Rode NTG 1 question!!

J

jazzyfilly04

New member
So I am very new to everything but I'm going a bit crazy with it all because it's confusing! :undecided

Okay, so I recently purchased a Rode NTG-1 and I essentially want to be able to hook it up right now to a Zoom H1 for audio reasons. So in order to hook these guys together I got a Pro Co Sound PRCCMXF5 Mono Mini Male to XLR Female Cable. Just got that today, plug everything together and no sound.
I searched around and found out that the Rode NTG-1 needs a phantom adapter or something of that sort?!

This is where I hit my massive road block. I am not sure what that is, nor am I sure that I even have it or how to come by it if I don't.

Do I have the correct wire to put them together? Everything fits right, lol.

Is there another way to set up the microphone that I'm just not getting?

I feel stupid with this all, lol. I am learning it all but I have just hit a wall and this time I can't really figure it all out. Thanks!
 
The NTG-1 needs power supplied to it. The NTG-2 which is the same mic has a battery option. Maybe you can return the NTG1 and pay the difference and get the NTG2? Also, some people have mentioned some issues of the NTG2 and certain recorders (possibly the zoom h4n). Search the threads. And welcome to Dvxuser. The people seem pretty nice here.
 
You should do a little more research on what all the pieces and parts are, and how they interconnect. If you haven't read through the Audio 101 sticky, please do. Also, note the DVD that's linked at the top of that thread: Sound for Film and Television. That's a very helpful tutorial on audio, and can answer a lot of your questions about gear and how to use it.

You've got a mic and a recorder that cannot work together without something in between. You could go with something like a portable phantom power supply, such as THIS ONE from Denecke. However, that's not the most practical solution. The fact is, you need a decent pre-amp (the H1 has pre-amps, but they aren't very good). By feeding a line-level signal, rather than a mic-level signal, to the H1, you'll be able to get a much cleaner recording.

There are bare-bones, portable pre-amps, such as the MM-1 from Sound Devices. This provides phantom power, and adds both level control and headphone monitoring. It's still XLR out, and will have to be adapted from XLR balanced line (mono) to 1/8" unbalanced line (stereo) in order to feed the H1. Also, it doesn't have a meter. Any time you add a gain stage, it's really important to be able to meter it.

The best thing you can do - not the cheapest by far, but certainly the best - is to add a mixer to your kit. Even a basic mixer like the Sound Devices MixPre or MixPre-D will give you what you need. Look around, especially in the DVXUser Marketplace. You might find a good deal on a used MixPre. The benefits of a mixer like this are good metering, level control, signal routing, and built-in limiters to help you keep your signal from clipping. Plus, both the MixPre and the MixPre-D have 1/8" Tape Out, perfect for the Line In on your H1.
 
As mentioned, the Rode NTG-2 has the phantom power and battery option included on the mic. If possible swapping your NTG-1 for this mic will be the most economical solution if the budget is tight. The NTG-2 is slightly longer too, check that out.

Eventually when you sell your mic, and you will one day, you'll have more chance with the NTG-2 because of its battery option. HTH.

Cheers.
 
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