ME80 to Zoom H1 (problem starts when XLR turns into 1/4")

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DruidArena

New member
So I've had a Zoom H1 for a bit when I got my hands on my own first shotgun: a sennheiser ME80. I got the specialty battery for it, and tried hooking up an XLR->1/4" with a 1/4->1/8" adapter in order to test it out. Of course, it didn't work because it needs phantom power right?


I get ahold of a phantom power generator and stick it inbetween the H1 and the ME80, and that doesn't work either. I've tried several configurations and every time the XLR goes straight into either a recorder or camcorder with XLR, it works fine. The moment I introduce the XLR->1/4" (with or without the adapter), the audio stops flowing.


I borrowed an audio cable tester, and every cable loops properly and sends tone just fine. So something about going from XLR to 1/4" stops it dead in it's tracks and I have no clue why. Any ideas?
 
If I remember correctly, there were two versions of the K3 powering module for the ME80 head -- one took a battery and wouldn't work with phantom power, and the other was phantom-only with no switch and no space to even insert a battery. So it sounds like you have the battery-only model, and supplying it with phantom power won't do you any good.

Does the LED on the microphone body flash on when you turn on the power switch? If so, your battery is OK and the microphone -- if it's still good -- should be producing output. If you can find some other piece of equipment with a mic-level XLR connector to plug it into, see if you can use that to check whether the mic itself is working. If not, then you know the problem; if so, you'll need to look to how your adapters are wired.

The ME80 was a nice sounding microphone for its price and time. Most people still think it sounds better than the ME66 that replaced it in the Sennheiser lineup. I had two over the years and lost both to unfortunate circumstances. I wish I still had them. But keep in mind that this microphone is about 30 years old now, so its reliability is going to be questionable now.

- Greg
 
Sorry Greg, you are wrong, it was only the K6 that had the phantom only version.

The K6 was introduced when the Mercury battery used in the K3 was made illegal - though you can now get non-Mercury versions of the PX23 battery used in the K3.

There were two versions: the balanced K3 which normally came with an XLR-3 (though there was a Tuchel version as well) and the K30AV - the K30 had a 6-pin Tuchel connector, was unbalanced and powered via the centre-pin of the Tuchel connector.

The K3 can either be used with the battery, or phantom powered via 12-48V phantom (if you use phantomit was wise to use a dummy battery to keep the spring pressure on the pin of the ME80 capsule).

Does the LED flash brightly when switching on? This is the battery test. If it does not flash, or only flashes dimly, then the battery needs replacing.

Also - check the wiring. If you are going unbalanced XLR pin-2 goes to the jack tip and XLR-1 & 3 go to screen.

If it's a 3-pole balanced jack, then XLR 2 goes to tip, 3 goes to ring and 1 goes to sleeve.

Also, double check the adaptor to the 3.5mm mini-jack - if it's going into a stereo camera then XLR-2 goes to tip and ring and 1 & 3 go to sleeve.

I suspect you have mis-wired cable/adaptor.

I hope this helps.
 
Well, it doesn't light up, which is one problem. However, when I plug it into a phantom-powering XLR camcorder, the mic works, and when I plug it into a non-phantom XLR recorder it doesn't work until I add the phantom generator in the middle. i will have to get someone who knows more about the individual wires for the adapter, but I can say this:
When I plugged an XLR->XLR into the cable tester, it lit up like this:
--*
-*-
*--
When I plugged the adapter through it, if I remember correctly, it came up looking something like this:
*--
-**
*--
Does that mean anything to anyone?
 
When I plugged the adapter through it, if I remember correctly, it came up looking something like this:
*--
-**
*--
Does that mean anything to anyone?
-- Sorry, not to me.
Generally feeding an unbalanced input from balanced, pin 3 (minus) is tied to shield/ground, (or the 'ring' connector if going to a 1/4" TRS) however Phantom Pwr complicates this and could be shorted out, if not isolated. This should work on the output of a PP supply though.
 
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The problem is most likely due to trying to connect a balanced mono mic into an unbalanced stereo input using stacked adapters. The tip off is you said you got an inline phantom power supply and the mic still didn't work with the H1, yet it worked fine when plugged into a proper XLR input without using adapters. You need to wire up a proper cable connecting XLR pin 2 on both the tip and ring of the 1/8 plug (ideally througth a blocking capacitor to keep the mic input's 'plug-in power' from getting back to the mic), XLR pin 3 to 1/8 sleeve, and XLR pin 1 jumpered to XLR pin 3. Use that between your inline phantom supply and the Zoom recorder and you should be in business.
 
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I gave you all the info you needed at the start - and Steve has just repeated it.

If the light doesn't flash with a battery in it, it means that the battery is flat and needs replacing (or is in back to front).

You don't need a battery at all when phantom powered, though it is wise to use a dummy battery (make one yourself from a piece of dowel).
 
I would skip the adapters you are using and go get a balanced transformer adapter. That will correctly deal with the balanced signal at one end and give you an unbalanced on at the other. Something like this should make life happy.
 
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