Well, hack is the right word, at least in some cases of mic troubles. The case of the GH1 is too close to the mic input socket, so most plugs don't correctly mate with that socket unless you hack a bit off the shroud of the plug to make sure it fits inside the hole in the case and goes right into the socket. That's the first thing to check, anyway.

 

[swyzlstyx]

Chunk the adapter in the trash and Super-Glue the socket cover closed.

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=212444

 

[AdrianF]

For those in the Eurozone, the inexpensive adapter from Thomann works like a treat. I don't use mine that often, so can't comment on how long it would last, but it seems to fit pretty well.

 

[jaydil]

If you have any old cellphone headsets lying around that have a 2.5mm TRRS plug, try scavenging them. They are MUCH better quality than the typical 2.5mm adapter. It's an economy-of-scale issue.

I made my own adapter using the plug & wire from an old Jabra headset that I used with a Nokia cellphone way back in 2002. The 2.5mm TRRS 90-degree plug fit perfectly in the GH1, rock solid, and the conductors and wire are top quality. I would even consider buying a new headset just to scavenge the plug.

J

 

[Barry_V]

I had read here that cell phone 2.5mm headsets didn't work because of the TRS configuration. Although I haven't tried it myself. I'll have to try it, if your adapter works so well.